She gave up stardom for marriage but destiny had bigger plans for her, guess who?

Dimple Kapadia was only 16 years old when she married Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, in March 1973. At the time, she had just made her sensational debut with Bobby (1973), which released after her wedding. Her marriage shocked the film industry, as she was seen as the rising star of her generation.

Soon after marriage, Dimple gave birth to her first daughter, Twinkle Khanna, at the age of 17. A few years later, she had her second daughter, Rinke Khanna. Despite her young age, she embraced motherhood and largely stepped away from the film world to focus on her family.

Following her marriage to Rajesh Khanna, Dimple retired from films, despite Bobby making her an overnight star. It was a rare move at the time—walking away from what could have been a golden run in Bollywood. Her sacrifice was widely discussed and even criticized.

By the age of 25, Dimple and Rajesh Khanna had separated, though they never officially divorced. The relationship reportedly became strained due to personal differences and the pressures of stardom. Despite their split, she stood by him during his final days.

After nearly a decade away from the screen, Dimple made a bold return with films like Sagar (1985), which re-established her as a talented and glamorous leading lady. Her second innings in Bollywood was marked by acclaimed performances in films like Rudaali, Lekin, and more recently, Tenet and Pathaan.