Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has directed some of Hindi cinema's most memorable actresses. Yet, when he speaks about daughter Alia Bhatt, there is genuine surprise in his voice. During an interview when asked if he is proud of her daughter being the biggest star in the country, he first corrects us, 'one of the biggest stars of the country', and then goes on to say,

"She's astounded me because Soni and I never thought she had this kind of latent talent in her. We didn't really have what you would call a film culture at home. I kept making movies, but that was my work. When I saw her in Highway, I was astounded. I'm again astounded by her in Gangubai Kathiawadi. From where did she get that body language? She was never exposed to that kind of society or culture. I woke up to her exactly the way the nation woke up to her."

One compliment, in particular, convinced him she had truly disappeared into the character. "For me the greatest compliment to performance came from an event to Jharkhand. A tribal woman who watched Udta Punjab said she believed Alia belonged to her community. I thought, 'Oh my God, this is as real as it can get.'"

He goes on to add, "I always tell my children that whenever you feel you're soaring towards the zenith, remember you haven't even scratched the surface."

Asked whether he sees shades of his younger self in Alia, Bhatt smiles before saying evolution has made her better than the previous generation.

"She has a drive. Every generation is superior to the previous one. Evolution has its own way of improving itself. There is this thirst she has. She oscillates between Mumbai, Cannes, Singapore and Hyderabad, shoots films, fulfils professional commitments, comes back home and continues to play the role of a wife and a mother. It is an astounding kind of energy. (However), One of the greatest roles she's playing today is the role of a mother. It is very humbling to watch. You're such a big star, but you never make anyone around you feel that. The role of a mother becomes the most important role you will ever play. She's promoting films across the country, yet she's constantly running her home," he explains.

If Alia continues to surprise him as an actor and mother, granddaughter Raha Kapoor has transformed the entire family's dynamic. "She'll outdistance Ranbir Kapoor and Alia by miles. She's different. She has a different vibe. When she comes, the whole house becomes hostage to her energy. For those few hours, she becomes the centre of everything," he confesses.

Does he spend a lot of time with her? Bhatt replies, "I recently went with Neetu (Kapoor) to her school for her Grandparents' Day. Soni was in Istanbul. We were walking through a cloud of soap bubbles. I was holding Raha's hand while Neetu was holding the other. It was a beautiful moment. That was something which I remember doing with only Pooja. It brought back memories of walking with Pooja when she was little. Suddenly, time collapsed. She is a vibrant version of Pooja. (Eventually) The same kind of family."

Bhatt laughs while describing his unusual bond with his granddaughter. "She can't quite figure me out. She probably wonders, 'Who is this man and why does he speak the way he speaks?' I manage to tell her one story. She enjoys correcting me whenever I pronounce the name of an animal incorrectly. Soni is very protective of her. She has got the best Nani, and Dadi," he explains.

He continues, "And her father. Oh my God. I'm also astounded by the role he's playing as a parent. And they both are stars. It just shows that this narrative that, working actors especially stars neglect their children, which we heard in our days is a thing of the dark past and is not true anymore. Today you have better communication. You have CCTV cameras shooting for and you can see what's going on at home."

As Raha reminds him of Pooja, his eldest daughter, one cannot help but mention her. Bhatt's bond with eldest daughter Pooja Bhatt has often fascinated the industry, but he believes their closeness was forged long before fame arrived.

"When you become a father at 22 and you're struggling, life is different. I'd carry her water bottle to school. I'd wait around Bandra because I didn't have enough money to travel back and forth. I was unemployed. I spent a lot of time with her. I'd take her to my music sittings. She would sit there in her school uniform while the sessions went on. She, amongst my children, has spent the maximum time with me in those days. She has the courage to stand alone," he ends.

Armaan Jain; (right) Raj Kapoor with Prithviraj Kapoor. Pics/By Special Arrangement, Instagram, YouTube

Some will tell you ghee makes all the difference in their dishes. Others swear by garlic. For Armaan Jain, the star ingredient of his recipes is something intangible — it’s a mindset. “Kanjoosi nahin karne ka. Even if you have Rs 5 in your pocket, feed people dishes worth Rs 10.”

That’s the culture Armaan, Rima Jain’s son and Raj Kapoor’s grandson, grew up imbibing. So, when he decided to turn his passion for feeding people into a business, this became the foundation for The Junglee Kitchen.

Kapoors and food is a love story as old as time. During the pandemic-induced lockdown, in the absence of cooks, Armaan thought of taking over the kitchen and experimenting with the recipes that he was raised with.

He told mid-day, “I didn’t ever imagine it becoming a business. [During the lockdown] I was missing some family recipes. So, I would keep calling up my cook who was on leave. Then, I innovated those recipes. When I fed my family, they liked them.”

That’s how The Junglee Kitchen was born. With the delivery kitchen that began operations out of his home in 2021, Armaan is serving the Kapoor khandaan’s favourite dishes, particularly his legendary grandfather’s, to the city.

The name isn’t exactly what you would associate with the Kapoor family. Is it an ode to his grand uncle, late Shammi Kapoor’s hit Junglee (1961)? Not really. The name, Armaan shared, has two personal meanings attached to it.

“The reason why I thought of the word ‘Junglee’ is because that’s my approach to cooking. I’m not a trained chef; just someone who has been exposed to food since he was five or six. Plus, our food is fiery and spicy,” he smiled, before adding, “One of our hero dishes is called Junglee Maas. It’s a dish the Kapoors have grown up devouring.”

Like Junglee Maas, each dish for Armaan is a walk down memory lane. One that evokes memories of the Kapoor family coming together, trading gossip, laughing, and bonding over food. While the entrepreneur, born in 1990, never got the opportunity to meet his grandfather, he vividly remembers the feast that his maternal grandmother, Krishna Raj Kapoor, would serve for the family. He is now serving that taste of his childhood — whether it’s the Junglee Maas that the Showman of Indian Cinema enjoyed or the dal makhani that his superstar-cousin Kareena Kapoor Khan swears by. The dishes start from Rs 250, going up to Rs 700. 

“Whether it was a small get-together or big, Junglee Maas was always there. The table would always be full, with 20 dishes on it. The other fixture was dal. Then two-three sabzis and [multiple] non-veg dishes. I also have strong memories of Punjabi dahi pakoda kadhi,” recalled Armaan.

What is his favourite dish on the menu? “I am a Punjabi who loves comfort food. So, I like my dal makhani. We have always had a Punjabi smoked dal at home. I improvised into a nice slow-cooked dal makhani in the COVID-19 days.” 

Going forward, The Junglee Kitchen will include ‘Desi Chinese’ in the menu. That’s almost expected, given how the Kapoor family members have often expressed their love for Chinese food. Armaan added, “I love my Chinese food. The dhaba Chinese — think Chicken lollipops, Chicken Manchurian, and Chilli chicken.”

While he expanded the delivery kitchen’s service to Bengaluru in 2025, the next goal is to make it a pan-India service. He wishes to incorporate flavours of India’s different regions while keeping his family’s recipes in focus. “I have currently four or five outlets. We’re looking to scale these up to about 100 outlets in the next two years, across five-six cities. I have always had people come over to our place to eat. There would be 50 people at a time at my grandmother’s place. So, I had the confidence that I could cook,” he smiled.

Dal. It was a fixture in every meal

Gulab jamun

Neetu aunty 

All of them just eat; they don’t cook [laughs]

Karisma Kapoor

With days to go before Daadi Ki Shaadi’s release, the Neetu Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, and Sadia Khateeb-starrer finds itself at the centre of speculation. Rumours are rife that Ashish R Mohan’s directorial venture is plagiarized from a Pakistani telefilm by the same name, which was aired in March 2026. Khateeb is unfazed by the plagiarism rumours.

“We announced our title way before [in December 2025]. We did so when we started shooting for the film, and this Pakistani [offering] came much later,” she stated.

The May 8 release revolves around a family’s matriarch who falls in love and decides to remarry, to her family’s surprise. Coincidentally, a similar theme is explored in the Pakistani family comedy.

Dismissing the comparisons, Khateeb clarified, “It’s not that we have copied from anyone. Our Daadi [protagonist] is not [similar to] what we have seen in their trailer. It’s a different plot.”

Daadi Ki Shaadi came Khateeb’s way just when she was seeking a light-hearted subject. What it also brought along was a special co-star in Kapoor. “She is such a delight to work with. Neetu ma’am doesn’t meet you with the baggage of her legacy; she keeps it real. She made everything easy, light, and fun for me.”

As Kapoor & Sons clocks 10 years tomorrow, director Shakun Batra reflects on the making of the family drama, starring Rishi Kapoor, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajat Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt.

“There was a two-year gap between when it was written and when it finally got made,” Shakun reveals, adding, “Many actors turned it down. Actors were not comfortable playing homosexuals back then. At one point, I thought I’d never get to make it.”

Eventually Fawad came on board after a brief but defining conversation. “He asked me, ‘Is homosexuality a whisper or a shout?’ I told him it’s a whisper and he agreed immediately,” Batra shares, adding, “We didn’t show anything off-putting. The scene where Fawad breaks down in front of Ratna Pathak Shah saying he isn’t the perfect son, I watched it from the lens of an audience, not a filmmaker.”

The filmmaker also fondly recalls working with late veteran Rishi Kapoor. “There wasn’t a single day when Rishi ji and I did not argue on set, but after watching the film he showered me with so much love... His prosthetics were done by Greg Cannom, the Oscar-winning makeup artiste who worked with Brad Pitt in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008). Even Neetu ji (Kapoor, Rishi’s wife) didn’t recognize him in the get-up.”

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni remembers first hearing about Daadi Ki Shaadi from actor and her mother Neetu Kapoor, who was fronting it. At the time, had someone told her that weeks down the line, she’d be featuring in the movie, she would’ve laughed at it. Today, she is excited about making her Bollywood debut and following in the footsteps of her parents, late Rishi Kapoor, and Neetu, and brother Ranbir Kapoor. “I think my father would have been proud of me doing this movie,” she smiles.

Daadi Ki Shaadi, also starring Kapil Sharma and directed by Ashish R Mohan, revolves around the chaos that ensues during a wedding in the family and sees Riddhima play daughter to Neetu. “Two days after mom joined the film, I got a call from the producers, asking if I would join the cast. I think Kapil recommended me. Mom asked me to speak to Bharat [Sahni, husband] and get his opinion on it. Bharat will never stop anyone from doing anything and gave me the go-ahead.”

While her brother Ranbir debuted in movies in 2007 and became a superstar, Riddhima largely stayed away from showbiz. Now, as she is pursuing an acting career, she is amused by the popular notion that women in the Kapoor household were not allowed to act earlier. 

“It isn’t true,” she states, “I didn’t act because I completed my graduation, fell in love, got married, and had Samara. Had this movie come to me then, I would’ve discussed it with my father and taken it forward. I did ads. If this myth was true, Ranbir and mom would have stopped me. My family encouraged me from the first step, including Alia [Bhatt, sister-in-law], my bua [Reema Jain] and cousins.”  

The family entertainer was shot in Shimla from April to June. For Riddhima, who was new to acting, embracing a character was a novel experience. She found perfect mentors in Neetu and Ranbir. “Mom and I would go over every line every time we FaceTimed. If there was a challenging scene, she used to give me variations of how to do it. Ranbir would also give me options and ask me to [approach a scene] differently.”

After marking her on-screen debut with a reality web series last year, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is now set to step into the world of cinema with her first feature film. What makes this project even more special is that she shares the screen with her mother, veteran actress Neetu Kapoor. The two recently wrapped up a 40-day shoot in the scenic town of Mashobra near Shimla – an experience Riddhima says brought them closer than ever.

Shooting for her debut film was an emotional experience. “Mom and I live in different cities. But during the shoot, we lived under the same roof for over a month. We’d start our mornings with chai and breakfast, go to set together. It was an emotional and joyful time. The last time we spent this much uninterrupted time together was when my daughter Samara was born. Even though we live apart, we’re in touch every day,” shares Riddhima.

As she stepped into this new chapter, Riddhima turned to her brother, Ranbir Kapoor, for guidance. “Ranbir was really excited when he found out I was doing a film,” she says. “I’d send him photos of my looks and clips from scenes, just to get his opinion. It also made me remember some of the stories that dad (Rishi Kapoor) would tell us about his own time on set. For me, my mom’s opinion matters the most. Her word is final.”

The yet-untitled film, which also stars Kapil Sharma and Sadia Khateeb, includes a particularly poignant scene between the mother-daughter duo – a moment that left a lasting emotional imprint on both mother and daughter.

“I can’t reveal our characters just yet, but the film is a roller coaster of emotions. There’s one scene in particular that really moved me. I’m not someone who cries easily or publicly. When something hurts, I usually retreat, cry in private and come back composed. The last time I cried openly was when dad passed away. But this scene – without any glycerine – just broke me. The emotions were so real, and my mom was shaken seeing me like that,” she says.

(L to R) Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Sadia Khateeb, Neetu Kapoor, and Kapil Sharma on the set

Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, the third season of Netflix’s popular reality series, showed that Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is comfortable in front of the camera. Unsurprisingly then, she is following in the footsteps of her parents — late father Rishi Kapoor, and mother Neetu Kapoor — and brother Ranbir Kapoor by foraying into movies. She recently wrapped up her debut film, which sees her as the female lead alongside Neetu, and Kapil Sharma.

One’s first film is always special. It is more so for Riddhima as the yet-untitled movie, which revolves around the chaos and hilarity that ensues during a family wedding, sees her play daughter to Neetu on screen. Riddhima reveals that the senior actor, who was first roped in for the project, approached her at director Ashish R Mohan’s behest.

“When mom narrated the story and my role to me, I instantly connected to it. It has everything, tears and laughter,” she says.

The family entertainer, which also stars Tejaswini Kolhapure and Sadia Khateeb, went on floors in April as the team shot in Mashobra and other parts of Shimla. Was she jittery on her first day of shoot? Not really, shares Riddhima.

“I wasn’t nervous or apprehensive at all on my first day of shoot; I was excited. Mom would sometimes give me tips on what to do, which were helpful. We had fun working together; we’d rehearse our lines together. She is not used to seeing me crying. So, when I’d cry on camera, she used to get emotional. My husband [Bharat Sahni] and daughter [Samara] were with me. I used to send stills of my shots to my brother [Ranbir] and he would give his feedback too.”

Clearly, the fashion and jewellery designer has enjoyed her brush with acting. Does this mean a new Kapoor has joined Indian cinema that has been dominated by her family over generations? Will she pursue movies and web series?

“Never say never,” Riddhima smiles. “I enjoyed the process of acting and filmmaking, and I am happy with the way the film has shaped up. Through the journey of this film, I have evolved so much as an actor and a person.”

Jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is ready for a new chapter in her career. After making her OTT debut with the web series Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives last year, the daughter of actors Rishi and Neetu Kapoor will soon appear on the big screen.

“Yes, I am filming a movie in the hills.” She tells us, but remains tight-lipped about the details. Probe more and she replies, “All I can say is that we are shooting here until June.”

Several reports have suggested that comedian Kapil Sharma and mum Neetu will also be a part of the upcoming project. “The best part [of the shoot] is that mum and I are staying together and we rehearse our lines everyday,” the 44-year-old confirms, adding that she is “enjoying the process thoroughly”.

As part of Bollywood’s Kapoor khandaan, Riddhima is no stranger to cinema. However, she shares that she doesn’t have plans to start acting full time: “I didn’t plan this. When I was approached, I just said yes. I heard the script and loved it.”

Has she got any feedback or inputs from her filmi family? “They are so excited. I keep sending them snippets of my scenes and they are fully supportive. Samara [her daughter] will also visit me once during her summer holidays,” she replies.

The Kapoor family recently came together to celebrate the grand wedding of actor Aadar Jain and entrepreneur Alekha Advani in Mumbai, a star-studded affair graced by Bollywood’s biggest names. However, amid the glitz and glamour, a brief moment between veteran actor Neetu Kapoor and her granddaughter Samara Sahni has taken the internet by storm.

A video from the wedding, now viral on social media, shows Riddhima Kapoor Sahni posing with her teenage daughter, Samara, as Neetu Kapoor joins them. In the clip, Samara momentarily gestures away from her grandmother, leading to speculation that she was upset and had pushed Neetu aside.

Addressing the buzz, Riddhima is quick to set the record straight. “It was blown out of proportion. She was just excited to pose! In the car, she kept saying, ‘Oh my God, there will be photographers, and I’ll pose like this and that.’ When the paparazzi asked us to come together, she just wanted her own moment — she didn’t push her nani,” she tells us.

Even Samara was taken aback by the online chatter. “She asked me, ‘When did I push her? I was just trying to pose and get comfortable,’” Riddhima shares, adding, “Aware of the scrutiny that comes with public attention, Samara has begun to notice how every action gets magnified. ‘Last time, I was being goofy, and they had a problem. Now, when I’m doing nothing, they still have a problem!’ Samara once remarked.” With constant media exposure, Riddhima ensures open conversations with Samara about navigating the highs and lows of fame: “My mother and I chat with her every day about the pros, cons, good, bad, and ugly, so it doesn’t affect her.”

Though she is a part of Hindi cinema’s legendary Kapoor khandaan, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni stayed away from the limelight for a large part of her life. However, her debut on the reality web show Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives changed that. “I was excited. I’ve been such a fan of the series, so I took it up. Once we began shooting it felt like a vibe and like a party because I knew the other ladies on the show,” says Riddhima. In a conversation with BT, she talks about facing the camera at this point in her life and her bond with her family:

Talking about the filmi keeda in her since childhood, she says, “As a child, I was the one who used to perform all the time. I would dance with a dupatta in front of the family. I used to perform to the numbers from my dad’s movies and dance on tracks from Sridevi’s films. I would pose as a newsreader and read the news as they did on Batmya (news in Marathi) on Doordashan. But then, as I grew up, the switch happened. When we were in college, Ranbir said that he wanted to be an actor, and we all were surprised. I guess Ranbir opened up, and I sort of shied away. Then, I went abroad to pursue my studies. I met my husband (Bharat Sahni) in London, and we got married.”

Her attitude on the show is just like it is in real life, and much like that of her father, Rishi Kapoor. Riddhima shares, “If I feel something’s wrong, I will voice it. These things come very naturally because I say it on your face, and likewise, you can do that with me. I am very straightforward and frank. My mother was nervous about how I would be on the show because she knows I am fiery. My dad always said things that he felt honestly. He was mufat. I would rather be mufat than pretend to be something on your face and something else behind your back. I am proud of the fact that I am like him, I speak my mind like he did. Many of my dad’s friends sent me messages and said that he would have been proud seeing my real side on the show,” she shares.

Riddhima says that her equation with her brother has evolved over the years. She recollects, “We would fight a lot. We would start wrestling the minute our parents left the house. He would think I’m his older brother and try all his wrestling moves on me. Over the years, of course, that changed. Ranbir is soft-hearted and genuinely a good person. He’s someone you can talk to, confide in and share your problems with. He’s a good listener.”

About her brother being a father, she added, "Ranbir’s eyes light up when he sees Raha. Maybe he’s not as expressive as my father or me, but he is the most expressive when he is in front of the camera and now when he is with Raha. Otherwise, he keeps to himself."

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni recently made her debut with the reality TV series Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives. Her entry into the world of entertainment feels almost inevitable, given that she’s the daughter of late actor Rishi Kapoor and actor Neetu Kapoor.

“Everybody knew this (stepping into the spotlight) would happen at some point. But they didn’t know when,” Sahni shares, adding, “The decision was made organically when an opportunity [from filmmaker Karan Johar] arose.”

Does she feel any pressure to live up to the Kapoor family legacy? “I’m doing my own thing. I’m living a beautiful life with my family in Delhi. People talk so much about privilege. My privilege is living with my family. I get to spend so much time with them, both in Mumbai and Delhi, and I express gratitude for that every single day. So legacy for me means… I’ll try and prove myself every single day to whatever ability I can and take it from there,” the 44-year-old says.

Naturally, her first sounding board was her mum, Neetu. “My mum was all for it. She told me, ‘You’ve been a fan of the series, and you could have a good time filming it. This is a shot. Go for it’,” Sahni recalls, adding that her brother, actor Ranbir Kapoor was also supportive, “Ranbir never says anything (objects). He told me, ‘You want to do it, do it. We are with you’.”

When asked if she was nervous about how the audience would perceive her, Sahni admits she doesn’t dwell on online reactions. “People will say good and bad things. I never cared about the trolls because unka kaam hai bolna, humara kaam hai ignore karna. The reality is I also got a lot of love online, and I’m grateful for it,” she says, adding, “I do what I want to do, whatever makes me happy. I’m not looking for validation.”

The toddler stage was a piece of cake. It is tougher to deal with a teenager. Teens have a mind of their own and they know exactly what they want. These days, even for family get-togethers, Samara sometimes says “No, I don’t want to go.” Everything starts with a no. I have to calmly explain to her that family is as important as friends. I keep drilling that into her head and then I sort of get my way somewhere. We reach a middle point. As long as she does what is expected where family is concerned, it is good enough. Comparatively, the toddler years were a dream.

You have to be extremely tolerant, patient and kind with teens and understand where they are coming from. That’s what I have learnt. I honestly feel if you show even a little aggression, it just falls flat. Aggression leads to more aggression. You must understand your child’s psyche. We’ve all been through that age. Our parents have gone through that time with us. We have to understand them, adapt and act accordingly. If Samara is not listening to me and she’s stubborn about something, I try to think about it from her point of view and communicate in a language that she’d understand.

It does. I am struggling every day. Just before Samara comes home from school, I literally pray that she’s in a good mood. I pray that all has gone well at school and there are no arguments because anything could be a trigger for kids. This generation is very different.

I have tried every style, to be honest. If I am strict with her or I shout at her, it doesn’t make a difference. No matter how many times I repeat “Samara, study” she won’t listen to me. But when Bharat (she is married to Delhi-based businessman Bharat Sahni) says something even once or if he is upset and corrects Samara, she’s like “okay, fine” and it is done. He doesn’t say anything to her usually so when he does, it matters to her. So, I use him every time she doesn’t listen. I tell him, “Bharat, I have tried my best. Now, it’s time for you to intervene.” He supports me a lot where Samara is concerned. We are a team now.

I am very lucky. Bharat is totally supportive. Samara is our only child and we don’t want to spoil her. We do correct her whenever required but not to a point where she feels we are nagging her. You have to deal with things very delicately so that the child does not feel isolated. So, as a team, we sit her down and talk. We don’t lecture her too much because I know that does not work anymore. We try and reason with her. We give our examples from when we were young and did naughty things and how our parents corrected us. My mother (Neetu Kapoor) also plays a very important part in talking to Samara. She tells Samara about my childhood and how I used to be. I think talking helps a lot. Lecturing doesn’t help. Besides, children ape their parents. Your child may not listen to you, but if you do something, the child will look at you and do the same thing. That is one thing I have learned over the years.

Are you raising Samara the same way? No, because I was quite different from Samara. I was always a nerd. I call myself a proud geek. I keep telling Samara that I used to go to school with two well-oiled plaits and spectacles. I would sit on the first bench and try to impress the teacher. When mom would say it’s time to study, I used to study. If she would ask me to eat or go to bed, I used to do that. I went by the book. Somewhere, I expected Samara to be like me, but she has her own unique personality. When we were kids, we were not exposed to a lot of things that these kids are exposed to. These kids literally have the world at their fingertips. They are more aware. We used to learn whatever we learned from school and whatever our parents taught us. We used to go to a library and open a book and read it. That concept doesn’t exist anymore. So, times have changed and so have we. My mom and dad (Rishi Kapoor) were not strict parents, but we always listened to them. We never argued with them or talked back.

No, he was not strict at all. That’s the wrong impression about him. My dad adored us, and we adored him. The thing is, he didn’t want us to be spoilt. Every parent wants to discipline their child. Sometimes, it would be a little difficult for mom to handle us alone. Dad was always away shooting. He had a very heavy voice. We used to be scared of his voice. It’s not that he raised his voice at us. He never shouted at me. Never. I still remember the time when I wanted to pursue higher studies abroad. I had never left home before that. My dad never once said no to me, but he was so nervous. He was worried about me living abroad on my own. Every time he was stressed, he would march up and down the corridor. When I introduced him to Bharat, he was like, “Okay, where is the boy from? How is the family?” and again he marched up and down the corridor. But he never got angry with us. The only time I used to get scared was when my phone bill used to come. He used to just look at me and look at the long list of calls. At that time, only itemised bills were available. I remember calling up the phone company and asking if I could have a non-itemised bill. I used to get really scared, but he was never strict. It’s just that his personality seemed strict, you know.

Yes, in a way. But they cannot cross a line. We are not their friends; we are their parents. So that respect has to be there. It must be balanced. I expect Samara to come to me and talk to me about anything and everything and not be scared. But at the same time, I don’t want her to take me for granted and say, “Oh, you know what, my mom is really cool. She’s like a friend.”

This is very rare because we live in Delhi, and we don’t have the pap culture here. In Mumbai, when she’s out with my brother or with family, she loves to pose. She enjoys getting clicked; she gets a kick out of it.

Sometimes, she says she wants to join the movies. Sometimes, she talks about becoming a doctor or a singer. I think it is too early to say. If she does want to get into acting, I will surely support her. I will help her follow her dreams and be behind her whether she chooses to be a doctor, an engineer or an actor.

I am. Samara goes to a school where there is no ranking system. You’re competing with yourself which is good in a way as it avoids too much pressure on kids. But sometimes, I really wish there was a little competition because that motivates one to work harder. I am particular about her submissions and homework. When it is exam time, I literally leave everything aside and parade outside her room to keep a watch because she tends to get distracted and takes breaks every two minutes to go to the kitchen for water or something else.

I don’t really tell her what to eat and what to skip because teens often do exactly what you don’t want them to do. We belong to a family of foodies, so Samara is a big foodie too. I do want her to get at least eight hours of sleep but that does not happen as she studies till late. I am struggling with the sleep aspect.

I try to keep a limit on her screen time. No devices are allowed at the dining table. That’s one rule I strictly impose. We all eat lunch and dinner together and chat about our day. I also take away Samara’s phone when she’s done with her research or whatever else. In fact, I try to keep her phone with me as much as possible. I had the biggest argument with Bharat when he wanted to get Samara a phone a year or two back as she was already using a laptop and iPad for schoolwork. Eventually, he gave her his old phone. But now he realizes and says, “You were so right. We shouldn’t have given her a phone.”

I don’t check her browser history because that would drive me crazy, but I have set rules. I trust my child and know that she will not do anything wrong. There was a phase when she was into playing a particular online game. I had read about how unsafe the game can be. So, I sat her down and told her about the negative side of it. I told her what I felt but I left the final decision up to her and told her to be cautious.

I do worry. When she was younger, she was a performer. She used to sing and dance or give gyaan on some topic in her own baby way. Mom and I used to record videos of her. She used to love it. Now, she records her own videos but she always takes my approval before posting. I don’t really look after her Instagram account but I do watch what she posts.

I am friends with her on social media as of now. She’s just entered her teens so you never know. But I have confidence in her. I don’t think she will block me because I do give her freedom. I remind her: “I give you all the freedom, just don’t misuse it and don’t let me down.”

Honestly, I would not want her to use social media or even have a phone for that matter. But that’s not possible. These days, kids use laptops and iPads in school and all the school-related communication is on WhatsApp. So, there’s not much one can do. If I’m upset, I do take away her phone for a couple of hours. And then she’s like, “But mamma, my homework is on my phone.” So, then I have to hand it over. It is a tug-of-war.

Samara is an aware and intelligent child. She doesn’t really pay heed to trolls. She tells me, “Mamma, I don’t even read most of the comments. Everyone is not out there to love me. People can love me or hate me. It’s ok, I’ll do my thing.” I have told her that people say all kinds of nasty things and if we start listening to every person, we are giving them the upper hand and letting them win. I tell her to not pay attention to people we don’t know as they don’t know how nice a person she is. I also stress on the importance of being a good human. I want to be proud of the fact that I raised a good child.

No, I was never paranoid. It’s just that Samara is my only child and I could not bring myself to leave her somehow. I never left her for even a day for the first three-four years. I used to take her with me wherever I went. Bharat used to say, “When are you going to have a life? You need to start leaving her. She is also growing up.” But he respected the fact that I was with her at that time. The first time I left Samara behind in Delhi was when I had to rush to Mumbai when dad was hospitalized. After that, I started leaving her for two to three days at a time, so she got used to it and I became more confident too. When I was shooting for Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives recently, I left her for 10 days. I think leaving a child behind is a personal choice and moms should do it when they feel comfortable.

Communication. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or a working parent, it is important to spend at least one hour with your child daily. You need to put devices away, get off work calls and simply talk to your child, ask them how their day went. You have to give your child the confidence, love and comfort of knowing that no matter what happens you will be there for them. If you keep saying no for everything, your child may feel shy or may not come to you if something goes wrong. He or she may start lying and hiding things which is something no parent wants.

Absolutely. Whenever Samara is at home, she joins my yoga session. She is very good at yoga. I actually advised her to start a YouTube channel where she can inspire teens to practise yoga. She’s very creatively inclined. She loves to dance, sing, paint and act. She’s currently doing a play at school where she is part of the main cast. These are just small steps, and it is great for her confidence.

It’s too soon to tell. All I can say is that Alia and Ranbir are amazingly hands-on parents. I used to think Bharat is such a hands-on dad. When he was home, he would just be there for Samara and take care of her. But after seeing Ranbir, I realize he is a really good dad too. He does it all, from changing diapers to burping her. In fact, he calls himself a burp specialist. You know, no one really has a manual for parenting. As a first-time parent, every day is a learning process and every one’s parenting style is very different. But from what I can see from the outside, they are amazing parents.

The casting of Brazilian model Giselli Monteiro as Harleen Kaur was considered an unlikely choice. Imtiaz had said, “Giselle came to me through dress designer Anaita Shroff. She was to play Jo, Saif’s Caucasian girlfriend in the second-half. She wasn’t right for Jo. But my wife (Preety Ali), who was there, suggested Giselle for Harleen.”

Did you know, the film originally ended on an unhappy note? Saif had shared, “We had a sad ending at first and then Imtiaz relented and gave us a happy ending. I now wonder, which is better? I think Jai deserved to lose Meera, but we were worried about being too clever.”

When a sequel was announced, actor Saif Ali Khan wasn’t interested in doing it and had said, “I don’t see it as a continuation... Imtiaz should probably try and make one of these every 10 years, calling it Aaj Kal with different actors! I’m hoping it is a different story, though.” Incidentally, his daughter, actor Sara Ali Khan acted in the film’s spiritual sequel, Love Aaj Kal (2020).

Saif wanted then-girlfriend actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to be cast opposite him. Saif had said, “I think, she was quite keen to work with Imtiaz Ali again and I think he promised her his next movie. Her boyfriend being the producer of Imtiaz’s next movie and being in the situation that she was, she was wondering and finding it hard to understand why we had cast Deepika, I think.”

Imtiaz later admitted that “casting Deepika was a risk”: “It was a challenge to myself as Deepika was a newcomer.” Imtiaz was so sure about his casting choice that he offered Meera’s role to Deepika even before she committed to making acting her career.

This love story had received the stamp of approval from late filmmaker Yash Chopra. In an interview, Imtiaz had shared, “I remember that Yash ji had called me after watching it. I had rushed away from the room I was in, and went to the balcony to hear very carefully what he was trying to say. He liked the film, that was a great moment for me.”

Actor Neetu Kapoor made a cameo appearance, returning to screen after 26 years. Imtiaz had revealed, “I fell on my knees and told her I am a huge fan. After a lot of persuasion, I finally convinced her to act in my film.” Neetu later said that she did the film “as a favour” to Rishi.

- The working title was Production No 1, because it was Saif Ali Khan’s first production. Later Aaj Kal, and Elastic were considered as titles.

- While shooting for the song Chor Bazari, Deepika Padukone met with an accident. In the scene where she is supposed to fall from a table and land in Saif’s arms, the actor ended up on the floor, but avoided serious injuries.

- The songs Aaj Din Chadheya and Aahun Aahun were initially not a part of the film. But composer Pritam convinced Imtiaz Ali to include them, saying that the film needed a romantic track.

- The film was remade in Telugu in 2011, titled Teen Maar and starred Pawan Kalyan, Trisha Krishnan and Kriti Kharbanda.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is set to make her acting debut with the third instalment of the reality web show Fabulous Lives vs. Bollywood Wives. As she approaches this crucial juncture in her career, she misses her father, late Rishi Kapoor, even more on his death anniversary today. 

“I could have asked so many questions because this is my first time [in front of the camera],” shares Riddhima, adding, “Of course mum (actor Neetu Kapoor) is around to help me all the time, but as a family, we wish Papa was around.”

The jewellery designer also talks about how Rishi would’ve been very “excited” about his granddaughter Raha (brother, actor Ranbir Kapoor and actor Alia Bhatt’s daughter). 

She and the family like to remember the happy time they spent with Rishi before he passed away in 2020. “My dad used to say whatever was in his heart. That is something that I have imbibed from him,” shares Riddhima, who wants to see how her debut is received by the audience before taking on any other project.

Flying high on the success of two releases, Homi Adajania’s Murder Mubarak and Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas, actor Sanjay Kapoor has been wanting to work with both filmmakers as a producer first. The actor, who possesses the rights of the 1975 film Khel Khel Mein, wanted either one of them to direct the remake.

In 2012, Sanjay stated that he would take the remake on floors and cast fresh faces as leads but that didn’t materalise. The OG film starred late Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan. Now, that his daughter Shanaya Kapoor will soon make her film debut, ask him if he will cast her in the remake and he replies, “If I am going to make it today, I will obviously make it with Shanaya.”

While the 58-year-old isn’t sure when will be the right time for the film, Sanjay insists that he will make the remake, someday. “Right now, I am very busy with my work as an actor, but I will definitely make the film. It’s a film that is very close to my heart.”

He further adds, “I remember that when I got the rights of the film, Chintu (late Rishi Kapoor) told me that he and Neetu will do a cameo whenever I remake the film. So, whenever the time comes, I will miss Chintu, but I will make sure Neetu is still in it,” he ends.

New Delhi: Some of the most iconic actresses of the seventies and eighties are back in the spotlight - as faces of major brands.

Zeenat Aman, Neetu Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore and Neena Gupta have signed several endorsement deals in recent months and brands say the trend is not about the allure of nostalgia but to leverage how these actresses are reinventing themselves and breaking the stereotypes.

These associations help brands ride on their legacy and cut through clutter, industry executives said. Besides, these yesteryear stars charge only about one-fourth of the charges of A-listers such as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, they said.

"There is a noteworthy focus on age inclusivity now," said Darshana Bhalla, chief executive of talent management company D' Artist Talent Ventures. "While acknowledging the accomplishments of the youth is essential, it's equally crucial not to underestimate experience, credibility and maturity," she said.

Cosmetics and beauty company Forest Essentials, Oppo phones, and fintech platform Cred signed Zeenat Aman.

Neetu Kapoor has been roped in by Mankind Pharma's petcare brand and PepsiCo's Lay's chips, while Neena Gupta now endorses electric vehicle Eblu Feo and P Mark edible oil.

Sharmila Tagore's recent campaigns include ITC's Vivel soap and beauty line and Mamaearth shampoo where she is seen advising granddaughter Sara Ali Khan.

Most of these yesteryear icons have huge social media following.

Zeenat Aman made a successful Instagram debut in February last year, while Neetu Kapoor and Neena Gupta regularly post pictures and updates on social media platforms or interact with fans and paparazzi. Neena Gupta and Sharmila Tagore have also featured in OTT shows or talk shows. This helps brands they endorse deepen consumer connect, executives said.

The return of these legends as brand ambassadors is unlike the older men celebs like Amitabh Bachchan or Kapil Dev who have always been in public domain and hence have been seen in ads consistently, brand experts said.

"Traditionally, women actresses had a shorter shelf life," said brand strategy consultant Harish Bijoor. "All that is now getting elongated and many of them are back with a bang. Many of the legacy actresses are now digital stars of their own making, and personify contemporary retro, which is drawing in brands," he added.

Executives said the yesteryear names evoke nostalgia and grace, and are helping relevant brands connect better with consumers they are targeting.

"Our association with Aman brought her personality, gravitas and authenticity to the narrative," said Sanya Dawar, marketing and brand communications lead at Forest Essentials.

The beauty company's recent festive campaign with Zeenat Aman has been one of its "most engaged" social media campaigns, she said.

Aman's campaign for Cred in August got over 1.4 million views in a day, according to the company.

Rajeev Juneja, vice chairman of Mankind Pharma, while announcing that Neetu Kapoor and her son Ranbir Kapoor would endorse the company's petcare brand PetStar, had said, "We believe their association will not only elevate the brand's visibility but also resonate with pet lovers."

According to Umesh Verma, general manager, marketing and communications, at Puri Oil Mills, which roped in Gupta along with Boman Irani for P Mark edible oils, the choice of Gupta was a well-thought-out strategic decision based on multiple parameters. "Neena Gupta suited the script, and her recent roles in many popular OTT series have increased her fan following among young generation viewers who constitute an important customer segment for the brand," he said.

The visibility, social media presence, and public engagements that the actresses have themselves worked upon are a big change from even a year or two back when they were rarely seen in public domain, experts said. Previously, the yesteryear actresses such as Rekha, Hema Malini and Dimple Kapadia would be seen endorsing only one-off brands.

"Instagram has been my playground for the past year or so... It is simply extraordinary to me that I can connect with quite literally hundreds of thousands of you through this page," Aman, who now has 665k followers on Instagram, wrote on her page recently.

Executives at talent companies say fees of the seventies' stars, currently about 20-30% of what a Priyanka Chopra or a Deepika Padukone charge, could well go up at least by another 20-30% in the years to come, if brands see higher returns on investment. Padukone is known to charge about Rs 5 crores per endorsement, they said.

Her family is made up of superstars, from her late father Rishi Kapoor, to mother Neetu Kapoor and brother Ranbir. But Riddhima Kapoor Sahni was always certain about not foraying into showbiz, instead establishing herself as a fashion designer and among the top jewellery designers. Now, Bollywood has come calling. We hear Sahni will star in a prominent role in the third season of Karan Johar’s reality web series, The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. The Netflix series gives us a peek into B-Town’s inner circle as Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh juggle careers, crises, family and friendships.

While the opening season was a binge-fest, thanks to the protagonists’ colourful personalities, the second edition received a lukewarm response due to its bland storytelling. Insiders say that producer Johar took note of the criticism, and decided to feature three powerful women entrepreneurs in the upcoming instalment. Enter Delhi’s glitterati Sahni, Kalyani Saha Chawla and Shalini Passi. 

A source says, “Fabulous Lives is travelling from Mumbai to Delhi. The creative team realised that they needed to introduce new faces into the mix. All three are well-known celebrities based in Delhi, but connected to Bollywood in one way or the other. Shalini Passi is an art and design collector, art advisor and the creative director of Pasco group of companies. She is a long-time friend of Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan. Kalyani Saha Chawla is the founder and chief executive of a silver luxury home decor brand and consultant for an international luxury label. The three women are Karan’s good friends and were happy to feature in his show. The story will move forward as Maheep, Bhavna, Seema and Neelam meet the trio in Delhi.”

Sahni isn’t the only addition we’re excited about. The source adds, “Neetu-ji will make a friendly appearance. The series will offer a glimpse of her deep bond with daughter Riddhima.”

Last week, the team kicked off filming in the capital. After a few days of shooting, they will return to Mumbai, where the second schedule will commence from the first week of November. This time too, the four protagonists will travel to different locations in India and overseas, before calling it a wrap by December.

The cast shot with entrepreneur Kalyani Saha (left) in Delhi yesterday

From bringing producer Aditya Chopra out of the shadows in front of the camera for the first time to late actor Rishi Kapoor’s last interview — the docuseries The Romantics is stirring up quite a buzz. And director Smriti Mundhra, also known as the creator of Indian Matchmaking, didn’t anticipate just “how much the series would tap into people’s sense of nostalgia and love of cinema”. Excerpts:

It has been a journey of over three years since we started this process and began the research — watching a lot of films, going through the whole catalogue of the production house and what was happening around the time these films were made. All this [was] because we wanted to paint a larger picture in terms of what movies tell us about the time we live in.

One of the reasons I wanted to tell the story through the lens of Yash Chopra was because of the longevity of his career and how it started in the aftermath of the Partition. I realised how closely these elements of the political and socioeconomic climate are braided into their personal story.

Once I could show him what the series and telling of the story of his father would be with his perspective, that’s probably what convinced him, finally. Anyone who has worked in any capacity with Aditya Chopra can tell you that he holds creative integrity to the highest standard, and will move mountains to make sure that the creative integrity of whatever project he is involved with, is intact.

He kept a cool head with me. He had some time after seeing it to just absorb before I talked to him. Maybe if he was really angry, or horrified, he conveyed that to somebody else, but he didn’t convey that to me. After he saw it, the first conversation that I had with him was him saying, ‘Okay, I see what you mean’.

It is one of the highlights of my career. I feel so lucky and privileged that I got that opportunity, not knowing that just a month later, we were going to lose him. He seemed his best on the day I interviewed him. He looked great, was gregarious, very chatty and charming. There was Neetu ji (Kapoor, actor and Rishi’s wife) with him, and they just had such great banter going on. I’m so glad that I got to interview him when he was in the mood to talk, especially given that it was his last interview.

The excitement among #Ralia fans to get a glimpse of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s daughter, Raha, is only understandable. However, the new parents aren’t ready to reveal their baby’s face just yet. The actor-couple, along with Ranbir’s mother, actor Neetu Kapoor, held an informal meeting with the paparazzi on Saturday and requested them to follow a ‘no photo policy’ for the little one.

“Alia and Ranbir told the photographers, ‘We understand this is your profession and we all need you as much as you need us, but we request you to please not click Raha till she turns two’. Neetu ji also said it’s the parents’ decision, so we should respect it,” a pap present at the meeting tells us, adding that the couple assured that they would eventually introduce their daughter to the world.

In the past, cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma had requested paps to not click their daughter Vamika’s pictures. Even when her photos from a cricket stadium were shared on social media, Anushka requested media houses not to carry them.

Now, we’ve learnt that Alia, too, has made a similar request. She told the paps: “By chance, if Raha comes in any frame, please use a heart emoji, vada pav or bhajiya, but don’t reveal her face.”

To this, Ranbir added, “Even in cars, when you zoom in and if at all you click her, please don’t circulate those photos, till she grows up. I won’t object if you want to click our couple pictures.”

During the meeting, Ranbir showed paps photos of Raha on his phone. Lauding the gesture, a photographer says, “It was really nice of Ranbir to give his phone to us. We saw four-five pics of Raha. He mentioned this was the first time he was showing these pictures to someone outside the family.”

Alia also mentioned that she and Ranbir avoid sharing Raha’s snaps on WhatsApp, fearing they’d get leaked. She even said the paps present for the meeting were the first ones to see the baby’s pictures.