Shahid Kapoor on growing up with single mother: I didn’t grow up around my father, mom treated me like a friend

Shahid with mother and wife Mira

Shahid Kapoor recently opened up about his childhood and how growing up without his father, Pankaj Kapur, shaped him. In a conversation with Raj Shamani, Shahid talked about his close bond with his mother, Neelima Azeem, and how he felt a sense of responsibility towards her from a young age.

Neelima Azeem had Shahid when she was just 22. Their family dynamic changed when she and Pankaj Kapur divorced three years later. Shahid described his relationship with his mother as more like a friendship. "My mom was quite young when she had me. We were more like friends. My mom always took me wherever she went. And the fact that I was her first and elder son, somewhere I used to feel very responsible."

He explained how the absence of his father influenced his feelings. "In my case, I didn’t grow up around my father. So in such situations, you don’t see your age but feel like, ‘I am the man of the house’." This sense of responsibility led him to feel very protective of his mother. "I always felt very protective and loving towards my mom. Our bond was different. She always treated me like a friend, and I think that was the best thing between us. We continue to share the same bond."

Shahid started working at a young age, even appearing as a background dancer in films. He felt driven to contribute financially to his household. "I think it also came from the fact that my mom was a single parent and I didn’t want to burden her with my expenses so the only thing that ran in my head was that ‘I need to start making money’. I wanted to support my mom from the age of 14-16. She was single-handedly taking care of everything. I want to be able to participate and contribute and if not more, I at least need to take care of my own expenses. So it all started there."

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Beyond financial support, Shahid also felt a desire to achieve something significant. He attributed this drive to the success of both his parents. "I think because both my parents were super achievers, I just wanted to prove myself and wanted to do something substantial in life. I didn’t want to waste my life."

Despite being the son of Pankaj Kapur, Shahid's path to Bollywood wasn't easy. He revealed that he had to give 250 auditions and live in rented houses before finally making his debut in 2003 with Ishq Vishk. His dedication and hard work eventually paid off, establishing him as a successful actor in his own right.

Shahid's latest project, Deva, sees him playing a police officer. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Pravessh Rana, and Kubbra Sait. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Umesh KR Bansal, Deva marks another chapter in Shahid's career, a career built on his own determination and talent, fueled by his desire to support his mother and make his mark on the world.