Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna shared a tumultuous relationship, and after nine years of marriage and two daughters, Twinkle and Rinke, they decided to separate. Although they never officially divorced, their separation was highly publicised, especially when Dimple returned to acting in the 1980s and gained success. During this time, Rajesh Khanna’s career was in decline, and by the early 1990s, he chose to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Despite their estrangement, Dimple campaigned for Rajesh Khanna during the 1991 elections. Reflecting on this decision in a 1994 interview with Pritish Nandy, she explained that it was essential for her to stand by him publicly. When asked why she took this step, Dimple responded, “What are friends for? If I can’t stand by somebody I’ve known for a good part of my life, what’s the point? For me, it’s important.”
Dimple revealed that she was deeply concerned about Rajesh’s foray into politics, admitting she was “very scared for him” and was surprised when he eventually won. Rajesh contested from the New Delhi seat during the 1991 elections. Initially, he lost, but after the winning MP resigned, he ran again in 1992 and secured the seat. However, he left active politics after 1996.
Dimple shared that she didn’t make promises during the campaign but instead pleaded with voters to support Rajesh. “I didn’t make any promises. I begged them. That’s what I did. At times, I would take my dupatta and go like that,” she said, gesturing with her arms outstretched. She described the experience as the “greatest experience of my life” and called it “incredible” due to the love and support she received from the public.
Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna married when she was only 15, while he was twice her age. Though they never reconciled after their separation, Dimple remained a significant figure in his life until his passing in 2012 at the age of 69.
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