Neetu Kapoor (née Singh; born Harneet Kaur; 8 July 1958) is an Indian actress who is known for appearing in Hindi films throughout the late 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. In 2012, Kapoor was inducted into the Walk of the Stars, an entertainment hall of fame at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two Filmfare Award nominations.
Neetu Singh | |
|---|---|
 Singh in 2012 | |
| Born | Harneet Kaur 8 July 1958 New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Other names | Neetu Kapoor |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Ranbir |
| Family | Kapoor family |
Kapoor made her debut in the swashbuckler film Suraj (1966) and thereafter played a dual role in the romantic comedy Do Kaliyaan (1968). She began her transition to mature roles with the vigilante film Rickshawala (1973) and enjoyed a breakthrough with Nasir Hussain's masala film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). She rose to prominence with lead roles in the crime drama Deewaar (1975), the thriller Khel Khel Mein (1975), the musical Kabhi Kabhie (1976), the masala Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and the fantasy Dharam Veer (1977). Her performances in Parvarish (1977), Jaani Dushman (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979) and Yaarana (1981) won her praise and for Kaala Patthar, she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1980, she married actor Rishi Kapoor, with whom she had two children, including the actor Ranbir Kapoor. She went on a hiatus after appearing in the thriller film Ganga Meri Maa (1983). Nearly three decades later, she made her acting comeback with a minor role in the romantic comedy Love Aaj Kal (2009). She has since led the comedy film Do Dooni Chaar (2010) which won her a Zee Cine Award, the action film Besharam (2013), made a guest appearance in the romantic drama Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) and starred in the film Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022), which earned her another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Early life
Neetu Singh was born on 8 July 1958, as Harneet Kaur in New Delhi to Punjabi Sikh parents, Darshan Singh and Rajee Kaur Singh. Shortly after her father's death, she began acting as a child artist and was credited as Baby Sonia.
Career
Singh entered films uncredited child in Suraj (1966) starring Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar. This was followed by appearances in top-grossing films like Dus Lakh (1966), Do Kaliyaan (1968), Waris (1969), and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970). She was particularly appreciated for playing the double role of twin sisters in Do Kaliyaan.
In 1973, she played her first lead role opposite Randhir Kapoor in Rickshawala the remake of the Tamil film Rickshawkaran (1971). The same year Singh garnered attention for her appearance in the popular song "Lekar Hum Deewana Dil" in Nasir Hussain's blockbuster Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973).
The romantic films Rafoo Chakkar (1975) and Khel Khel Mein (1975) established her and Rishi Kapoor as a popular on-screen pair, and they were subsequently cast together in several films. Khel Khel Mein in particular was propelled by the hit music of R.D. Burman.
Two prominent films that established Neetu Singh in mainstream cinema were Deewaar (1975) and Kabhi Kabhie (1976), both ensemble films directed by leading filmmaker Yash Chopra. In the action drama Deewaar, she played the vivacious love interest to Shashi Kapoor. The romantic drama Kabhi Kabhie, which featured her as an adopted daughter determined to find her birth mother, was one of the most acclaimed films of that time and continues to be remembered for its soundtrack by Khayyam and Sahir Ludhianvi. She enjoyed more commercial success in Shankar Dada (1976) opposite Shashi Kapoor and Maha Chor (1976) opposite Rajesh Khanna.
Singh's most successful release of 1977 was Amar Akbar Anthony, directed by veteran filmmaker Manmohan Desai, in which she played a young doctor in love with a singer played by Rishi Kapoor. In the same year, Desai also cast her in the adventure film Dharam Veer opposite Jeetendra and the crime drama Parvarish opposite Amitabh Bachchan. All three films ranked among the top five highest-grossing films of the year[citation needed]
For the next few years, Singh achieved success as solo female lead in films like Priyatama (1977), Maha Badmaash (1977), Dhongee (1979), and Chorni (1982). She was also featured in a number of multi-starters films like Adalat (1977), Kasme Vaade (1978), Jaani Dushman (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979), The Burning Train (1980), Yaarana (1981), and Teesri Aankh (1982) where her most successful associations were with Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan, and Randhir Kapoor. She earned her first nomination in the category Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Kaala Patthar. [citation needed]
After her marriage in 1980, she retired from acting. Her last film to be released was Ganga Meri Maa (1983). After a 25-year hiatus, Singh made her comeback with a cameo appearance in Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy-drama Love Aaj Kal (2009), opposite her husband as the older version of his love interest in the film.
Singh's first lead role post-retirement was that of a middle-class Punjabi mother in Habib Faisal's Do Dooni Chaar (2010), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. She then made a special appearance in Yash Chopra's swan song Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), and also co-starred with her son Ranbir Kapoor in the comedy Besharam (2013). In 2022 she starred opposite Anil Kapoor in Jug Jugg Jeeyo. Her performance earned her a second nomination in the category Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Personal life
While filming for Kabhie Kabhie, Singh and actor Rishi Kapoor became romantically involved off-screen and got married on 22 January 1980. Their children are Riddhima Kapoor Sahni (born 15 September 1980) and Ranbir Kapoor (born 28 September 1982). Riddhima is a jewellery designer who married Delhi-based industrialist Bharat Sahni on 25 January 2006. Their daughter is Samara Sahni (born 23 March 2011). Ranbir is an Indian actor who married actress Alia Bhatt on 14 April 2022. Their daughter is Raha Kapoor (born 6 November 2022).
Following a recurring battle with leukaemia and prolonged treatment in New York City, Rishi Kapoor died on 30 April 2020. During the filming of Jug Jugg Jeeyo, Singh tested positive for COVID-19 in Chandigarh in December 2020. However, she recovered after an isolation period, returning to the film's sets in early January 2021.
Legacy
Singh is regarded as one of the most recognised actresses of Hindi cinema. In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list. One of the highest paid actress of late 1970s, Singh appeared in Box Office India's "Top Actresses" list 1975 and 1977. She was inducted into the Walk of the Stars, at Bandra Bandstand, where her hand print was preserved under her married name Neetu Kapoor.
Filmography
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Films
Hindi
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Suraj | Geeta | Credited as Baby Sonia | |
| Dus Lakh | Roopa | |||
| 1968 | Do Kaliyan | Ganga and Jamuna | Dual role; credited as Baby Sonia | |
| Do Dooni Chaar | Ban Devi | Credited as Baby Sonia | ||
| 1969 | Waris | Munni | ||
| 1970 | Pavitra Papi | Vidya | ||
| Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani | Roopa | |||
| 1973 | Rickshawala | Kiran | ||
| Yaadon Ki Baaraat | Dancer | Special appearance | ||
| 1974 | Shatranj Ke Mohre | |||
| Aashiana | Supporting role | |||
| Hawas | Neetu | |||
| Zehreela Insaan | Margaret | |||
| 1975 | Andolan | |||
| Deewaar | Veera Narang | |||
| Khel Khel Mein | Nisha | |||
| Rani Aur Lalpari | Cinderella | Special appearance | ||
| Rafoo Chakkar | Ritu | |||
| Zinda Dil | Jyoti Chand | |||
| Sewak | Rasiya | |||
| 1976 | Maha Chor | Neetu | ||
| Kabhi Kabhie | Pinky Kapoor | |||
| Sharafat Chhod Di Main Ne | Radha | |||
| Shankar Dada | Roopa Verma | |||
| 1977 | Adalat | Geeta Verma | ||
| Ab Kya Hoga | Chitralekha | |||
| Amar Akbar Anthony | Dr. Salma Ali | |||
| Dharam Veer | Roopa | |||
| Maha Badmaash | Seema Nathani and Pinky Nathani | Dual role | ||
| Priyatama | Dolly Sinha | |||
| Doosara Aadmi | Timsy Karan Saxena | |||
| Parvarish | Neetu Amit Singh | |||
| Zahreelee | Rekha | |||
| 1978 | Kasme Vaade | Neeta | ||
| Anjane Mein | Rani | |||
| Pati Patni Aur Patni | Singer in "Tere Naam Tere Naam" | Cameo | ||
| Chakravyuha | Chhaya | |||
| Heeralaal Pannalaal | Neelam | |||
| 1979 | Bhala Maanus | Meena | ||
| Aatish | Shanno | |||
| Jhoota Kahin Ka | Sheetal Khanna | |||
| The Great Gambler | Mala | |||
| Dhongee | Neelima Kapoor | |||
| Jaani Dushman | Gauri | |||
| Yuvraaj | Rajkumari Pallavi | |||
| Duniya Meri Jeb Mein | Neeta | |||
| Kaala Patthar | Channo | |||
| 1980 | Kala Pani | Geeta | ||
| Dhan Daulat | Shanti | |||
| Chunaoti | Roshni | |||
| The Burning Train | Madhu | |||
| Choron Ki Baaraat | Anju | |||
| 1981 | Waqt Ki Deewar | Soni | ||
| Khoon Ka Rishta | Sonia | |||
| Yaarana | Komal | |||
| Ek Aur Ek Gyarah | Rekha | |||
| 1982 | Chorni | Deepa | ||
| Teesri Ankh | Nisha | |||
| Raaj Mahal | Rajkumari Ratna Singh | |||
| 1983 | Ganga Meri Maa | Neetu | ||
| Jaane Jaan | Meena | |||
| 2009 | Love Aaj Kal | Harleen Veer Singh Panesar | Cameo | |
| 2010 | Do Dooni Chaar | Kusum Santosh Duggal | ||
| 2012 | Jab Tak Hai Jaan | Pooja | Special appearance | |
| 2013 | Besharam | Head Constable Bulbul | ||
| 2022 | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Geeta Bheem Saini | ||
| TBA | Letters To Mr. Khanna † | TBA | Completed |
Punjabi
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun | Qawalan | Special appearance |
Gujarati
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Dharti Mata | Special appearance |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dance Deewane Juniors | Judge | TV debut |
| 2023 | The Romantics | Herself | |
| 2024 | Showtime | Herself | Guest |
| Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives | Herself | ||
| 2025 | Dining With the Kapoors | Herself | Television special |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kaala Patthar | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Screen Awards | Best Actress | Do Dooni Chaar | Nominated | |
| Stardust Awards | Best Actress | Won | |||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Lifetime Jodi (with Rishi Kapoor) | N/a | Won | ||
| 2023 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Nominated |
In popular culture
- In Aditya Chopra's 2008 film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi's song "Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte", Rani Mukerji dressed herself as Singh, as a tribute to her fashionable pigtails look from the 1980s.