Born for the Spotlight Ishaan Khatter

Cute smile? Check. Soulful eyes? Check. Power performer? Check! Ishaan Khatter has got everything that a woman desires, making him our perfect Desirable Man of the month.

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Still reeling over the jaw-dropping looks that Ishaan Khatter served in the latest Netflix series, The Royals? You may not believe us if we tell you that the journey towards this regal on-screen performance today was not as easy as you might think. This Bollywood sensation had to endure his fair share of struggles to reach where he is today—in our hearts.

A home rich in culture, films and a soul-stirring enchantment of theatre arts—these are the very words Ishaan used to colour the picture of his childhood. These are a few words, but they say all about a life beautifully chiseled by art and an inherited passion for storytelling. With the legacy of Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, one of the founders of India’s neo-realism cinema, running through his veins, Ishaan appeared to be born to grace the silver screen. And as if fate wasn’t already bountiful, the universe bestowed another muse in the shape of his doting elder brother, superstar Shahid Kapoor—a beacon of guidance on and off camera.

Born on November 1, 1995, in the film hub of India—Mumbai-Ishaan hails from actor parents Rajesh Khattar and Neelima Azeem. Life, however, took a drastic turn when, at the age of three, his parents separated. Brought up by his mother along with Shahid Kapoor, her son from a previous marriage to veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, Ishaan spent his childhood snug in the lap of creative excellence. With a mother who was a classical dancer, poet and actress and a brother who impressed audiences with each film, inspiration was never far away. From a tender age, Ishaan’s heart was tuned to the rhythm of the camera, the script and the stage—his soul already quietly rehearsing for a life in the lights.

The influence of the rich artistic lineage from his mother’s side shows in the 29-year-old star’s diverse filmography of 8 years. Interestingly, his first screen appearance was as a child in 2005 in his elder brother Shahid’s movie,