The Kapoor family has been one of the most influential dynasties in Hindi cinema. From Raj Kapoor to Rishi Kapoor, and from Karisma Kapoor to Kareena Kapoor Khan, the family has produced generations of stars who ruled the silver screen.

Yet, behind the glamour lies a deeply personal story—one that belongs to Randhir Kapoor, son of Raj Kapoor and father of Karisma and Kareena.

Early Success, Personal Struggles

When Randhir Kapoor entered films, he dreamed of carrying forward his legendary father’s legacy. He tasted success early and featured in several popular films. However, while his professional journey showed promise, his personal life began to unravel.

Randhir’s marriage to actress Babita Kapoor faced serious challenges. Over the years, Randhir has openly admitted that his career setbacks deeply affected him. Struggling with repeated failures, he slipped into alcoholism—a phase that took a toll on both his marriage and family life.

Marriage Arranged by Raj Kapoor

Randhir once revealed that he met Babita on the sets of his father’s film Sangam. He fell for her instantly, but marriage wasn’t on his mind. It was Raj Kapoor who insisted.

Speaking on The Kapil Sharma Show, Randhir recalled:

“I was just passing time. Papa asked me directly, ‘Do you want to marry her or not?’”

Eventually, the two married in 1971. Babita, who was a successful actress then, gave up her flourishing career after marriage, as women from the Kapoor family were traditionally not encouraged to work in films.

Separation and a Mother’s Sacrifice

By the late 1980s, Randhir’s acting career had nearly stalled, and he was labelled a flop actor. In 1988, he left Babita and their two young daughters—14-year-old Karisma and 8-year-old Kareena—and moved back to his parents’ home.

From that point on, Babita raised both daughters single-handedly. She never remarried and focused entirely on shaping her daughters’ futures—decisions that eventually led both Karisma and Kareena to become major stars.

“I Once Asked My Daughters to Adopt Me”

In a candid moment, Randhir later admitted that there was a time when he jokingly told his daughters to “adopt” him—acknowledging how successful and financially independent they had become.

He said he lost his way in life but holds no bitterness. Instead, he expressed pride that his daughters today are more successful and wealthier than him. Randhir has often said that Babita deserves full credit for raising them into strong, successful women.

Where They Stand Today

Though Randhir and Babita continue to live separately, their relationship has softened over time. Randhir has shared that they occasionally meet for lunch, laugh about past mistakes, and maintain mutual respect.

“I am happy if my daughters are happy,” Randhir once said—summing up a story of regret, acceptance, and quiet pride.