'My mother held my feet and begged me...': Actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi recalls family's reaction to her 30-year age gap with ex-husband Shekhar Kapur. How did they meet?

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi has recently opened up about her relationship with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and recalled how they first met. The actor, best known for playing Shah Rukh Khan's love interest in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, said she was a teenager when she first saw Kapur and was immediately drawn to him. Years later, their relationship turned serious despite a 30-year age difference and concerns from her family.

In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly's The Male Feminist, Suchitra spoke about her early meetings with Shekhar Kapur, her family's reaction to their relationship and how her mother eventually became a source of support when things became difficult.

Suchitra was a 'fangirl' when she first met Shekhar Kapur

Suchitra recalled that she first saw the director when she was in Class 11. He had visited her college as a chief guest, and the actor said she was instantly impressed by him.

She described herself as a “fangirl” at the time and remembered being excited when Kapur spoke to her. Their paths crossed again when she was 18. According to Suchitra, photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha sent her to meet Kapur for a film project that was eventually never made.



However, the meeting led to something more. Suchitra said the director continued to call her and take her out after they met. What had started as her teenage admiration eventually developed into a relationship.

The two had a major age difference. Suchitra is 50, while Kapur is 80. As their relationship became serious, her family was not immediately comfortable with the idea of them being together.

'My mother held my feet and begged me'

Speaking about her family's reaction, Suchitra recalled, "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). But when things started going wrong my mother said listen you don't have to put up with anything that is disrespectful, you are not an orfan. We have always continued fighting but she has that fire and she gave me that fire."

Suchitra's family was concerned about the age gap and the relationship itself. Despite their hesitation, the actor eventually chose to marry Kapur.

For the unversed, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and later welcomed their daughter, Kaveri Kapur. However, their marriage did not last. Suchitra and Shekhar eventually separated and divorced in 2007.

The actor has previously spoken about the difficulties in their marriage and their journey as co-parents. She also recalled how her mother's reaction changed when she began facing problems in the relationship.

According to Suchitra, her mother told her that she did not have to tolerate anything disrespectful and reminded her that she had a family to support her. Suchitra said her mother had always had a strong spirit and that she inherited some of that strength from her.

Suchitra and Shekhar's careers after their marriage

Suchitra became widely known after starring opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 1993 romantic comedy Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. Her performance as Anna became one of her most recognised roles. She later appeared in films including Vishwa, Jazbaat, Aag and Karma Aur Holi. Her last big-screen appearance was in the 2022 film Odd Couple.

Shekhar Kapur, meanwhile, built a long career as a filmmaker and actor. He is known for directing films such as Masoom, Mr India and Bandit Queen. His work also took him to the international stage with Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett.

Elizabeth earned Shekhar Kapur an Academy Award nomination for Best Director, while the film received several major international honours. He later directed Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

He is now preparing for another international project, Foreign Bodies, a historical drama about vaccine pioneer and bacteriologist Waldemar Haffkine. The filmmaker has described the project as a character-driven story set against themes including epidemics, empire, prejudice and faith.

Meanwhile, Suchitra and Kapur have continued to remain connected through their daughter Kaveri, who has followed a path in the entertainment industry. Kaveri made her acting debut with the romantic comedy Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story, which premiered on JioHotstar.