Neelima Azeem reflects on separation from Pankaj Kapur: “It wasn’t meant to be”

shahid mom and dad

• Neelima Azeem spoke about her separation from Pankaj Kapur, citing differences.
• She described years of physical distance as a key factor in their split.
• Neelima credits sons Shahid and Ishaan for her happiness, expressing no regrets.

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Neelima Azeem, the veteran actress and classical dancer who is also Shahid Kapoor’s mother, recently spoke candidly about her separation from actor Pankaj Kapur, describing the end of their marriage as a case of “it wasn’t meant to be.” In an interview, Neelima reflected on her early years of marriage, noting that she tied the knot with someone she considered a close friend at a young age. However, as time passed, personality differences and life choices drove them apart, leading to their eventual separation and divorce.

"I just feel that, unfortunately, it was meant to be," said Neelima as she candidly reflected on her separation from Pankaj Kapur. She further elaborated that she and Pankaj were very different people back then. Their mindsets and vibes didn't sit well together, which perhaps was one of the reasons.’

"Nobody gets married to separate, right? They get married to stay together forever," she said before adding, "But I think maybe we were very different people, and also, marriage is not about just what anybody did or what happened. I think it's about where you are in your mind and where you are in your life, which phase you are in.’

“During the conversation, she also mentioned the physical distance between the former couple, as Pankaj moved to Mumbai and she was in Delhi with their child, Shahid, who was only around three years old back then. "I think there was a very massive distance, since he was in Mumbai and I was in Delhi. And I was still very much the girl who was in Delhi with my parents, because that's how it was. And maybe it was not a good idea at that point in time for him to have taken off to Mumbai without me. And later, without Shahid."

"I said, go ahead, you are extremely talented," she mentioned, before adding that back then it wasn't financially viable for the former couple, along with a young child, to settle in Mumbai.

"He was trying to make ground here, and I was in Delhi. So I think it was years of distancing that made us go our own ways," he continued. Neelima shared how painfu separation was and said, "I was just too young. So I think it was just too much for my very young shoulders to handle," she shared.

She credits Shahid and Ishaan for her happiness and peace. She said, “If I look at it from every angle, I always say this, then I don't know how many people understand it, but I have no regrets because | have Shahid. And the same goes for Ishaan. So I have no regrets.”