Actor talks about quitting the industry and focusing on raising her children.
NEW DELHI: Actor Karisma Kapoor started acting when she was only 17 years old and after proving her mettle in films such as Raja Hindustani, Biwi No 1 and Dil To Pagal Hai, she steadily made her way out. The actor feels that the gap created by her exit from the film industry has been more than filled up by her sister Kareena Kapoor. She also expresses joy over carrying forward their family’s acting tradition along with their cousin Ranbir Kapoor’s success, who is Bollywood’s current heartthrob.
“I don’t regret my decision. I think it is a great graduation for me. Kareena took the place where I left off, if I can say so. Now my cousin [Ranbir] is also doing so well. I am glad that the tradition is continuing,” said Karisma in an interview.
After quitting Bollywood, she married Delhi-based industrialist Sanjay Kapur, but they got a divorce this year. However, she continues to take a break from acting to raise her children — daughter Samaira, 8 and son Kiaan, 3. Karisma did a comeback film in 2012 titled, Dangerous Ishhq, but it got a lukewarm response at the box office. Even though she is back under the arc lights, she still puts her children before everything else.
“Earlier, it was a conscious decision for me not to work. I was happy to be away and I wanted to be with my children during their formative years. I do step out now, but my first priority is my kids. This is how it will always be for me,” said Karisma, who has also acted in non-commercial films like Fiza and Zubeidaa.
When asked about her children’s response to her star status, she says her daughter treats her like a regular mother. “My daughter is the most normal one towards me. For her, I am just her mom. I am just a regular mom and the actor comes after that. If she likes something that I am wearing, she tells me and if she doesn’t, she still makes it a point to let me know,” she said.
Despite belonging to one of the most prominent families of the industry, Karisma has always been keen to protect her children from the limelight. “I try to shield my children as far as possible from public glare. I want them to have a normal childhood, like we had. We went to school by the school bus, had school food… There was no special treatment given to us. The same applies to my children as well,” said the 39-year-old.
Karisma added that she is more of a disciplinarian than a strict parent. “I won’t say I am a strict mother, but discipline is important. Timing and routine are important for kids. My children also look forward to that,” she emphasised. “I think it is important to be a friend to your kids. But it is also equally important to set boundaries. My mother was a strong influence and so was my dad. My mom was my friend whom I couldn’t cross,” she said.
The actor has recently launched her book, My Yummy Mummy Guide, on pregnancy and motherhood.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2013.
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