Dimple Kapadia revealed that the idea of a younger man falling for her character in Dil Chahta Hai was “flattering to her ego” and became a major reason she signed on to the film.
Speaking at a recent Yuvaa chat held in Mumbai as part of the film’s 25th Anniversary Reunion Event, alongside Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Sonali Kulkarni, the 69-year-old actress looked back on her experience in Akhtar’s directorial debut, recalling her initial thoughts on the story and why she was unsure about joining the project.
While Dil Chahta Hai primarily revolves around the friendship between three friends, Kapadia’s character is at the centre of one of its more unconventional romantic arcs with Siddharth, portrayed by Akshaye Khanna. The considerable age gap between the two characters made their relationship stand out.
She admitted that the script won her over almost instantly, with the attention from a younger man also giving her ego a boost at the time.
“I absolutely fell in love with the story. I thought it was brilliant. And it was flattering to my ego that a younger guy is in love with me,” the Saagar star said.
She joked that, despite the unconventional romance on screen, she would not consider such an age-gap relationship in real life.
“But I don’t recommend it all,” Kapadia said, prompting laughter from the audience.
She initially tried to avoid the part despite being intrigued by the story, as she believed portraying the character would be difficult.
The Bollywood star revealed that she had initially suggested other actresses for the role before reconsidering and taking it on herself. The character ultimately proved successful and resonated strongly with audiences.
“As you can see, Sid (Akshaye Khanna) has not come back. He has left me. But the character was brilliant and slightly difficult for me. But knowing me, I was trying to run away to the other side. And I was busy recommending other heroines. Guts hi nahi the ke ye role kar payenge. But thank God, better sense prevailed. God is kind,” Kapadia recounted.
About Dil Chahta Hai
Released on August 10, 2001, Dil Chahta Hai follows best friends Akash, Sameer and Siddharth as they move from carefree college days into adulthood and grapple with love and new responsibilities. The film collected an estimated ₹397.2 million (around ₹39.72 crore) worldwide.
Dimple Kapadia’s most recent project
Dimple Kapadia was most recently seen in Jab Open Booka direct-to-digital film that premiered on ZEE5 on March 6, 2026.
