In a candid and characteristically blunt reflection on his complex family history, veteran Bollywood actor Randhir Kapoor recently revisited the years he spent separated from his wife, Babita, and their daughters, Karisma and Kareena Kapoor. Known for his jovial and filter-free personality, Randhir humorously suggested that given the immense professional and financial heights his daughters have reached, he might just ask them to “adopt” him. However, beneath the lighthearted banter lies a darker narrative of a decade-long estrangement during the 1980s and 90s, a period when Babita famously moved out of the Kapoor ancestral home to raise their daughters single-handedly. While the family has since reconciled and is frequently seen celebrating together at the annual Kapoor Christmas brunch, Randhir’s recent comments have reignited public discussion about his self-admitted shortcomings as a “horrible husband” and a father who was largely absent during his children’s formative years.
The separation, which lasted nearly 19 years without a formal divorce, was reportedly triggered by Randhir’s legendary penchant for partying and a career that had begun to stagnate, contrasting sharply with Babita’s disciplined vision for her daughters’ futures in the film industry. During those difficult years, Karisma and Kareena were often described as “fending for themselves” alongside their mother, breaking the longstanding Kapoor family taboo that forbade women from entering the acting profession. Randhir has previously admitted that his lifestyle choices—specifically his drinking habits and lack of professional focus—made him a difficult partner to live with, leading to a domestic environment that Babita felt was unsuitable for their daughters. His recent joke about being “adopted” by his “wealthy daughters” is seen by many as a self-deprecating acknowledgment of how the tables have turned, where the children he once left to struggle are now the pillars of the family’s modern legacy and financial stability.
Despite the heavy undertones of their history, the Kapoor family has managed to maintain a remarkably dignified and united front in recent years. Randhir has often praised Babita for the stellar job she did in raising two of India’s most successful actresses, noting that his daughters have turned out to be “wonderful, grounded human beings” despite the lack of a traditional nuclear family structure during their youth. Kareena Kapoor Khan has also spoken in the past about her father’s distant but loving presence, describing him as a man who lived his life on his own terms but remained a constant, if eccentric, figure in their lives. By framing his past failures through the lens of humor, Randhir Kapoor continues to navigate the delicate balance of owning his “horrible husband” label while celebrating the independent success of the women who redefined the Kapoor name for a new generation.
