Babita Kapoor's most candid photos from her younger days and lesser-known facts

Babita, a popular yesteryear actress from the 60s and 70s celebrates her 74th birthday on April 20. The mother of top Bollywood actresses Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan has also interestingly shared the screen with husband Randhir Kapoor, uncle-in-law Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor and father-in-law Raj Kapoor during her heyday. A look at her candid photos and journey.

Updated On: 2022-04-20 07:21 AM IST

Babita Kapoor's most candid photos from her younger days and lesser-known facts

Babita was born as Babita Shivdasani on April 20, 1948. Her father, actor Hari Shivdasani, hailed from a Hindu Sindhi family migrated from Pakistan to India after the partition and her mother was a British Christian. (All photos/Karisma Kapoor's Instagram account, Yogen Shah and mid-day archives)

Babita's sister Meena Advani is the owner of the popular automobile company Powermaster Engineers. The legendary actress Sadhana is Babita's first cousin.

Babita appeared in 19 films from 1966 (her debut year) to 1973. Although her first Bollywood release was the 1966 film Dus Lakh, she had initially signed Raaz opposite Rajesh Khanna, which hit screens a year later. Her biggest box office successes were Dus Lakh with Sanjay Khan, Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati and Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968), (with her future uncle-in-law Shashi Kapoor), Farz, Banphool and Ek Hasina Do Diwane with Jeetendra, Doli with Rajesh Khanna, Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai (1969) (with her uncle-in-law Shammi Kapoor), Kismat with Biswajeet and Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? (1970) with Dharmendra.

Babita co-starred with future husband Randhir Kapoor in the 1971 film Kal Aaj Aur Kal. The classic interestingly starred her father-in-law Raj Kapoor and grandfather-in-law Prithviraj Kapoor and Randhir helmed directorial duties. It was also Randhir's debut as a director and leading actor.

Babita and Randhir Kapoor tied the knot on November 6, 1971. They have two daughters, Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan, who turned out to be successful actresses in their own right. Pictured: Babita with son-in-law Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor.

Babita co-starred with husband Randhir Kapoor in K Shankar's Jeet in 1972, which was a remake of the Tamil film En Annan. Interestingly, daughter Karisma Kapoor starred in a film of the same title, 24 years later. The 1996 film Jeet which also starred Salman Khan and Sunny Deol.

Babita acted in the films Ek Hasina Do Diwane (1972) and Sone Ke Hath (1973) before retiring from the film industry.

She later managed daughter Karisma Kapoor's film career, when she was a leading actress in the 1990s. She is a proud grandmother to daughter Karisma Kapoor's children Samaira, Kiaan Raj Kapoor and younger daughter Kareena Kapoor Khan's son Taimur Ali Khan.

Since Babita's Christian on her mother's side, Babita practices Christianity and Hinduism both. Babita along with her daughters Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan used to regularly attend the midnight mass at Bandra's St Andrew's Church on Christmas Eve.

During her heyday as a leading Bollywood actress in the 1960s and early 1970s, Babita was a trendsetter, who was an inspiration to millions of college-going girls, especially for her Churidar Kurtas, hoop earrings, and go-go eye-glasses. Many feel her older daughter Karisma Kapoor resembles her facially. Pictured: Babita with Shweta Bachchan, Randhir Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor.

Babita experienced difficulty learning her dance steps for the film Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai in 1969. She had to be given cues by the assistant dance director during filming.

While filming for Anmol Moti (1969), since she didn't know how to swim, Babita had to be pushed by the swimming instructor in a water-filled tank that lay submerged in a swimming pool, while shooting.

Babita has shared the screen with father-in-law Raj Kapoor, uncles-in-law Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. Raj Kapoor played her on-screen father-in-law in Kal Aaj Aur Kal, which was directed by and starred her husband Randhir Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor were cast opposite her in Haseena Maan Jayegi and Tumse Accha Kaun Hai respectively.

Despite living separately from husband Randhir Kapoor since 1988, Babita still maintains close contact with the Kapoor family and is often seen attending family get-togethers and other occasions. She's often spotted on outings with them and hubby Randhir.

Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan often host parties and get-togethers for mother Babita. The sister duo also posts pictures of mom Babita on social media.

Babita with Kapoor family members at Shashi Kapoor's Christmas lunch. Also pictured: Kunal Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Manoj Jain, Neela Devi Gohil, Aadar Jain, Armaan Jain, Karisma Kapoor, Shaira Laura Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Samara Sahni, Reema Jain, Neetu Kapoor, Randhi Kapoor and Zahaan Kapoor.

Daughters Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan have cited mom Babita for their success. It was her grit and determination that ultimately paid off into them literally becoming superstars in Bollywood.

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Babita!

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