Like a flame that dimmed for a while but never went out, Dimple Kapadia’s career has seen early fame, a long break, and a powerful return.
She was born on June 8, 1957 (69 years old) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is best known for her work in Hindi cinema.
Dimple became famous with her first film, Bobby, in 1973. She acted opposite Rishi Kapoor and became one of the most loved young faces of that time.
The film was a major success, and she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her debut role.
Quick Facts of Dimple Kapadia
| Full Name | Dimple Kapadia |
| Profession | Actress |
| Age | 69 years old |
| Date of Birth | June 8, 1957 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Gender | Female |
Dimple Kapadia Early Life and Education
Dimple Kapadia was born on 8 June 1957 in Bombay, India, now Mumbai.
Dimple grew up in the Santacruz area of Bombay. As a child, she wanted to become an actress. Her first big film chance came when Raj Kapoor cast her in Bobby. She was still a teenager at that time.
Education
Dimple Kapadia studied at St. Joseph’s Convent High School in Mumbai. She completed high school.
| School | St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Mumbai |
| Highest Qualification | Completed high school |
Dimple Kapadia Personal Life
Dimple Kapadia married actor Rajesh Khanna on March 27, 1973. She was 15 at the time. Rajesh Khanna was one of the biggest Hindi film stars of that period.
After marriage, Dimple stopped acting for some years. The couple later had two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna.
Ex-husband and Children
Dimple Kapadia married actor Rajesh Khanna in 1973. She was still a teenager at the time. Rajesh Khanna was already one of the biggest Hindi film stars in India. After marriage, Dimple stepped away from films for several years.
Separation from Rajesh Khanna
Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna separated in April 1982. She then returned to her parents’ home with her two daughters.
It is known that the couple did not officially divorce. Rajesh Khanna died in July 2012 at the age of 69.
Daughter: Twinkle Khanna
Twinkle Khanna is the elder daughter of Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna.
She was born on December 29, 1973, in Bombay, now Mumbai. She worked as an actress and made her film debut with Barsaat in 1995. She later quit acting and became an author, columnist, and interior designer. She is married to actor Akshay Kumar, and they have two children.
Daughter: Rinke Khanna
Rinke Khanna is the younger daughter of Dimple. She was born on 27 July 1977 in Bombay, now Mumbai.
She is a former actress. She made her film debut with Pyaar Mein Kabhi in 1999. She also appeared in films such as Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai. She has two children.
Rumoured Link-up with Sunny Deol
Dimple Kapadia has also been linked with actor Sunny Deol. It has been said that they often connect their names to the 1980s and 1990s, when they worked together in films such as Manzil Manzil, Aag Ka Gola, and Narsimha. Their rumored relationship came back into public discussion after reports about a 2017 photo and video from London. However, people still speak about their close bond.
Parents
Her father was Chunibhai Kapadia, a Gujarati businessman. Her mother was Bitti Kapadia, also known as Betty.
Siblings
Dimple Kapadia was the eldest of four children.
Her three younger siblings were Simple Kapadia, Reem Kapadia, and Suhail Kapadia, who was also known as Munna. Public sources state that all three siblings have died.
Simple Kapadia (Late)
Late Simple Kapadia was Dimple’s younger sister. She worked as an actress and later became a costume designer.
Simple made her acting debut in the 1977 film Anurodh. She acted with Rajesh Khanna and also appeared in films such as Chakravyuha, Shakka, Lootmaar, Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai, Jeevan Dhaara, and Dulha Bikta Hai.
After retiring from her acting career, she worked as a costume designer. She designed costumes for actors such as Sunny Deol, Tabu, Amrita Singh, Sridevi, and Priyanka Chopra.
She won the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for Rudaali, which starred Dimple Kapadia.
Other siblings
Reem and Munna (Suhail) Kapadia. Both are no longer alive. However, they stayed away from the film industry, so very little public information is available about their personal life or work.
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Partners | Ex-husband: Rajesh Khanna Rumored boyfriend: Sunny Deol |
| Children | Daughters: Twinkle Khanna, Rinke Khanna |
| Parents | Father: Chunibhai Kapadia Mother: Bitti Kapadia |
| Siblings | Sisters: (Late) Simple Kapadia, (Late) Reem Kapadia Brother: (Late) Munna (Suhail) Kapadia |
Dimple Kapadia Career
Dimple Kapadia started her acting career with Raj Kapoor’s romantic film Bobby in 1973. She was only a teenager when she played Bobby J. Braganza, a young Christian girl from Goa.
Her main co-star in the film was Rishi Kapoor, who played Raj Nath. The film became one of the biggest Hindi films of that year and made Dimple a star soon after its release.
After Bobby, Dimple became closely linked with youthful fashion in Hindi cinema. Her style in the film, including the polka dot look, became very popular among young viewers.
However, she did not continue acting at that time. She married actor Rajesh Khanna before the release of Bobby and stepped away from films.
Break from Films and Comeback
Dimple Kapadia returned to films in 1984, two years after separating from Rajesh Khanna.
Her first major comeback project was Saagar, directed by Ramesh Sippy, but the film was released in 1985.
Before Saagar, some of her other films reached theatres, including Zakhmi Sher, Manzil Manzil, Aitbaar, and Arjun.
In Manzil Manzil and Arjun, she worked with Sunny Deol. In Aitbaar, she acted with Raj Babbar.
Success with Saagar
Saagar became an important film in Dimple Kapadia’s comeback. She played Mona D’Silva, a young woman caught between friendship and love.
Her main co-stars were Rishi Kapoor and Kamal Haasan. The film helped her regain her place in the Hindi film industry.
Work in the Mid-1980s
After Saagar, Dimple acted in several films across different genres. In 1986, she appeared in Feroz Khan’s Janbaaz, where her main co-star was Anil Kapoor.
The same year, she acted with Kamal Haasan in the Tamil science fiction film Vikram.
During this period, she also worked in films made by producers from South India, though she later said she accepted some of those films mainly for financial reasons.
Strong Roles in the Late 1980s
In 1987, Dimple received strong attention for her role in Mahesh Bhatt’s film Kaash. She played Pooja, a woman dealing with a broken marriage and her child’s illness.
Her main co-star in the film was Jackie Shroff. The role was different from many of her earlier glamorous parts and helped critics view her as a serious actress.
She also acted in films such as Insaaf, Zakhmi Aurat, Mera Shikar, Ram Lakhan, and Batwara.
In Zakhmi Aurat, she played a police officer named Kiran Dutt. The film was one of the women-led revenge films of that time and became a financial success, though it also received mixed reactions from critics.
Critical Work in the Early 1990s
In the early 1990s, Dimple Kapadia worked in several serious films. She appeared in Drishti, Lekin…, Prahaar, Narsimha, Haque, Ajooba, Angaar, and Rudaali.
In Prahaar, she worked with Nana Patekar and Madhuri Dixit. In Narsimha, she acted opposite Sunny Deol.
In Ajooba, she worked with Amitabh Bachchan. In Angaar, her co-star was Jackie Shroff.
Her role in Rudaali in 1993 became one of the most respected performances of her career. She played Shanichari in the Kalpana Lajmi film.
Supporting Roles and Mature Characters
After the mid-1990s, Dimple became more selective about films. She appeared less often but continued to choose different kinds of roles.
In 2001, she played Tara Jaiswal in Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai.
The film starred Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, and Preity Zinta, while Dimple’s role was especially linked with Akshaye Khanna’s character.
In 2002, she played the title role in Leela. She later worked in Hum Kaun Hai?, Pyaar Mein Twist, Phir Kabhi, and Tum Milo Toh Sahi. In Pyaar Mein Twist, she reunited with Rishi Kapoor.
Character Roles from 2006 to 2014
In 2006, Kapadia acted in Homi Adajania’s English-language film Being Cyrus.
Her co-stars included Saif Ali Khan and Naseeruddin Shah. The film received attention for its different style and helped Dimple connect with a new set of viewers.
She later appeared in Luck by Chance, Dabangg, Cocktail, and Finding Fanny. In Luck by Chance, directed by Zoya Akhtar, she played Neena Walia.
In Finding Fanny, she worked with Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur.
International Film and Streaming Work
She appeared in Christopher Nolan’s film Tenet in 2020. She played Priya Singh, an arms dealer.
The film’s cast included John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. Her performance received positive reviews from critics.
In 2021, she made her first digital platform appearance with the Amazon Prime Video series Tandav. She played Anuradha Kishore, a politician. The series also starred Saif Ali Khan.
In 2022, she appeared in A Thursday, where Yami Gautam played the lead role.
Recent Films and Series
In 2023, Dimple Kapadia acted in Pathaan, led by Shah Rukh Khan. The film also starred Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. Dimple played Dr. Nandini Grewal, the head of JOCR.
The same year, she appeared in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar as the mother of Ranbir Kapoor’s character.
She also played Savitri in the Disney+ Hotstar series Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo. The series starred Radhika Madan, Isha Talwar, Angira Dhar, Deepak Dobriyal, and Naseeruddin Shah.
In 2024, she appeared in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya with Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.
She also acted in Homi Adajania’s mystery film Murder Mubarak and played the title role in Go Noni Go.
In 2026, she starred with Pankaj Kapur in Jab Khuli Kitaab, a romantic comedy about an older couple facing problems after 50 years of marriage.
Dimple Kapadia Awards and Achievements
Here are the major wins and nominations of Dimple Kapadia:
Key Wins
- 1974, Filmfare Award for Best Actress: For her debut film Bobby (1973), where she played the role of Bobby Braganza opposite Rishi Kapoor.
- 1986, Filmfare Award for Best Actress: For Saagar (1985), in which she portrayed Kamo, earning praise for her emotional performance.
- 1993, National Film Award for Best Actress: For Rudaali (1993), where she played the role of Shanichari, a woman struggling through hardship and social challenges.
- 1993, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance: For her critically acclaimed performance in Rudaali.
- 1995, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: For Krantiveer (1994), recognising her supporting role in the action drama film.
- 1991, Asia Pacific Film Festival Award for Best Actress: For her performance in Lekin… (1991), recognising her contribution to Indian cinema.
- 1991, Damascus International Film Festival Award for Best Actress: For her performance in Lekin… (1991).
- 2023, Zee Cine Award for Best Supporting Actress: For playing Dr. Nandini Grewal in the action thriller Pathaan (2023).
- 2024, Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: For her performance as Dr. Nandini Grewal in Pathaan.
Key Nominations
- 2024 Filmfare OTT Awards Nomination for Best Supporting Actress: For her role in the series Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo.
Dimple Kapadia Controversies
- In 2017, a video of Dimple Kapadia and Sunny Deol spending time together in London went viral. The Indian Express reported that they were seen sitting together at a cafe and holding hands. This led to online discussion and rumours, but neither actor publicly confirmed any relationship.
- In 2021, the web series Tandav, starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, became controversial after complaints claimed that some scenes hurt religious sentiments. The makers issued an apology, and several FIRs were filed against the makers of the series.
Dimple Kapadia Net Worth
Dimple Kapadia’s net worth is around $10 million (₹88 crore).
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $10 million (₹88 crore) |
Dimple Kapadia Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Dimple Kapadia:
| Height | In centimetres: 161 cm In meters: 1.61 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 3 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 58 kg In lbs: 128 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 35-28-36 inches |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
FAQs
How old is Dimple Kapadia?
Dimple Kapadia is 69 years old. She was born on June 8, 1957, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Who was the husband of Dimple Kapadia?
Dimple Kapadia married actor Rajesh Khanna in 1973. Rajesh passed away in 2012.
How many children does Dimple Kapadia have?
Dimple Kapadia has two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna.
What was the first film of Dimple Kapadia?
Dimple Kapadia’s first film was Bobby, released in 1973.
Why did Dimple Kapadia stop acting after Bobby?
Dimple Kapadia stopped acting after marrying Rajesh Khanna in 1973. She returned to films in 1984 after separating from him.
Which film marked the comeback of Dimple Kapadia?
Dimple Kapadia’s comeback film was Saagar, released in 1985. The film starred Rishi Kapoor and Kamal Haasan alongside her.
Has Dimple Kapadia won a National Film Award?
Yes, Dimple Kapadia won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Rudaali.
Did Dimple Kapadia work in Hollywood?
Yes, Dimple Kapadia appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood film Tenet in 2020.
