Twinkle Khanna has never shied away from speaking honestly about her life, her upbringing, and the women who shaped her. Raised by her mother Dimple Kapadia after her parents’ separation, Twinkle has often
spoken about growing up in a household where independence wasn’t taught—it was lived. In a recent interview, the author-actor reflected on how watching her mother navigate life as a single parent deeply influenced her sense of self and strength.
‘I Grew Up Thinking Women Were Superior’
Speaking to BBC India while promoting her latest book, Twinkle was asked what moulded her into the person she is today. Without hesitation, she pointed to her mother. “I am probably one of those women who have taken a step back to equality,” she said with characteristic candour. “I always thought women were superior. I grew up with a single mom, and we were all women in the house. My mother was the earning member.”
That environment, she explained, shaped her worldview long before she ever encountered conversations around gender equality or feminism.
Childhood Memories of a ‘Superwoman’
Twinkle went on to share a vivid memory from her childhood that still stays with her. Recalling the modest living arrangement they shared, she said that she, her sister, their mother, and aunt all slept in the same room, with mattresses laid out on the floor.
“My mother would wake up at five in the morning and work out around us,” Twinkle remembered. “She was an actress doing three shifts a day, taking care of the house, and still had to look good. I would watch her and think—this is my superwoman.” That image, she said, quietly set the standard for how she viewed resilience, discipline, and self-respect.
Feminism Was Never Spoken—It Was Practised
Interestingly, Twinkle revealed that feminism was never a word discussed in their household. “We never spoke about feminism; the word wasn’t there,” she said. “But it was very clear that this is how life works.”
She explained that Dimple Kapadia’s actions—rather than lectures—defined what independence looked like. Those values later reflected in the choices Twinkle and her sister made as adults, including keeping their surname after marriage. “We are the Khanna sisters,” she said, joking about a relative who teasingly calls them the ‘pagal sisters.’
Dimple Kapadia’s Quiet Rebellion
Dimple Kapadia married Rajesh Khanna in 1973 at just 16, while he was 32 and already a superstar. The marriage didn’t last, reportedly due to differing expectations about her career and independence. After separating, Dimple chose to raise her daughters on her own while continuing to work in films—an unconventional decision at the time.
For Twinkle, that choice wasn’t just personal history; it was a blueprint. Watching her mother carve out a life on her own terms taught her how to exist confidently in a deeply patriarchal world—without ever needing to name the struggle.
