Ishaan Khatter recently opened up about growing up with a single mother, watching Neelima Azeem make difficult choices for her children, and the unique bond he shares with his elder brother Shahid Kapoor. In a conversation with Lilly Singh, the actor spoke at length about Neelima’s sacrifices, her artistic journey and how she often put motherhood before her own creative ambitions.
Ishaan also reflected on his relationship with Shahid, who is 15 years older than him, and shared how the actor became a parental figure to him in many ways.
Ishaan Khatter Says Neelima Azeem Doubled Up As A Mother And Father
During the chat, Ishaan spoke about Neelima Azeem’s early journey as an artiste. He shared that she started dancing professionally at the age of nine
under the guidance of Pandit Birju Maharaj. By the time she was 14, she had appeared on a postage stamp, which was a major honour for her.
Speaking about his childhood, Ishaan said he saw his mother taking on multiple roles while raising him. “In many ways, I saw my mother double up throughout my childhood. I also grew up with an elder brother who is 15 years older than me, so he was, in many ways, a parental figure. It is a very interesting relationship again, where we are more like pals than brothers, but there will always be a line of respect. He has changed my diapers, so every argument ends with, ‘I am older than you’,” he said.
Neelima had Shahid Kapoor with her first husband Pankaj Kapur when she was 21. She later had Ishaan with her second husband Rajesh Khatter when she was 36. Ishaan said that despite becoming a mother at different phases in her life, Neelima maintained a warm and open friendship with both her sons.
“Just watching mom navigate every phase of her life, trying to do her best and also being a very liberal kind of parent where… She had me when she was about 36, she had my brother when she was 21-22, so they were like friends. She had me a little later, but she still maintained that vibe and friendship with me where I felt I could share anything with her and I didn’t have to hesitate. And that I think has contributed to the person I became in many ways. I am just glad I had a parent I didn’t need to hide from or lie to,” he said.
Ishaan Khatter On Neelima Azeem’s Sacrifices
Ishaan also spoke about the sacrifices Neelima made while bringing up her children. He said that although she was deeply connected to the artiste within her, she often chose stability over artistic satisfaction so she could run the house and provide security.
“Anything that’s worth it requires sacrifice but the way in which working women who are also parents give those parts of themselves, like you have to be a superwoman. And I have seen her make those choices. Whether it’s taking a job that gives more consistent pay but is not what you see yourself doing, or creatively excites you. Or taking that job just to be able to run the house and have that security. She has done that for the better part of one’s childhood, and you have seen that,” he said.
He further added that Neelima’s identity as an artiste was always important, but motherhood often came first for her. “The artiste in her is a big part of who she is, and she has put that second to the mother in her often, and I have seen that,” Ishaan said.
In an earlier interview with Zoom, Neelima had revealed that she moved to Mumbai when she was just 24 with Rs 4,500 in her pocket. She had also said that she never asked anyone for financial help.
Ishaan Khatter Talks About His Bond With Shahid Kapoor
Ishaan also opened up about his relationship with Shahid Kapoor and said he calls him “Baba Sasha”. Describing Shahid as emotionally sound, Ishaan said that he has had the privilege of observing his elder brother’s journey from close quarters.
He recalled that he began his career at 21, much like Shahid, and said he had the advantage of watching him closely through both mistakes and successes. Ishaan said he had the privilege of “watching him make mistakes and I had the privilege of watching him through his triumphs and see the beauty and the growth.”
The actor said that over the years, the brothers have developed a “beautiful friendship” and that he feels most emotionally vulnerable with Shahid. “He does call to check up on me. I call to check up on him,” Ishaan said.
He also revealed that Shahid does acknowledge his mistakes, though usually in retrospect. “In retrospect, he does, not when I am calling them out. He will be like, ‘You know what I did that was wrong 15 years ago?’” Ishaan said with a laugh.
Shahid Kapoor And Ishaan Khatter’s Work Front
On the work front, Shahid Kapoor’s latest film Cocktail 2 is currently running in theatres. The film also stars Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna.
Ishaan Khatter was last seen in Homebound, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars. However, the film did not make it to the shortlist in the Best International Feature Film category.
While both Shahid and Ishaan have carved their own paths as actors, Ishaan’s latest comments offer a rare glimpse into the family dynamic that shaped them, especially the role Neelima Azeem played as both anchor and artiste.
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