Meet actress, who once suffered from leprosy in childhood, made debut at 15, became overnight star, married man twice her age, she is…

This renowned actress, who once suffered from a disease, gave screen test at age of 14, which turned out to be a blockbuster at the box office.

In vibrant tapestry of Bollywood’s history, few stories are as compelling as that of young girl who, despite facing a daunting illness in her early years, rose to stardom with a landmark romantic film. Her journey is a testament to resilience and the unpredictable nature of life in the film industry.

Who is this star?

Here we are talking about legendary actress Dimple Kapadia, who at tender age of 12 was diagnosed with leprosy at her shoulders, a condition that carried significant social stigma. During that period, a family friend threatened to have her ostracized from school due to her illness. This adversity, however, led to an unexpected opportunity. Late Raj Kapoor, a legendary filmmaker, learned of her condition and was intrigued by the story of beautiful girl like Dimple, battling such a disease. This curiosity led him to cast her in his film Bobby, marking her remarkable debut in the industry.

How was Dimple Kapadia’s debut in Bobby?

Dimple Kapadia was just 14 when Raj Kapoor discovered her for Bobby. During her screen test, her natural charm, expressive eyes, and confident presence impressed him instantly. Despite being a newcomer, she delivered the emotions he sought with ease, earning the lead role opposite Late Rishi Kapoor and marking a sensational debut. After its initial release, the film earned massive box office success. Made on a modest budget of around Rs 1 crore, it went on to earn over Rs 11 crore in India at the time. It became highest-grossing Indian film of 1973 and one of biggest hits of the 1970s. The film also performed well overseas and cemented both Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia as overnight stars.

How was Dimple Kapadia’s personal life?

At just 15 after debuting with Bobby, Dimple married superstar Late Rajesh Khanna, who was twice her age and soon took hiatus from acting after her debut in Bobby. She focused on family life for over a decade before making a strong comeback at 27 with Saagar opposite Kamal Haasan and Rishi Kapoor. Her second innings in cinema proved her versatility, with acclaimed roles in films like Rudaali, Dil Chahta Hai, and Finding Fanny, solidifying her legacy in Bollywood. Meanwhile, during a throwback interview Dimple talked about her first meet with Rajesh Khanna and said, “We were going to Ahmedabad. He was sitting next to me, I was looking at him. I very cleverly told him, there will be a lot of crowd there, will you hold my hand? He said, yes of course. I replied- forever?’ And the rest is history.”