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You see her now in the background of Instagram photos, usually wearing oversized glasses and a serene smile while holding one of her grandsons. People call her the "Kapoor matriarch." But honestly, labeling Babita Kapoor as just the mother of Kareena Kapoor is like calling the foundation of a skyscraper "just some concrete."
Without Babita, the Bollywood we know today—the one dominated by the Bebo and Lolo era—simply wouldn't exist. She didn't just raise two daughters; she dismantled a 70-year-old patriarchal dynasty rule that basically forbade Kapoor women from acting.
It wasn't easy. Not even a little bit.
The Actress Who Disappeared at Her Peak
Before she was a "star mother," Babita Shivdasani was a genuine 1960s fashion icon. If you look at old photos of her in Farz (1967) or Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968), you’ll see the original blueprint for Karisma’s features. She was the "it girl" who made tight churidars and hoop earrings a national obsession.
She had it all. A flourishing career, 19 lead roles in less than a decade, and a massive fan base. Then she met Randhir Kapoor on the sets of Kal Aaj Aur Kal. They fell in love, and in 1971, they got married.
But there was a catch. Back then, the Kapoor "khandaan" had an unspoken, iron-clad rule: the women who married into the family (and the daughters born into it) didn't work in the film industry. So, at the age of 23, Babita just... stopped. She walked away from the limelight to become a Kapoor bahu.
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When the Fairytale Crumbled
By the mid-80s, things got messy. Randhir’s career was hit by a series of flops, and he reportedly struggled with alcohol. The lifestyle clash was real. Babita wanted a disciplined, stable environment for her girls; Randhir was more of a "live-for-the-moment" personality.
In 1988, Babita did something unthinkable for that era. She didn't just complain—she left.
She moved out of the iconic RK residence and took Karisma and Kareena with her. They moved into a small flat in Lokhandwala. No alimony. No massive Kapoor bankroll. Honestly, it’s one of the most badass moves in Bollywood history that people rarely talk about. Kareena has often mentioned in interviews that they were "left to fend for themselves."
Babita started small businesses to pay the bills. She was the one who drove the girls to school and made sure they stayed grounded. She was also the one who saw the fire in Karisma’s eyes and decided that the "no acting" rule was officially over.
The Mother of Kareena Kapoor and the Battle for the Big Screen
Babita became a "star mother" out of necessity and fierce protection. When Karisma decided to enter films in 1991 with Prem Qaidi, it caused a massive rift in the Kapoor family. Babita stood like a shield. She was at every set, every costume fitting, and every contract negotiation.
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She was often called "difficult" or "controlling" by the media back then. But looking back through a 2026 lens? She was just a single mother negotiating a cut-throat industry for a teenage daughter.
By the time Kareena was ready to debut in 2000, the path had been cleared. The Kapoor men had eventually come around, realizing that the talent in their daughters was undeniable. Babita had won.
What People Get Wrong About Her Marriage
There’s a common misconception that Babita and Randhir "hated" each other. That's not really the case. They separated for nearly 35 years but never legally divorced. Randhir once famously said, "Divorce for what? I don’t intend to get married again, and neither does she."
They stayed friends. They celebrated birthdays together. And in a twist that feels like a scripted Bollywood ending, they actually reconciled in their twilight years. Around 2023, reports surfaced that they had moved back in together. Kareena recently described this as "divine intervention," seeing her parents holding hands in their old age.
The Babita Legacy: Lessons in Resilience
If you're looking for the secret sauce behind Kareena’s "don't care" attitude or Karisma’s work ethic, look at Babita. She taught them that a name might get you in the door, but grit keeps you in the room.
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Key takeaways from Babita's journey:
- Financial Independence is Non-Negotiable: She pushed her daughters to be "self-dependent" because she knew how quickly the rug can be pulled out from under you.
- Rules are Guidelines: Just because "it's always been done this way" doesn't mean it’s right. She broke the Kapoor tradition so her daughters could thrive.
- Dignity in Silence: Despite the tabloid fodder, she rarely gave interviews or bashed her husband publicly. She let her daughters' success do the talking.
Today, Babita Kapoor is mostly seen at her grandchildren’s birthday parties, looking elegant and remarkably private. She transitioned from a movie star to a struggling single mom to the architect of a new generation of superstars.
The next time you watch a Kareena Kapoor Khan movie, remember that the "confidence" Bebo is famous for wasn't just born—it was coached by a woman who risked everything to make sure her daughters had a voice.
To truly understand the Kapoor legacy, you have to look beyond the men of the family. Look at the woman who walked out of the palace to make sure her kids could own the stage.
Actionable Insight for Readers:
If you're interested in the history of Indian cinema, don't just watch the classics. Look into the biographies of the women behind the scenes. Start by watching Babita's early work like Raaz or Farz to see the screen presence she passed down. Understanding the socio-political "rules" of the 1970s film industry adds a whole new layer of respect for what she achieved as a parent and a professional.