Our marriage faced problems:Rishi-Neetu

Neetu and Rishi Kapoor — Bollywood's original golden pair — discuss son Ranbir, the problems their marriage faced initially and what films mean to them now.

RISHI: 'CUTE HERO IMAGE WORKED FOR ME'

Me, the eternal romantic:

I'm proud of my romantic image. It was my bread and butter for 34 years. Let's face it yaar, in India we make predominantly romantic films. I'm proud to be the third-generation Kapoor and I hope I've been able to live up to the Kapoors' reputation. I look forward to my son to carry forward the legacy.

Gene-a-logy :

You can't fight your genes. There's bound to be elements of me in Ranbir. I hope he doesn't make mistakes that I made... I remember I didn't want to do 'Kabhi Kabhie'. I wanted to run away midway. I was childish, but it turned out to be one of my best films.

No paucity of roles:

John Travolta is of my age. And look at the work he's doing. But because we make romantic films, I'm too bloody old to romance the heroine. But I've had my share of successful films... I had the added advantage of working constantly with new heroines. My constant pairing with my first heroine Dimple was nixed when she married Kakaji (Rajesh Khanna) and took a break from films.

The loverboy image:

I remember one thing that my father Raj Kapoor said while making Bobby. 'I want every man to have Dimple's photograph and every woman to have Rishi's photograph under their pillows'. Magazines used to comment on my pink cheeks and red lips. But the image of a cute hero worked for me.

NEETU: 'I WANTED A NORMAL LIFE'

A normal life:

I was seven when I made my debut. At 10, I did a double role in Do Kaliyan. I didn't have too many friends... I missed a normal life. I just did what my mom asked me to. At 12, I quit as a child actor. And at 14, I became a leading lady, that was how old I was when 'Lekar hum diwana dil' from 'Yaadon Ki Baraat' was filmed. I worked so much that I gave up at 21! I just wanted a normal life — husband, home and kids.

Love, actually:

I never fell in love with Rishi. He fell in love with me and made sure I did. He was loud, I was gentle. Now I've become quite like him. But with time now I don't let anything get to me. I feel I'm much stronger now. Ten years ago, I was very insecure. I was scared of him, of offending him. If he was depressed I'd get anxious. I used to observe fasts just to make him feel better. Now I've realised and made him realise that to be happy together we both need to be happy in our individual space.

The Kapoor tag:

At that time, I didn't know what the Kapoor tag meant. For me, it was Rishi who mattered. I fell in love when I was 16. He showed me the world and moulded me totally. So there was no one else he could marry.

Act II?

Acting is out for me. Who wants to do those mother roles when you've done the best! And Rishi would be ballistic if I left him to himself for a long time. Every Sunday I go for a movie with my friends. He calls me up a hundred times till I return home!

RISHI ON NEETU

We've been together for over three decades. She was first my co-star, then my girlfriend, then my wife and then the mother of my children. She is the greatest anchor of my life. We've made mistakes, had our share of differences, but which couple doesn't ? But we're together today, and so we shall remain. Neetu and I spend a lot of time together. I need her company.

NEETU ON RISHI

My marriage faced its share of troubles. But then, I made Rishi see his blind spots. He had to look at the larger picture rather than himself. Now, he is a changed person. For instance, earlier I couldn't talk to him about his eating habits without him getting angry. Now, he's mellowed down, he works out, asks me for advice when it comes to food and he communicates with the children as well.