Veteran actor Neetu Kapoor says though she has immersed herself in work after her husband Rishi Kapoor's demise, she still doesn't have the "confidence" to attend public events without him.
Neetu Kapoor, who met Rishi Kapoor at the age of 15, married the actor in 1980 and quit films after featuring in hits like 바카라Yaadon Ki Baaraat바카라, 바카라Deewaar바카라, 바카라Khel Khel Mein바카라 and 바카라Kabhi Kabhie바카라.
She returned to movies in late 2000s with cameos in films like 바카라Love Aaj Kal바카라 (2009) and 바카라Jab Tak Hai Jaan바카라 (2012) as well as full-fledged roles in 바카라Do Dooni Chaar바카라 (2010) and 바카라Besharam바카라 (2013). All four films featured Rishi Kapoor, who passed away in April 2020 after a battle with leukaemia.
Her latest film 바카라Jugjugg Jeeyo바카라, for which she started shooting last year, was the first time in decades that the 63-year-old actor shot without her husband.Â
"The first day I went on set, I also posted a picture that this was the first time I was stepping outside the house without him. I'm sure he was blessing me, making things easy for me. But to be honest, it was difficult to not act with him. It was tough," Kapoor told PTI.
Apart from the Karan Johar production, the veteran actor also started filming for a dance reality show as a judge, a commitment that has kept her busy ever since.
As an actor, Kapoor said, she has gained the confidence to face the camera without her late husband but hasn't yet found the strength to step out in public alone.Â
"Even today, when I'm called for a function, I can't go. I can go for a shoot, but I can't go for a film function without him. Recently, I was invited to a big event, where they wanted to give me an award but I cannot go without him. I feel awkward going alone. I still don't have that confidence,바카라 she said.Â
"I need my son or my husband with me. Maybe it'll take me time to get used to that part. As an actor, I can go and work because there's my team, they're with me and so I feel okay. But not otherwise, not now," she added.Â
Directed by Raj Mehta, 바카라Jugjugg Jeeyo바카라 will feature Kapoor in a full- fledged role nine years after her last outing 바카라Besharam바카라. The comedy-drama also stars Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor and Manish Paul.
Neetu Kapoor said working on the film was "comforting" and helped her cope with the grief.
"Karan was over (my house) for dinner after my husband had passed away. Ranbir said I should start working again, but I shrugged off the idea. Karan heard it and said he has a nice script and I should at least hear it. I half-heartedly said yes," she said.
"When I heard the narration later, I was amazed. It was funny, nice and dramatic. Although I didn't have the confidence then as I was low, I said I'll do the film. I knew this would help me, comfort me," she added.Â
'Jugjugg Jeeyo' is scheduled to release theatrically on June 24.
[With Inputs From PTI]
