Many of us are attracted to the world of Bollywood which is filled with glitz and glamour. Several youngsters aspire to become film stars as they feel a certain kind of connect with the actors as ‘characters’ they portray on screen. The talent is unlimited, and as some would imagine, film-making / acting is one of the most sought-after professions in India. However, not everyone can be a part of it or survive successfully in the industry. Therefore, one may require a bit of luck to survive in this industry along with their talent.

It is believed that planets or stars play a pivotal role on our lives. That is why we often see many successful film-makers and stars adhere to numerology to name their film or decide which date will be auspicious to release their film (i.e. mahurat).

It is common knowledge that astrologers often advise directors and film-stars and predict the time when their fortunes will be at risks or in a good space. Professionals in Bollywood have a lot of fans and followers and also haters. The appreciation that they get is huge and so could be the criticism. Therefore, dealing with the uncertainties is one of the major draw-backs of the profession and the stakes are high.

The believers follow astrology which helps them to deal with the uncertainties positively. A sudden turn of events may hold the future for a star. Astrology may thus help them to tackle these situations maturely, for instance by avoiding a spur of controversy or say dealing with the media / press. The industry requires people who have tremendous amount of patience and strength to handle any kind of adversities. Many believe that the astrological combinations will help them to get through with greater strength.

We often see Bollywood celebrities like Rakesh Roshan, Karan Johar or Ekta Kapoor have a fixation with the letter “K”. It is believed that they feel any title which begins with the letter “K” is auspicious and will bring success to them.

Further, many Bollywood celebrities have modified their names by tweaking the spelling of their names to perhaps alter the fault (i.e. dosh) in their stars. It is widely believed that besides talent and perseverance, a bit of help from numerology may also play a key role in determining the career graph of an individual.

For example:

Karisma Kapoor dropped an “H” from her first name to uplift her career which may have worked well for her.

It is widely reported that Vivek Oberoi changed his name to Viveik Oberoi by adding an extra “I” to his name.

Suniel Shetty added “E” to his name first name to change the numerology of his name.

Jimmy Sheirgill also added one extra “I” to his surname to improve his luck.

Tusshar Kapoor added an extra “S” to re-build his career.

Established stars like Ajay Devgan and Hritihk Roshan also bite the dust of astrology. Former dropped an “A” from his surname to strengthen his position whereas Hrithik added an “H” to his first name to sustain his status in Bollywood.

New age stars like Ayushmann Khurrana added an extra “N” to his first name and an extra “R” to his last name as well.

Thus, the dominance of astrology is quite evident in Bollywood. From changing names for the screen, celebrities have now started adding and subtracting letters which has become a trend in the film industry. The new name may seem to have worked well for some, although not so effective for others.

A wonderful script, breath-taking locales, chart-bursting music and stars may not be enough for a film release or to have a successful film. Usually, a film starts with a mahurat puja and a mahurat shot.

Further, mostly film releases are on Fridays. Friday signifies planet Venus (as sukra) that is closely related with films or with any creative art forms. Therefore, astrology plays a significant role in Bollywood and seems to be an integral part of it.

Astrology also takes a forefront when it comes to stories / themes as a subject (be it in films or television). Script-writers find that the topic of astrology connects with the audience who find it a relatable topic. Films and TV shows with astrology being the backdrop is a common feature in India. For instance, the film called “What’s Your Rashee” by the famous director Ashutosh Gowarikar (who previously directed Lagaan), starring Priyanka Chopra who portrayed the role of different characters based on different horoscopes.

Astrology has blended beautifully in the world of Bollywood, where both strikes on some known and some unknown avenues life offers from its millions.

Images taken from here, here and here

Know more about what Astrology is and its uses here