Babita Kapoor demanded massive financial settlement from Abhishek Bachchan before Karisma Kapoor engagement collapse
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The dissolution of the high-profile engagement between Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor continues to captivate public interest more than two decades after the couple abruptly parted ways. While the 2002 engagement was initially celebrated as a milestone for two of India’s most prominent film dynasties, the relationship collapsed in January 2003 without an official explanation, leaving a void that has since been filled by speculation and, recently, new testimonies.
In a recent appearance on a podcast hosted by journalist Viki Lalwani, Naseem Mukri, daughter of the late actor Mukri, offered fresh insight into the pressures that led to the breakup. Mukri alleged that Karisma’s mother, veteran actress Babita, was fundamentally opposed to the union from the start. According to Mukri, Babita wielded significant influence over her daughter, at one point reportedly demanding that Abhishek transfer a substantial sum of money into Karisma’s name as a condition for the marriage to proceed.
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The podcast participants highlighted that the power dynamic at the time played a crucial role in these demands. Given that Karisma Kapoor was a more established star than Abhishek Bachchan during that period, her mother reportedly sought financial guarantees to secure her daughter’s future. Mukri claimed that the conditions extended to a pre-nuptial agreement outlining financial settlements in the event of a potential divorce, a proposition the Bachchan family ultimately refused to accept.
Director Suneel Darshan, who collaborated with the couple on the film *Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kaisa*, also weighed in on the relationship. Reflecting on their on-screen chemistry, which he noted was a direct reflection of their genuine affection at the time, Darshan expressed that the breakup was not caused by a lack of personal compatibility. Instead, he characterized the separation as the result of insurmountable external pressures that eventually overwhelmed the couple’s bond.
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When pressed on why Karisma would accede to such stringent demands if she were truly in love, Mukri suggested that the actress was deeply affected by her mother’s dominant personality. Drawing a contrast with Karisma’s sister, Kareena Kapoor, who eventually asserted her independence, Mukri noted that Karisma remained under her mother’s influence, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the engagement. Following the split, Karisma Kapoor married Delhi-based businessman Sanjay Kapur later that year, marking the definitive end of one of Bollywood’s most discussed romantic sagas.
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