Actor Suchitra Krishnamoorthi has shared new details about her past relationship with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, revealing that her family strongly opposed their marriage because of a 30 year age gap. In a recent interview, she recalled how her mother begged her not to pursue the relationship, even holding her feet in a desperate plea. Despite the family’s objections, the two married in 1999 and later divorced in 2007.
Suchitra Recalls Meeting Shekhar Kapur as a Teenager
The actor spoke about her first encounter with the filmmaker during a conversation on Hauterrfly’s The Male Feminist. She was in 11th standard when Shekhar Kapur visited her college as a chief guest. “He looked at me and said something and I was like yay. I was a fan girl,” she said. A few years later, when she was 18, photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha sent her to meet Kapur for a film project that never materialised. After that meeting, Kapur began calling her and taking her out. Suchitra’s sister was reportedly very upset about the situation.
Mother Begged Her Not to Marry Shekhar Kapur
The most striking part of the interview was Suchitra’s account of her family’s reaction to the age gap. Shekhar Kapur is roughly the same age as her mother, which made the relationship difficult for her family to accept. Suchitra revealed that her mother took an extreme step to stop the marriage.
“Mummy ne aise pair pakadke bola tha please mat karo (My mother literally held my feet and begged me, saying, ‘Please don’t do this’),” Suchitra said.
The plea did not change Suchitra’s mind. She went ahead with the marriage in 1999 when she was just 22 years old, while Kapur was 52. The couple welcomed their daughter, Kaveri Kapur, in 2001.
Family Support During a Difficult Marriage
While her family opposed the marriage, Suchitra said her mother’s stance changed when the relationship began to fall apart. She recalled her mother telling her, “Listen, you don’t have to put up with anything that is disrespectful, you are not an orphan.” Suchitra added that her mother always had a fire in her, and that fire was passed on to her.
The marriage faced serious troubles. Suchitra has previously stated that Shekhar Kapur cheated on her during their marriage. She even contemplated leaving him in the first year, but her plans changed when she discovered she was pregnant with Kaveri. The couple eventually divorced in 2007.
Life After Divorce and Co-Parenting Kaveri
Following the divorce, Suchitra and Shekhar Kapur continued to co-parent their daughter. Suchitra has described their dynamic with humour, calling herself the “full-time mom” and Kapur the “vacation dad.” She has said that co-parenting comes with a lot of responsibility, and that children should have the love and support of both parents if possible.
Kaveri Kapur, their daughter, has now entered the film industry. She made her acting debut with the romantic comedy Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story, which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar.
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Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s Career and Shekhar Kapur’s Work
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi became a household name with her debut in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 1993. She later appeared in films like Vishwa, Jazbaat, Aag, and Karma Aur Holi. Her most recent big-screen appearance was in the 2022 film Odd Couple.
Shekhar Kapur is one of India’s most respected filmmakers, known for directing Masoom, Mr India, and Bandit Queen. He gained international fame with Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. He is currently set to direct Foreign Bodies, a historical drama about vaccine pioneer Waldemar Haffkine.
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