Dimple Kapadia's life is a story of early fame, societal expectations, resilience, and eventual triumph. Born on June 8, 1957, in Mumbai to wealthy parents, she harbored aspirations of becoming an actress from a young age. Her father facilitated her entry into the film industry.
At the young age of 14, Kapadia's dream materialized when she was discovered by Raj Kapoor, who cast her in the lead role of his teen romance film, Bobby. The film's release in 1973 brought her immense recognition and commercial success. Bobby became the highest-grossing film of the year in India and earned Kapadia a Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
However, shortly before the release of Bobby, at the age of 15, Dimple Kapadia married Rajesh Khanna, who was 30 then, a superstar of Bollywood. This decision led her to quit acting at the peak of her initial success. Their daughters, Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, were born in 1974 and 1977, respectively.
The marriage, however, was not a fairytale. Kapadia separated from Khanna in April 1982 and returned to her parents' home with her daughters. She described her marital experience as unhappy, marked by inequality and infidelity. In a 1985 interview, she stated that "The life and happiness in our house came to an end the day I and Rajesh got married", and called their marriage "a farce".
Two years after her separation, in 1984, Kapadia made a comeback to acting, driven by a personal need to prove her capabilities. Her return to the screen was marked by films like Manzil Manzil (1984), Aitbaar (1985), and Arjun (1985). Her career was revived with the release of Saagar in 1985, which also won her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
During the next decade, Kapadia solidified her position as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses. While her initial roles often emphasized her beauty, she actively sought challenging roles to expand her range. She appeared in films ranging from marital dramas to literary adaptations, often portraying troubled women, which were sometimes seen as reflective of her personal experiences. Her notable performances during this period include Kaash (1987), Drishti (1990), Lekin... (1991), and Rudaali (1993). She received critical acclaim for her role as a career woman in Drishti. For her role in Rudaali, where she played a professional mourner, she won the National Film Award for Best Actress and a Filmfare Critics Award. She also had supporting roles in crime dramas like Prahaar (1991), Angaar (1992), Gardish (1993), and Krantiveer (1994), with Krantiveer earning her another Filmfare Award.
From the mid-1990s onwards, Kapadia became more selective about her work, resulting in fewer screen appearances. She was recognized for her roles as middle-aged women involved with younger men in Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and the American production Leela (2002).
In 2020, Kapadia made her Hollywood debut in Christopher Nolan's Tenet, showcasing her versatility and solidifying her status as an international actress.
Dimple Kapadia's journey is a testament to her talent, strength, and determination. Despite facing personal challenges and societal expectations, she carved a niche for herself in the film industry and continues to inspire with her work.
