Neetu Kapoor’s journey in Indian cinema began at the tender age of eight. By 21, she had already shared the screen with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. Despite having a flourishing career with nearly 70 films in just seven years, she chose to step away from the limelight to focus on her family. In 1980, she married Rishi Kapoor, beginning a 40-year partnership that became one of Bollywood’s most cherished love stories.
Battling Sleeplessness and Grief
The passing of Rishi Kapoor in April 2020 left a massive void in Neetu’s life. During a recent appearance on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, All About Her, alongside daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Neetu shared the raw reality of her mourning. She revealed that for months following her husband’s death, she was unable to sleep.
In a desperate attempt to “numb her head,” she turned to alcohol. However, being deeply health-conscious, she soon realized this was a destructive path. She eventually sought medical help, where a doctor would visit her nightly to assist her in falling asleep, a process that helped her slowly regain control over her life.
Why Neetu Kapoor Chose Work Over Therapy
While many suggested therapy to handle the trauma, Neetu followed a different philosophy. She believes that true strength comes from within and that professional help is only effective if a person has already decided to heal themselves.
- The Power of Friendship: Neetu prefers talking to a small circle of trusted friends over a therapist.
- Acting as Healing: Encouraged by filmmaker Karan Johar, she returned to the screen with Jugjugg Jeeyo.
- A Nervous Return: Despite decades of experience, she admitted to being a “nervous wreck” on set, often shivering before shots. However, the discipline of work helped her rebuild her confidence.
Confronting the Trolls
Her decision to return to acting was met with harsh public scrutiny. Many people on social media judged her for “jumping back into work” so soon after her husband’s death. Neetu shared how deeply these comments hurt, as the public did not understand that working was her way of surviving the immense pain.
Today, she continues to act—not out of financial necessity, but because it brings her joy. Her recent film, Daadi Ki Shaadi, released on May 8, 2026, marks another milestone in her resilient second innings in cinema, featuring her daughter Riddhima in her Bollywood debut.