Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 12: Veteran actress Neelima Azeem has opened up about the struggles she faced as a young single mother after her divorce from actor Pankaj Kapur, revealing how she raised Shahid Kapoor amid financial hardship, emotional turmoil and life in Mumbai with very little support.
Today widely known as the mother of actors Shahid Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, Neelima recalled that there was a time when she herself was among the most sought-after faces in the entertainment industry, with several leading filmmakers eager to sign her for films and television projects.
In an interview with Zoom TV, Neelima said producers would often wait outside her home to cast her, with filmmakers like Saawan Kumar Tak and Yash Chopra showing interest in working with her.
Despite professional success, her personal life went through major upheaval at a young age. Neelima married early, became a mother young and went through divorce at the age of 24 while raising three-year-old Shahid Kapoor.
“I learned to be a parent. In my case, I didn’t have any support from my then-married partner,” she said while referring to actor Pankaj Kapur.
She admitted that coping with divorce and motherhood simultaneously was extremely difficult.
“I must have made lots of mistakes. I was extremely young and dealing with a divorce very early in life. I don’t know how well I coped with it, and my child had to experience all of that. It wasn’t all hunky-dory for him,” she said.
Neelima credited her parents for helping her during those difficult years and said Shahid Kapoor was deeply influenced by his grandparents while growing up.
“Till he was nine years old, he lived with them, and both my parents deeply influenced him as a child,” she said.
Recalling her early days in Mumbai, Neelima revealed that she arrived in the city in 1990 with only Rs 4,500 that she had earned herself.
“I had just Rs 4,500 when I came to Mumbai. Nobody understands what it feels like to move cities with almost nothing in your hand. I never borrowed money from anyone. I didn’t even ask my family for help,” she said.
She added that survival became her biggest challenge after divorce despite having experience in theatre, documentaries and television.
Ironically, Neelima said her career took off rapidly during the same period after she starred in the television show Talaash.
“I came to Bombay and suddenly became the most popular star on television. Saawan Kumar Tak waited 15 days to sign me for two films. Yash Chopra wanted to cast me as the lead in Mashaal. There was a long list of offers,” she recalled.
However, she admitted that she never made career decisions based on money or practicality.
“I always followed my heart and passion. Looking back, I realise I could have made far more money than I did. But we were devoted fools,” she said.
Now 67, Neelima said she has no regrets despite facing financial struggles, three marriages and three divorces while raising her children largely on her own.
“To take care of children amid so much chaos is not an ordinary thing. I never ran away. I stayed and did what I could,” she said.
Speaking candidly about the entertainment industry, Neelima also alleged that she refused to compromise to gain work, which she believes affected her popularity within the industry.
“I earned respect and raised two children without compromising — not physically, not emotionally, not in any way,” she said.
Neelima added that Shahid Kapoor’s determination and ambition were shaped by witnessing her struggles and resilience during his childhood years.