Shahid Kapoor is among the few star kids who have managed to carve out a distinct identity in the industry, and he hopes his own children will one day do the same. The actor recently spoke about learning to separate his personal and professional lives, crediting his wife Mira for being his strongest support.
In a conversation on the Punjab First Voice podcast, Shahid said, “It’s been 22 years, so now I try not to bring my work home. Once I’m back, I take on the role of a father, husband, and son. You shouldn’t bring your professional life or stardom into your personal space.”
Talking about parenting, he added, “Whenever I am with my children, I cherish that time. There’s no point feeling tired, and even if I do, they’re my children—they’ll understand. Tomorrow when they grow up, they’ll know.”
On his bond with Mira, Shahid shared, “Mira is very supportive. She understands most things about me and has made a rule that when we are at home, we don’t discuss work. It’s very rare that we talk about films.”
Shahid, born to actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem, revealed that he never imagined he would step into acting himself. “My career was an accident—whether it was dance or acting,” he said.
He explained, “I was interested in dance while growing up, so I took classes. My mentor liked my dancing, and that became a source of income. Similarly, with acting—I had accompanied a friend to an audition, and the ad makers liked me. They made me audition, and I landed a Pepsi commercial with Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. That opened doors, and work started pouring in. Nothing was planned.”
Story continues below this ad
Shahid also addressed the misconception that he became an actor because of his parents’ fame. “People think I am an actor because I am Pankaj Kapur’s son, but my parents separated when I was just three. I didn’t spend much time with my father, so nobody even knew I was his son, nor did I ever use his name. I lived with my mother. Things just fell into place for me. I never asked my father for help, and he never made calls to get me work.”
Speaking briefly about their separation, he said, “I was too young when my parents divorced, but you do feel the void. I think many people can relate.”
Returning to parenting, Shahid reflected on the importance of not imposing one’s ambitions on children. “I don’t think it’s right to burden kids with their parents’ dreams. As a father, I try to nurture the good qualities my children already have and motivate them to pursue their own goals. I really try to ensure they don’t get overshadowed by my stardom. People should have their own identity and not just be ‘someone’s son.’ I strongly believe many Indian men couldn’t excel because they were weighed down by their fathers’ expectations. Everyone should focus on finding their own uniqueness and building on it.”
