In Bollywood, every star has a story — and often, that story begins with a new name. For decades, actors, directors, and even singers have reinvented themselves on paper before the audience ever saw them on screen. Some did it for superstition, some for marketability, and others simply because their birth names didn’t have that elusive “film star ring†to them. Whatever the reason, the tradition of changing names is as much a part of the industry as the red carpet and Friday box office.
The Golden Age of Reinvention
In the 1940s and 50s, when Hindi cinema was still finding its voice, name changes were almost expected. Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar, Mahjabeen Bano became Meena Kumari, and Mumtaz Jehan Begum turned into Madhubala. These transformations were often driven by producers who believed Indian audiences would connect more with shorter, simpler, and more glamorous names. Even behind the camera, this was common — director Guru Dutt was born Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone.
This wasn’t just cosmetic; it was marketing. A star name needed to be easy to remember across India’s linguistic diversity and to fit comfortably on a poster in bold, hand-painted letters.
The 70s and 80s: Superstition Steps In
As Bollywood moved into the masala era, name changes weren’t only about audience appeal — they were about luck. Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia became Akshay Kumar, a name suggested by filmmaker Pramod Chakravorty. Govind Arun Ahuja became Govinda. Chandrachur Singh shortened to keep things snappier.
The influence of numerology and astrology also took hold. Extra letters were added, spellings were tweaked — Sunil Shetty became Suniel Shetty, Karishma became Karisma, and Tusshar Kapoor gained an extra “s†after consulting with a numerologist. These were seen as small changes that could supposedly shift destiny, especially in a career where success often felt out of one’s hands.
The 90s: Branding in the Age of Stardom
The 1990s saw a sharper focus on personal branding. As satellite TV and music channels like MTV and Channel V made stars more visible, having a catchy, screen-friendly name became crucial. Ajay Devgan famously dropped the “a†from his surname, becoming Ajay Devgn in 2009 for numerological reasons, but his original stardom was built on the shorter “Ajay Devgan†brand. A young Hrithik Rakesh Nagrath stepped into the spotlight as Hrithik Roshan, while pre-stardom Rani Mukherjee became Rani Mukerji.
Even music benefitted from this — Shantanu Mukherjee was introduced to us as Shaan, Alisha Chinai was born Alisha Chinoy, and Altaf Raja… stayed Altaf Raja, because sometimes the right name is already yours.
2000s to Now: Subtle Shifts, Same Game
Today, outright name changes are less common — authenticity is fashionable, and audiences like stars who feel “real.†But the game hasn’t ended; it’s just become subtler. Kartik Tiwari became Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon reportedly altered spellings before her debut, and Ayushmann Khurrana’s unusual double “n†and “rr†are the result of numerology.
Some changes are about escaping typecasting or carving individuality. Rajkummar Rao dropped one “m†to become Rajkummar instead of Rajkumar. Even directors join in — Farhan Akhtar’s father Javed Akhtar was born Javed Akhtar Khan, while Karan Johar’s grandfather changed the family surname from Yeshwant to Johar.
Why Names Matter So Much
In Bollywood, a name is never just a name. It’s the first hook in the audience’s mind, a brand that has to work in print, in song lyrics, on billboards, and in conversation. It’s also a deeply personal choice that can carry cultural, emotional, and even spiritual weight.
Some actors view the change as a professional mask — a way to protect their personal life. Others see it as a rebirth into a public identity. And for many, especially in earlier decades, it was the price of entry into a fiercely competitive industry.
From Dilip Kumar to Deepika Padukone, from Akshay Kumar to Alia Bhatt (born as she is, but carrying her mother’s surname for legacy), the tradition continues to evolve. Bollywood’s name game tells its own story — one of dreams, reinvention, superstition, and survival. Because in the movies, before the lights dim and the story begins, the first thing the audience falls in love with… is the name on the screen.
