Have you ever wondered what life would be without your siblings? Sure, there are times when it would feel like parents favour one of you over the other but having them around itself is a magical feeling that everyone wants to experience. Similar was the case with B-town’s heart-throb, Shahid Kapoor. Pankaj Kapur’s first wife, Neelima Azeem and second wife, Supriya Pathak along with their children, Shahid Kapoor, Sanah Kapur, Ruhaan Kapur, Ishaan Khatter are a perfect example of a modern family who are on cordial terms with each other. (Also Read: Neelima Azim Talks About Being A Single Mother And How Big Bro Shahid Guided Little Brother Ishaan)
Despite the separation of parents, Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem and their respective second marriages with Supriya Pathak and Rajesh Khatter, Shahid Kapoor being the eldest child handled the situation quite maturely. On the 13th episode of Karan Johar’s chat show, Koffee With Karan, Shahid revealed that it was actually him who pestered his mother for a brother.
Adding on to being a modern family and how they have managed to be one big happy family despite separations and second marriages, Shahid remarked, “When my mom got married for the second time she was pretty clear she didn’t want a second baby because she felt like, you know, it was pretty late, she got married in her early 30s. I kept pestering her saying that it is not fair, I deserve a sibling. And she literally had Ishaan for me. I begged her for two or three years. And finally she gave in and said ‘Alright, I am gonna have one.”
Speaking about what the family has been through over the years, Shahid shared he has learnt from all the experiences and they have made him who he is. He stated, “I think eventually it is about love, it is about togetherness, it is about forgiving, it’s about learning to move on and it’s about learning to prioritize the fact that you eventually have to be together.”
Earlier in an interview with Pinkvilla, Neelima Azeem praised and gushed over how wonderfully, her two boys, Shahid and Ishaan have grown up. She also expressed about the stress she had faced as a single mother and how Shahid, as a doting elder brother supported his family and half-sibling, Ishaan in every way possible.
She shared, “My stress was over. I was a single mother and till today he is taking care of Ishaan and me in every way. He is like 'hats off'! Shahid has worked very hard and has had a very challenging journey and the thing about both my boys is that they are very good sons, very honest and clean and extremely vulnerable. Ishaan is more like joyous and has his own energy. All I can say is, both of them have been sparkling in their own times. Ishaan has been very fortunate that he started with Majid Majidi and then Dharma, with Shashank and Karan with him so, Mashallah, he had a quicker and faster journey and I suppose the younger ones do have it that way while the elder ones do create a little more hard work for themselves. That's the way it’s always been. But both of them are wonderful.” (Also Read: Neelima Azeem Reveals How Shahid And Mira's Firstborn Misha Kapoor Reacted On Having A Baby Brother)
Speaking about how Shahid guided and trained his younger brother, Ishaan, Neelima ji further added, “In Ishaan’s case, his guru has always been his brother and it is very kind of him to always give me the honour and that standing in his life. I have watched both the brothers very closely and it is amazing how Sasha has guided him in life. He has played more than an elder brother’s role because I was a single mother, there was no father as such living with us. So, Ishaan is mostly being guided, groomed and trained by his brother.”
In an interview with Bombay Times, Ishaan Khatter recalled the separation phase of his mother with his father, Rajesh Khatter and with step-father, Ustad Raza Ali Khan, and the sacrifices his mother made for him during his childhood. Ishaan shared, “I was very young when my parents separated, and later, my mother remarried. For six years, I stayed with my stepfather (Ustad Raza Ali Khan) and my mother. Then, they separated and I saw her go through two broken marriages and her struggle to keep things together.”
Ishaan went on to add, “She would often put her own feelings in the back seat to take care of others. That’s an act of selflessness. For many years, I saw her go through emotional strain and difficulties. She had more on her plate than she could deal with while taking care of us. I often saw her go through changes in her personality. She is a lovely person, that’s why it’s important for me to give her all the comfort, happiness and satisfaction I can. I have great admiration for her.”
Reminiscing about his childhood, the Dhadak of B-town was further quoted as saying, “I can’t say that my childhood was easy or difficult, and I can’t relieve those days, but what I can say is that it made me grow up faster than other kids. It taught me a lot and made me the person I am today. I am emotionally strong, passionate, empathetic and sensitive towards others, especially the people I love.” (Also Read: Shahid Kapoor's Half-Brother Ishaan Khatter Talks About His Mom, Neelima Azeem's 3 Failed Marriages)
We wish this ‘modern family’ a lifetime of love and happiness!