She became an overnight star at 15, married a superstar twice her age and left films before release of debut movie

Economic Times

15 hours ago

Synopsis
Dimple Kapadia's journey began with instant fame at fifteen in 'Bobby,' leading to a marriage with superstar Rajesh Khanna and a subsequent departure from acting. Years later, she bravely returned to the screen after separating, defying expectations with her role in 'Saagar.' This comeback solidified her status as a versatile actress, proving her resilience and talent in Bollywood.
Agencies On silver screen, she was known for her impish charm. Offscreen, her life was as dramatic and tumultous as a Bollywood drama On the silver screen, she was celebrated for her mischievous sparkle and captivating presence. Away from the arc lights, her personal journey was as eventful and intense as any dramatic Bollywood plot. At just fifteen, she became a national sensation with her debut in Bobby. But at the peak of her newfound stardom, she walked away from films to marry Rajesh Khanna, the reigning king of Hindi cinema. Years later, at twenty-seven, she chose freedom over a suffocating marriage and silenced her skeptics with a powerful second innings in front of the camera. This is the extraordinary story of Dimple Kapadia.Dimple first auditioned for Bobby at the age of fourteen, a role that would change the course of her life. The film became a runaway box-office hit, catapulting her into instant fame. In a conversation with the FICCI Flo Jaipur Chapter, she recounted the surprising chain of events that led her to the role.
Her father, Chunnibhai Kapadia, had strong connections in the film industry. Through these circles, a well-known director—someone regarded almost like a family friend—once made a hurtful comment when she was barely twelve. At that time, she was battling a mild case of leprosy on her elbow. The man told her he would ensure she was ostracised at school, a word she had never heard before.In an unexpected twist, this personal setback paved the way for her cinematic beginning. Raj Kapoor heard about a young girl dealing with the disease and was curious to meet her. Impressed by her beauty and charm, he cast her in Bobby. For Dimple, the film's release marked the most enchanting phase of her life—everything she wished for seemed to materialise effortlessly, as though touched by magic.Despite the overwhelming attention and opportunities following Bobby, Dimple made an unconventional decision—she married Rajesh Khanna at just fifteen. She had been a devoted admirer of his films and charisma. The turning point came during a private flight to Ahmedabad for an event. Seated beside him, she playfully hinted about the crowd awaiting them, asking if he would hold her hand there. When he agreed, she cheekily asked if it would be forever. That exchange, as she described, set the course for their relationship and eventual marriage.Looking back, Dimple admitted she entered marriage with the naive belief that real life would mirror the dream sequences of Rajesh Khanna's films. She imagined scenes of love songs in the mountains with winds sweeping dramatically around them. When those cinematic moments never came, she felt crushed, realising her youthful fantasies had collided with the ordinary rhythms of married life. She often joked about how 'dumb' she had been, but those shattered illusions were a turning point in her understanding of reality.After her wedding, Dimple left her blossoming acting career behind to focus on family. She and Rajesh Khanna became parents to two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna.Although Rajesh never outright banned her from working, he expected her to prioritise motherhood over professional ambitions. In later years, he admitted that when they married, he simply wanted a mother for his children rather than an actress in the limelight. He also confessed that when they wed, Bobby had not yet been released, and he had no idea of her acting talent. By the time he saw her in the film and realised the depth of her ability, their first child had already been born. In his words, suppressing talent was unfair, but the choice had already been made.The marriage began to strain in the late 1970s and early 1980s as Rajesh Khanna's career faced a downturn. Once the biggest name in Bollywood, his films started failing at the box office, and he struggled to come to terms with the loss of stardom. The tension spilled into their personal life, creating emotional distance.In 1984, after attempts to repair the relationship, Dimple decided to leave. She moved out, leaving Rajesh in his famous Mumbai bungalow. Later, she reflected that she had been too young to fully grasp how deeply the decline in his career had been affecting him as a person.Following her separation, Dimple made a determined return to acting at twenty-eight. She chose Ramesh Sippy's Saagar for her comeback, reuniting on screen with her Bobby co-star, Rishi Kapoor. The film became one of the most talked-about projects of its time—not just for its performances but also for a swimsuit sequence by Dimple, which stirred debate in the conservative climate of the mid-1980s. For a mother of two to take on such a bold scene was considered daring, and it cemented her image as a fearless performer.The film, also starring Kamal Haasan, became one of 1985's biggest hits. More importantly, it re-established Dimple Kapadia as a serious actress, not merely a star who had once shone brightly and faded away. Her return silenced critics who had doubted her ability to stage a successful second act.