Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Why they were so bitter about each other
Randhir Kapoor, the eldest son of the legendary Raj Kapoor had everything going for him. He was handsome and successful with a bright future ahead of him. His ladylove Babita, a spunky, beautiful and talented actress was his perfect match. Their courtship was blissful and marriage was the next step, despite opposition from their families. Unfortunately, they didn’t find the happiness they hoped for. Their contrasting personalities and differing expectations took a toll on their relationship and they eventually parted ways despite sharing two beautiful daughters, Karisma and Kareena.
YOUNG AND REBELLIOUS LOVERS Randhir’s Ploy To Make Babita Acceptable Babita, veteran actress Sadhana’s niece and actor Hari Shivdasani’s daughter, was the childhood sweetheart of Randhir Kapoor. The duo was madly in love and did quite a few films together. Babita was the sweet devoted girlfriend but insiders say she could be quite dominating. But Randhir didn’t mind it during the dating days; what mattered was that they were very fond of each other and serious about getting married. The big challenge was to seek dad Raj Kapoor’s approval. In the early 70s, Randhir was working on Kal Aaj Aur Kal with grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor and his father under the RK banner. He smartly signed on Babita as his co-star in the film which was a runaway success and consolidated his position in the industry. As a couple too, they received a lot of attention as their chemistry worked big time on the screen. Sources say this was a bold move on Randhir’s part in more ways than one. He actually got his father to share screen space with his girlfriend in the hope that he would get to know her better. The elder Kapoor had no problems working with Babita but he certainly wasn’t comfortable with the idea of her as his bahu.
Babita’s Ultimatum: Babita and Randhir continued to see each other and soon, like any other girl, she demanded that they take their relationship to the next level. Randhir was keen as well but there were problems at home and he wanted some time. Finally, Babita reportedly gave him an ultimatum to marry her by January 1972 or break off with her if he couldn’t commit. Dabboo (Randhir’s pet name), known to be a little intimidated by his girlfriend, didn’t think twice before agreeing to marry her on the dotted line and even before the deadline!
IT IS almost three decades since the Babita and Randhir Kapoor marriage ended in a messy separation. But the good news is that the couple has finally decided to put all the bad times behind them and come together again!
This is possibly the most triumphant victory for elder daughter Karisma Kapoor, who has been trying for years together to see her parents reunited.
To revive the Kapoor love story, theirs was a relationship that initially broke all Kapoor norms. The then dashing young Randhir Kapoor had set his heart on saucy and extremely popular actress Babita Shivdasani and was determined to marry her. At the time, this was taboo in the Kapoor fold, since Kapoor men simply did not marry actresses. But Randhir wasn’t relenting. Defying dad Raj Kapoor, Randhir stuck to his guns and said Babita or no one else!
Eventually, the family gave their consent and all Hindi film fans were enthralled by their subsequent marriage. There was, however, one Kapoor condition: Babita, as their daughter-in-law, had to put an end to her successful career. She complied and along with Randhir, she lived at their sprawling Marble Arch flat in Napean Sea Road.
But by the time little Karisma came along, the cracks in this marriage began to show. Apparently, this had to do with Randhir not being very serious about his career (and therefore support his family) and the first signs of his alcoholism.
An attempt between the couple to patch things up overrode the tough times. But when second daughter Kareena followed, Babita and Randhir had all but reached the end of their tether. Babita was bitter and therefore demanding, while Randhir whiled away his time with friends and his drinking escalated. She also reportedly sought solace in the arms of someone else and this came as a shock to Randhir. But exactly who was to blame is not something outsiders were in a position to judge.
In the mid-’80s, Babita finally asked Randhir to leave their home and get out of her life. He went back to his parents’ home in Deonar (the R.K. cottage) and Babita proceeded to bring up her daughters single-handedly. Apparently, she was also resentful of her in-laws, since they did not earlier take their son in hand by asking him to be serious about his career or give up his drinking.
So while Babita and Randhir split, she also cut off from the rest of the Kapoor family. Apparently, it was at this time that Randhir awoke with a rude shock and tried to make late promises to his wife that he would change. But the thing is, it was too late indeed.
Elder daughter Karisma was subsequently the key to her parents maintaining any kind of communication. Having witnessed the turmoil between them at a young age, and seeing her mum manage alone with two daughters it was early grow up time for Karisma. When of age, and Babita wanted her daughter to join films, Karisma readily acquiesced. This again shook up the Kapoor family, since no Kapoor daughter had ever stepped on to the silver screen.
Somewhere, Karisma obviously missed her father’s participation in her life. And she did take his permission on a film career. In fact, for her very first film victory, she insisted that both her parents be present and this sparked off the communication between Babita and Randhir once again. Thereafter, both girls —Karisma and Kareena —were in touch with their dad and he took an active part in their lives. Kudos to Babita, she did not let her own resentment cloud her judgment where Randhir’s fatherhood was concerned. While on his part, a sadder and wiser Randhir did all he could to be there for his daughters. Babita sold her flat at Napean Sea Road and moved to Bandra with her daughters, as this was a more convenient distance for Karisma and Kareena’s film careers. Yet, there were no signs of Babita having forgiven Randhir personally and when Karisma was earlier slated to marry Abhishek Bachchan, this came to the fore. Apparently, Babita insisted that Randhir would not perform Karisma’s ‘kanyadaan’ (the giving away of his daughter). However, this was again tided over when she eventually relented to his participation, when Karisma finally married Sanjay Kapur. Randhir, overlooking this, opened his heart and home at Deonar to his daughter’s wedding celebrations and spared no expense to make it a grand and joyous occasion.
It’s funny how events in your children’s lives can bring you closer though. Earlier, when a rebellious Kareena was involved in a relationship that did nobody any good, her parents got together to pack her off to boarding school. And then again, when Karisma’s marriage to Sanjay almost broke, it was both Randhir and Babita who encouraged her to get back to Sanjay, along with her baby daughter.
And through the years, perhaps egos and resentment stopped Babita and Randhir from getting together again. But apart from rumours of both of them looking at people outside of their marriage, they did not move on with other partners. Perhaps love somewhere remained too, along with the memories of happier times.
Today, this seems to be proving true as it is rumoured that Babita and Randhir have finally sorted out all their differences. Apparently, Babita is on the brink of moving back in with her husband Randhir, at the Kapoor home in Deonar, where he lives his with mother Krishna Kapoor.
Though Randhir is reluctant to confirm this for the moment, he does admit, “It hasn’t happened as yet but yes, it might.” This certainly calls for a huge celebration in the Kapoor household, with a very happy Karisma and Kareena.
In 2012 Randhir Kapoor Talks about his relationship with Babita
Randhir Kapoor talked about his own and his daughter Kareena’s marriage and the RK legacy, which Karisma, Kareena and Ranbir have taken forward.As much as Babita, me and the entire Kapoor family would like to have a reception party, we have to respect the sentiment of the couple who are marrying. Kareena and Saif want to have a small, private wedding, and only the immediate relatives of the Kapoors and the Khans, and friends close to my children have been invited. I would personally like to say sorry to those who’ve not been invited to the wedding. The bigger reception in Delhi has been organised by Saif’s mother, a lot of politicians will be attending that one as Sharmilaji is very well-connected politically. I just want Kareena’s fans to pray that she remains happy in her marriage.
Babita is happy where she is. We are certainly together, it is just that we decided to stay separately. She is still my wife and I am her husband.
There is not much planning as it is going to be a quiet wedding. The registered marriage will take place here and the reception in Delhi. If I had my way, I would’ve had a big bash and invited the whole world. But kids of today are different and have their own mindset. Besides, it would’ve been chaotic with the crowd and media hype.
Nobody is converting here — one human being is getting married to another, so they are not concerned about caste, creed or breed. They are going in for a registered marriage, and as long as they are happy, they have my blessings. They want to follow what they believe in. I am not marrying off a 19-year-old here.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali said that he didn’t want a married ‘Juliet’ when he got Kareena replaced in his film. Comment.
Today, people think differently. Hrithik Roshan married a year after he made his debut and he is a superstar. No one cares about who’s married or not. Marriage was an issue in my times, it mattered then and that is why people would declare their marital status years later.
But it does seem to matter when it comes to heroines?
We will see what happens then. Sharmila Tagore became ‘the’ Sharmila Tagore only after marriage. Hema Malini has been married for a long time. And both were superstars. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, too, is married.
And neither was my favourite actress Madhuri Dixit’s return great shakes. It depends on what kind of projects one gets or chooses. There is always a hit and a flop, it’s part of working in the film industry. Lolo’s children are grown up, so she had time to do something and she is happy doing it.
That is his choice, not Rishi Kapoor’s, and he is doing a bloody good job of it. He didn’t start by doing a Bobby, but a Saawariya, which was darker than Black. But he was so good and that is why he has taken off on a successful note. The family is very proud of Kareena, Karisma and Ranbir’s work. All of them have taken the name of Kapoor household several notches higher.
You will get to see more of me now. A lot of good offers are coming to me and I am doing it just to keep myself busy. In fact, I am really enjoying this new phase — as they say, once an actor always an actor. I give credit to Sajid (Khan), who pushed me into doing a film like Housefull 1 and then, 2.
You will hear an announcement by the end of the year. The trend today is to announce the film after one starts it, and that is what we plan to do. It may or may not star a kid from our house or a director. We will take them if they are required, we are not making a film for them.
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(This story has not been edited by BDC staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed from IANS.)
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