Twinkle Khanna’s Secret Sacrifice: Acting Career to Support Her Single Mother

Behind every celebrity’s smile lies a story the world rarely sees. Twinkle Khanna has a similar story to share. A story of Sacrifice and love for her mother, Dimple Khanna.

Many remember Twinkle as the daughter of two legendary actors, Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. Very few know that her journey into Bollywood was not because of any dream of fame but it was born out of duty.

The Reality Behind the Glamour

Recently, Twinkle Khanna opened up about why she chose to step into the world of acting.
She shared that she became an actress not because she wanted to, but because she needed to. She had to support her single mother, Dimple Kapadia, who had separated from Rajesh Khanna and was raising her daughters on her own.

At the time, Dimple Kapadia was already an established actress but had stepped away from films for a while. Twinkle was just stepping into adulthood when she saw the financial and emotional challenges her mother was facing. And that’s when she decided to do something about it.

In her words, she “entered the film industry not out of passion, but out of practicality.”

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A Family Torn Apart, Yet Together

Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia’s marriage was once the talk of the town. The superstar and the stunning debutant from Bobby seemed like a perfect match.
But behind the glamour, things were not as rosy. The couple eventually parted ways, and Dimple raised Twinkle and her sister Rinke largely on her own.

So when the time came, Twinkle took the leap into Bollywood.

Twinkle made her debut in 1995 with Barsaat opposite Bobby Deol.
The film was a success, and she quickly became a familiar face in Bollywood with movies like Baadshah, Mela, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.

But somehow, Twinkle was never passionate about acting. She once said that she didn’t enjoy being in front of the camera. It never felt natural to her.
Still, she continued, knowing that her career helped bring financial stability and emotional comfort to her family.

Choosing Herself, Again….

After several years in the film industry, Twinkle decided to step away from acting.
She got married to Akshay Kumar in 2001.  Instead of fading into the background, she reinvented herself completely.

Soon she was known as a successful author and a columnist.  
Her sharp and intelligent writing quickly made her one of India’s most loved modern voices.

Her books like Mrs Funnybones, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, and Pyjamas Are Forgiving, have all been bestsellers.

The Mother-Daughter Bond

Twinkle often gives credit to her mother. Their bond is more like that of two strong women who survived life’s storms together.

Dimple, who returned to acting and earned immense respect for her powerful performances in films like Dil Chahta Hai, Finding Fanny, and Tenet, has always been proud of her daughter’s choices.

She once wrote in a column, “When I was younger, I saw my mother fight every battle alone. Now, I know where my strength comes from.”

Twinkle’s story is an inspiration to many. A woman who carried her family forward, then found her own identity on her own terms.
She didn’t let fame define her, nor did she let failure stop her. Cheers to a daughter who became her mother’s strength!