Karisma Kapoor recently appeared on Zakir Khan’s show Aapka Apna Zakir, where she addressed the long-standing misconception that the Kapoor family restricted their women from working. The Biwi No. 1 actor clarified that it was a personal choice for some women in the family, like her mother Babita Kapoor and her aunt Neetu Kapoor, to focus on family life, while others, such as Shammi Kapoor’s wife Geeta Bali and Shashi Kapoor’s wife Jennifer Kendal, chose to continue working after marriage.
During the show, Zakir asked Karisma about the rumours that the Kapoor family did not allow their women to work and if she had been given permission to pursue acting. She responded, “Yeh sab baatein hain ki mujhe allow tha yaa nahi tha. Jab meri mummy ki shaadi hui aur Neetu aunty ki shaadi hui, unka choice tha ki unko ghar basana tha, bachche karne the aur career achha hua tha. Unka choice tha (All these discussions about whether I was allowed or not are just that—discussions. When my mom and Neetu aunty got married, it was their decision to focus on starting a family and having children, as their careers were already well-established. It was their choice).”
She further explained, “Similarly, Shammi uncle and Shashi uncle’s wives, Geeta Bali ji and Jennifer aunty, unhone kaam kiya shaadi ke baad. Toh aisa kuch baat hai nahi ki Kapoor family mein shaadi ke baad kaam nahi kar sakte yaa Kapoor ladki kaam nahi kar sakte. Aisa kuch nahi tha… (They continued working after marriage. So, it’s not true that in the Kapoor family, you can’t work after marriage or that Kapoor women aren’t allowed to have careers. There was never such a restriction).”
Jennifer Kendal, who was married to Shashi Kapoor, was the founder of the Prithvi Theatre and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the film 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981). She also starred in notable films like Bombay Talkie (1970), Junoon (1978), Heat and Dust (1983), and Ghare Baire (1984). Jennifer passed away in 1984 after battling colon cancer. On the other hand, Geeta Bali, married to Shammi Kapoor, had a prolific career spanning over two decades, acting in more than 75 films. She established herself as a leading lady of the 1950s with memorable roles in films such as Bawre Nain (1950), Albela (1951), Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), and more.
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