Dimple Kapadia’s Sister Simple Kapadia Broke Down Over Rajesh Khanna’s Behavior During Debut Film
The legendary corridors of Bollywood have witnessed countless familial relationships, professional collaborations, and behind-the-scenes controversies, but few stories are as poignant as that of actress Simple Kapadia and her superstar brother-in-law, Rajesh Khanna. While Dimple Kapadia took the film industry by storm with her sensational debut, her younger sister Simple chose to follow a similar path in cinema. However, her entry into the acting world was fraught with emotional distress, leading to candid revelations years later about how the iconic superstar treated her during their collaborative projects.
Simple Kapadia’s Entry Into Films and Her Difficult On-Set Experience
When Dimple Kapadia stepped away from her flourishing career following her high-profile marriage to superstar Rajesh Khanna, her younger sister Simple Kapadia entered the acting arena. In 1977, Simple made her acting debut opposite her brother-in-law in the film Anurodh. Unfortunately, the movie failed to capture the box office magic they had hoped for and turned out to be a commercial disappointment.
Living under the same roof at Dimple and Rajesh Khanna's residence during this period, Simple anticipated guidance and familial support from the established megastar. Instead, she encountered a deeply discouraging environment. In a revealing 1986 interview with journalist Sushmita Roy, Simple bared her heart about the emotional toll the experience took on her, recounting how she was made to feel utterly insignificant.
"They Treated Me Like Garbage": Simple Kapadia’s Heartbreaking Revelation
Reflecting on the overwhelming anxiety of her debut, Simple Kapadia shared how unsupportive Rajesh Khanna was during the production of Anurodh. Expressing the pain that lingered long after filming wrapped, she stated that she was treated like garbage during a time when she desperately needed mentorship.
"Since it was my first film, I was very nervous and confused, but they didn't help me at all. They even refused to rehearse my dialogue with me. They were completely unhelpful, and one day I was in tears," Simple had shared, recalling the emotional breakdown she suffered on set due to the lack of basic professional courtesy and familial warmth.
Furthermore, in a 1977 interview with India Today following the film's theatrical failure, Simple admitted that working alongside someone she knew personally in such a professional setting felt entirely unnatural, noting that it was deeply uncomfortable to face Rajesh Khanna in front of the camera when his on-set persona contrasted so sharply with personal familiarity.
Transitioning From Acting to an Award-Winning Career as a Costume Designer
Failing to achieve the meteoric stardom enjoyed by her sister Dimple—and facing harsh, unfair public criticism labeled by critics at the time—Simple Kapadia eventually decided to step away from the acting limelight after starring in a handful of films. Channeling her creative energy elsewhere, she successfully reinvented herself as a premier Bollywood costume designer. Her exceptional eye for aesthetics and design earned critical acclaim, culminating in a prestigious National Film Award for Best Costume Designer for her phenomenal work in the critically lauded film Rudaali.
In her personal life, Simple married Rajinder Singh Shetty in 1992, with whom she welcomed a son, though the marriage eventually ended in separation. Tragically, her life was cut short when she passed away in 2009 at the age of 51 after a courageous, three-year battle against cancer, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and artistic excellence.
