Being the daughter of two of Bollywood’s biggest stars meant growing up in the spotlight, but Twinkle Khanna once revealed that the endless rumours surrounding her parents, Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, never really affected her.In a throwback conversation with Jaaved Jaaferi on Yaadein B-Town Ki – Is Duniya Ke Sitaray, Twinkle opened up about dealing with gossip, navigating life as a star kid and the unique upbringing she experienced in a celebrity household.Asked whether growing up around constant speculation about her parents took a toll on her, Twinkle said she learned very early to separate public perception from reality.“Today there may be 10,000 rumours. If I react to all 10,000 rumours, then I won’t be able to live my life. I hear things through one ear and let them go out the other,” she said.The bestselling author explained that the versions of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia she saw in magazines were completely different from the parents she knew at home.“The magazines I used to read and the people who were actually my parents were two completely different people,” she recalled.“The people I read about in magazines, I didn’t recognise them. My parents were at home. So I knew very clearly right from the beginning that there is a lot of fiction.”According to Twinkle, having firsthand knowledge of who her parents truly were helped her avoid being influenced by gossip and tabloid stories.“If I didn’t know them personally and someone told me these things, maybe it would have affected me. But I knew who they were,” she added.
Growing up with Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia
The former actress also reflected on her childhood and said that despite being raised by two of Hindi cinema’s most famous personalities, life felt surprisingly normal.“For me, it was normal,” Twinkle said, recalling her relationship with her father.She remembered how Rajesh Khanna, despite his hectic schedule, always tried to make time for his daughters.“My father would come home late, but he would make it a point to come and check on us,” she shared.Twinkle also spoke about her multicultural upbringing, revealing that she grew up exposed to different faiths and traditions.“I think from childhood I saw both religions. I was lucky. I never really had too many problems,” she said.
The burden and privilege of a famous surname
During the conversation, Twinkle also addressed the advantages and pressures that come with being born into a celebrated film family.“It’s a two-sided thing. In one way, you can call it a burden and in another way, an opportunity. If I didn’t have the pedigree, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity,” she admitted.However, she stressed that sustaining a career ultimately depends on individual merit.“One film may come to you because of who you are. But after that, if you want to stay here, then that is your struggle, your personal struggle.”Today, Twinkle Khanna has successfully carved her own identity as an author, columnist, entrepreneur and producer. She is married to actor Akshay Kumar and the couple are parents to two children, Aarav Bhatia and Nitara Bhatia.
