The buzz has been building since April when the announcement was first made — Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma would star in Dadi Ki Shaadi, marking Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s Bollywood debut. Now, director Ashish R Mohan tells mid-day that the family entertainer is set to wrap up soon, and he hopes to release it on Mother’s Day (May 10, 2026) or sometime in April.

After a 40-day schedule in Shimla, Mohan shares that although most of the shoot is complete, some patchwork scenes, including an end-credit song, remain to be filmed in January.

“I wanted to complete the film after I locked my release date. We had shot a song choreographed by Ganesh [Acharya] master in Shimla earlier this year, but a one-day shoot remained as there was talk of a [conflict between] India and Pakistan,” he recollects.

On May 7, India launched strikes on Pakistan in an operation code-named Operation Sindoor. For safety, Mohan returned to Mumbai with the cast and crew.

He shares that the finale number features “700 children from the schools in Shimla and outside and has the entire cast in it. I will invite the entire cast to come down [to] shoot the song and scenes — in Golden Tobacco Factory or Film City. [We also have] one-day scene to shoot with Riddhima,” adds the filmmaker.

Currently in post-production, Dadi Ki Shaadi is a comedy revolving around a family who gets involved in a family matriarch’s marriage. Earlier, the film — also starring South superstar Sarath Kumar, Nikhat Hegde, Tejaswini Kolhapure, and Sadia Khateeb — was planned for a December release. The makers will now announce the release date on December 20.

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."

Ridhhima Kapoor Sahni, jewellery designer and sister of actor Ranbir Kapoor, recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other members of the Kapoor family, including actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor, to mark the centenary celebrations of late filmmaker and actor Raj Kapoor.

Talking to us about the experience of meeting the PM, Riddhima describes it as a truly special occasion. She, however, expressed regret that the children [Kareena and Saif’s sons Taimur and Jehangir; Riddhima’s daughter Samara] couldn’t attend the meeting.

“He (PM Modi) did mention that ‘I was hoping to meet the third generation as well,’ but we were sceptical about taking kids. In such a formal meeting, they tend to jump around,” she says, adding, “We did tell him that at some point we would have loved if you met our children. We, however, did manage to get a signed autograph which I have framed and kept in Samara’s room. I know she will cherish it for the rest of her life.”

Revealing that she gifted the PM a brooch, Riddhima shares, “I had made it when he became the Prime Minister of India for the first time, a decade ago. I have been manifesting this meeting for the last 10 years. When he was sworn in, I had especially designed a brooch for him.”

She continues, “It had his initials, NM, along with the Indian flag, and I had hoped that someday, somewhere, I would get to meet him. That manifestation finally turned into reality for me.”

Detailing what she spoke to the PM about, Riddhima, who was accompanied by her husband, businessman Bharat Sahni, says, “We share some common interests like we eat healthy. So, we discussed a lot about millets and its different kinds,” adding, “In fact, I told him that I eat matta rice, which I recommended he could try at some point. I also explained to him what it is, which I’m sure he knew, but it just felt good explaining to him what I eat.”

She adds, “We spoke a lot about yoga, and he is my inspiration when it comes to it.”

With a deep interest in yoga herself, Riddhima expressed a desire to further explore the field. “I am interested in doing something in the field of yoga. So, we had a conversation around that as well. I did tell him that my mother as well as cousins Karisma and Kareena, and Alia (Bhatt, actor), we all practice yoga,” she ends.

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.”

Seema Sajdeh, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Panday and Neelam Kothari Soni weren’t exactly excited about including three outsiders in Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, after fronting the past two seasons. Were they feeling territorial?

Maybe, admits Sajdeh. “We were a little resistant because we four can be clan-ish. We’ve been friends for long. You are in your comfort zone when you reach your 40s-50s, and to let new people in your life is daunting. But as we hung out with each other more, I had a lot of fun,” says the fashion designer of her new co-stars, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Kalyani Saha Chawla, and Shalini Passi.

The third season sees a face-off between the Bollywood personalities and the Delhi socialites. Sajdeh enjoyed witnessing Sahni, daughter to Neetu Kapoor and the late Rishi Kapoor, making her screen debut with the Netflix series. “I’ve known her for years, and had attended her wedding. She is a total hoot.”

In the course of the past two editions, Sajdeh’s personal life has undergone a change. She separated from actor-filmmaker Sohail Khan in 2022, after 24 years of marriage. In the latest season, she is seen speaking to her elder son, Nirvan Khan, about moving on in life after her divorce.

Sajdeh reflects, “He is like my best friend. When I have to make an important decision, the number one approval I need is of my son. I want him to look up to his mother. I want him to understand his mother’s journey. If there is one person I can be transparent with, it’s him.”

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.

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.

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