Why Randhir Kapoor and Babita never filed for divorce despite being separated for 34 years

Randhir Kapoor and Babita separated in 1988, but on paper, they are legally married till date. In today's Tuesday Trivia, we tell you all about their story.

The year was 1971. Randhir Kapoor and his Kal Aaj Aur Kal co-star Babita, were apparently in a “time pass" relationship. But before they knew it themselves, Randhir Kapoor and Babita got married. Soon after, they were blessed with two daughters, Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Then, in 1988, the couple parted ways but still aren’t legally divorced yet. Do you know why? We are here to tell you all about it in today’s Tuesday Trivia.

In 1969, Randhir Kapoor had accompanied his father Raj Kapoor to the sets of Sangam, where he saw Babita for the first time. That’s when and where they developed an instant liking for one another and fell in love. However, most of their dates happened chupke chupke. When Raj Kapoor and his family learnt of Randhir Kapoor’s relationship with Babita, the former asked the latter if he intended to marry the actress. At Kapil Sharma’s show, Randhir Kapoor shared, “Main time pass kiye jaa raha tha. He was like, ‘Shaadi vaadi karne ka iraada hai ki nahi?’ (I was whiling away time. My father asked if I had any intention of getting married).”

However, Randhir had no plans to marry Babita then. But Raj Kapoor asked him, “Jab woh buddhi ho jayegi shaadi karega usse (Will you marry her when she gets old)?” Well, Randhir never got to propose Babita since his parents did it for him. And on November 6, 1971, just after the release of their film, Kal Aaj Aur Kal, Randhir Kapoor and Babita got married.

Babita, soon after her wedding to Randhir Kapoor, quit her film career. Things were going smoothly when trouble befell. Randhir’s career started taking a downward slope from the 80s and most of his films weren’t doing great at the box office. Soon after, Randhir resorted to drinking. In fact, the veteran actor himself had shared that his drinking habit was a crucial reason behind his separation with Babita.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Randhir Kapoor had shared, “She found that I was a terrible man who drank a lot and came home late, which was something she didn’t like. And I didn’t want to live the way she wanted, and she couldn’t accept me as I am, though it was a love marriage. So it’s okay. We had two lovely children to look after. She brought them up in the best way and they have excelled in their career. What else could I have asked for as a father?”