Author and former actress Twinkle Khanna has revealed that her decision to enter the Bollywood film industry stemmed from financial necessity rather than personal ambition.
In a candid interview with the Tweak India platform, Khanna shared that she became an actress to support her single mother, veteran film star Dimple Kapadia. “It was out of necessity, I had a single mom and she was providing for everyone,” she stated, offering an honest glimpse into the circumstances that shaped her early career choices.
Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of legendary actors Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna, grew up in the public eye. Her parents married in 1973 but separated in 1982, with Kapadia raising Twinkle and her younger sister, Rinke, largely on her own.
Dimple’s comeback to films with Saagar in 1985 was a defining moment in Indian cinema, breaking stereotypes about married actresses. However, Twinkle’s entry into films a decade later was less about glamour and more about responsibility, as she stepped into acting to help support her family.
Khanna made her Bollywood debut opposite Bobby Deol in Barsaat (1995), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
She later appeared in notable films like Badshah (1999) and Mela (2000), but her acting career was short-lived. After marrying actor Akshay Kumar, she chose to step away from films and reinvented herself as an author, columnist, and entrepreneur.
Her literary works, including bestsellers like Mrs Funnybones and The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, established her as one of India’s most witty and influential contemporary writers.
Reflecting on her transition, Khanna has often described her acting stint as a “spectacular failure,” crediting that phase for leading her to discover her true calling. Her recent comments underscore the resilience and pragmatism behind her journey—from a reluctant actress to a confident, self-made author.
