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Maheep and Sanjay Kapoor's Love Story: 30 Years at a Glance
Sanjay didn’t propose, Maheep didn’t mind. Turns out, the real romance began after the ‘yes’ — and is going strong three decades later.
Maheep and Sanjay Kapoor’s love story began pretty much as they do in the movies — a chance encounter, an unexpected spark and a shared glance that lingered on at the premiere party of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) at New Delhi’s Maurya Sheraton. “The whole family was there. Anil and Sri[devi] were coming back together on screen after Mr. India (1987). Expectations were high. It was a very happy occasion for all of us after a long time,” recalls Sanjay. “In walk these two beautiful girls with Dalip Tahil, who had an important role in the film. And everyone’s attention was suddenly on them.”
Maheep had recently arrived in New Delhi from Australia to kickstart her modelling career. She had just shot an ad with Tahil and was waiting for her friends at the Maurya to go to the hotel’s nightclub. “My friends were late. So, Dalip came down and said, ‘There’s a party next door, why don’t you come and have a drink there?’ So, technically, I gate-crashed the party and there was Sanjay. I just remember going, ‘Who’s that guy?’” says Maheep, smiling wistfully. It took less than a full conversation to feel the chemistry, and just enough for numbers to be exchanged. “But when Sanjay called me the next day, I wasn’t expecting it at all. He asked me to meet him for lunch at Bukhara — which is my favourite restaurant — so I couldn’t say no. Today, I’m two babies down and talking to you — so there’s been a history,” says Maheep, with a laugh.
What began as a chance connection at a party soon unfolded into a relationship rooted in commitment and care. Soon after their first meeting, Maheep moved to Mumbai and the two continued seeing each other. Sanjay was all set to make his debut opposite Tabu in the film Prem — a romantic drama that had been in production since 1989, but only released in 1995, following unexpected delays. “Prem had taken a long time, so I felt like I needed to get a foothold in the industry before settling down,” says Sanjay. After his debut, which achieved moderate success, Sanjay made his mark in the industry with box-office hits like Raja (1995) starring opposite Madhuri Dixit, and Auzaar (1997). By 1995 itself, Sanjay knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Maheep. “I had a prolapsed disc and I was in bed for two months. My career was just taking off and Maheep was probably about 22 or 23 at the time — young and going out every day. But I clearly remember how she would come from Bandra to Lokhandwala, where I was staying with my parents, every single day, to take care of me and spend time with me. I’m not a very expressive person, but I understand that love is expressed in so many different ways,” says Sanjay. “That was when I felt that I could spend the rest of my life with her.”
After five-and-a-half years of dating, the two decided to get married. “We were at 1900s [now-shuttered nightclub at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai], and I don’t think it was a proposal,” recalls Sanjay, nodding his head. “Yeah, Sanjay just kind of told me. He wasn’t very romantic,” declares Maheep with a sigh. “But I would have been ready to marry him even if he had proposed two years before.” The two tied the knot in December 1998. And what made her say yes? “People don’t understand that a relationship is not just about the romance. That’s actually irrelevant. With Sanjay and his family, I felt grounded. I had found my place,” she says. Their love languages couldn’t have been more different — Sanjay was more reserved in his expressions of love and emotions, and Maheep was overtly affectionate and unapologetically loud in love. Over time, however, they’ve learned not only to understand how they express love for each other but have also found home in the little things that matter the most. “I’ve learnt how to read between the lines. I don’t get the roses. But say I’m going to Pune — I will promptly get a call from Sanjay asking, ‘Have you put on your seat belt?’ And that, to me, is peak romance,” shares Maheep.
Marrying into the Kapoor family brought with it its nuances — both glamorous and stressful. Maheep, who had come from a quieter life in Australia, embraced the transition into a tightly-knit family and the high-octane world of cinema. “In the initial days of our relationship, my first impressions of being around a film family were the Fridays — whether it was Boney’s, Sanjay’s or Anil’s film — everyone was stressed. My father-in-law [Surinder Kapoor] would be pacing up and down the living room. My mother-in-law [Nirmal Kapoor] would be asking every five minutes, ‘What’s happening? What are the numbers?’ You’re judged by your last film every Friday. I remember being this young girl thinking, my god, this is so stressful,” says Maheep.
Beyond the highs and lows of being part of a film family, there came a more private challenge too. Early on in their marriage, Maheep faced something far more personal. In the second season of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives (2022), she reveals Sanjay’s indiscretion that left her devastated, nearly willing to walk out of the marriage with their newborn daughter, Shanaya. “I stood up for myself. But then, I had a newborn baby,” she says in the episode. “Again, as a woman and as a mother, the first priority is my child. I owed my daughter this amazing father — which he is. I owed it to myself. And if I broke this shit up, I would have regretted it all my life. Because when my kids walk into my home, my husband walks into my home, this is their sanctuary. They need to feel peace. And I feel Sanjay gives that to me also.”
This emotional turmoil also came at a time when both their professional lives were in a flux. Sanjay was pursuing a career in an industry that was precarious and unpredictable. After a few hits at the box office, his initial success gave way to a more uncertain phase — one that many actors face — where leading roles became fewer, and the pace of work slowed. “There was a phase where I felt that I didn’t want to do cinema that didn’t excite me. So, I got into production — I had to feed my family. I remember I have gone through a phase where I would be worried about paying my EMI,” recalls Sanjay. “For about four or five years, I used to be worried at the end of each month about how I was going to take care of those payments.” Like many actors and producers, Sanjay went through his own set of hurdles. But despite them — or perhaps, because of them — he grew patient, ambitious even.
“I knew it was a matter of time. I was always on my toes. Eight years ago, when I got Lust Stories (2018) I was ready for it,” he says. Today, when he is approached for roles, it isn’t about stardom; it’s because they believe that Sanjay is the perfect fit for the role. “And that’s what an actor wants,” says Sanjay. His definition of success is slightly different from the norm. “How many people are fortunate to have a 32-year-long career and still be relevant? Why do I have to be a superstar to be successful?” he remarks. He has since made his mark in various roles, such as Nikhil More in the drama series The Fame Game (2022), and DCP Arup Singh in the crime thriller series The Last Hour (2021).
And through it all, Sanjay remained optimistic and resilient. “I’ve always been a glass-half-full kind of a person,” he says, smiling. “I second Sanjay. Sanjay, I’m praising you, please keep your ears open,” interjects Maheep. “Success is very relative, but he’s always been very, very positive and that’s one of the most amazing qualities about him. There was a big phase in our lives when we were struggling. I didn’t even know about the EMIs until today, honestly. But when you have a man who’s going through all this stress, but never allowing that to seep into the house because he knows it would affect me and our children [Shanaya and Jahaan] — that’s magic right there.” Maheep finds that there is beauty in a marriage that is grounded in supporting each other through the tough times and celebrating the good. “And then, slowly, you begin to appreciate the highs because you’ve been through the lows,” she says. “I’m going to take this recording,” Sanjay notes silently, with a gentle smile.
Both Maheep and Sanjay weathered uncertainties and pressures in their respective careers within the privacy of their own homes and space.
However, even as the couple navigated professional and personal highs and lows, the nature of fame changed — unexpectedly and rapidly. “We dated in the correct era,” says Maheep. “Life was a lot simpler. There was no judgement. I made a hell of a lot of mistakes — and that’s life. But now it’s very, very unforgiving.” Sanjay nods in agreement, “When we were dating, we did so many crazy things. We could be fighting in the middle of Piano Bar [at the Oberoi Hotel in Gurugram]. But we didn’t care — and neither did the people around us. And that was the beauty.”
Now, there is an incessantly growing paparazzi culture along with relentless scrutiny on social media, amplifying any incident that involves celebrities. “We live in the same house, but sometimes I find out Shanaya is at the gym from Instagram,” jokes Sanjay. “On a serious note, you could be going to a restaurant or a bar with someone, and you have to be so careful because anyone could just click a photo or a video and upload it.” Today, media attention often plays a dominant role in conversations about privilege, nepotism and being a star kid in the film industry. “Even before Shanaya had started working, there was constant talk about privilege. At the same time, paps were constantly clicking her. She used to go from Juhu to Atria [Mall] to watch a film because she didn’t want to be seen.”
Despite the noise around privilege, Shanaya has wanted to become an actor for as long as she — and her parents — can remember. “I remember she was all of eight when she watched Sonam [Kapoor] in Saawariya (2007); I told Sanjay, ‘I think she’s tasted blood’ — I could see it on her face. Her eyes had lit up,” recalls Maheep. By the time she was 12 years old, Shanaya had begun diction classes and dance lessons to pursue her passion. “She knew she had to work hard — it was a given — she’s seen the highs and the lows that the family has gone through. I think it’s made her the person she is today, prepared to face everything,” says Sanjay.
Shanaya has already encountered the realities of the industry, facing delays and shelved projects. Maheep and Sanjay recall how she was set to begin shooting for her debut film Bedhadak, produced by Dharma Productions, in 2019. “The film had already been announced. She was all set to go to Thailand,” says Sanjay, “And then suddenly COVID-19 happened.” There were multiple delays, and as time passed, uncertainty crept in. Eventually, the project was shelved. “What she went through was very, very tough,” say Maheep and Sanjay together.
Now, nearly four years later, Shanaya has made her debut in the film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (2025) starring opposite Vikrant Massey. “When they were casting for the film, Shanaya was auditioning for another role. But the director, Santosh Singh, saw her, and he liked her a lot. Shanaya started preparing for the role without signing anything at that point. So, I was a little worried for the first few days because I have seen this industry up close — it’s not over until the fat lady sings,” says Sanjay. “I knew it would be a little more disappointing this time — of course, I didn’t tell her anything.” Maheep recalls constantly being on the edge, “It was unnerving. We didn’t celebrate until she signed and started shooting.” Sanjay thinks it’s the best thing to have happened to her after her three-year-long wait for her debut act. “It’s her passion and her destiny, we’re always going to support her,” adds Maheep.
Shanaya and Jahaan remain at the centre of everything Maheep and Sanjay do. “I was 48 years old when I was offered Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives (2020), so you have to understand that I was in a very set time in my life. This was not something that any of us was expecting. I asked my kids first, whether they would be okay with it. If they had said no, there was no question of me doing it. But they were like, ‘Of course you have to — you would be crazy not to,’” says Maheep, “I also spoke to Sanjay who told me, ‘If this show does well, it will be fabulous for you. If it doesn’t do well, you will have to be prepared for the trolling.” Nonetheless, Sanjay knew this was a show worth being a part of. So, she took on the opportunity—and she’s glad she did. “This show has given me a lot. It’s given me too much,” she says. “We were in London recently, and people came up to us, asking for a picture with her. Maheep is a superstar,” exclaims Sanjay.
What is it that has kept them together? “I think we’re real. We’re not diabetically sweet to each other,” says Sanjay, laughing. “We’re so real — I’ve been very polite with him during this interview. I’ve not pounced on him or cracked any of my jokes,” adds Maheep. On a serious note, however, through career turns and parenting milestones, Maheep and Sanjay share a relationship built on mutual respect, unconditional support and love for family. “Our number one priority is our children — no matter where we are or what we’re doing,” says Maheep, who recalls setting an alarm for Shanaya’s trailer release during a trip to Europe because they wanted to be the first ones to watch it. “We’ve been together for 30 years now, and family support is what has anchored us. You need to have somebody to go back to — it’s what gives you that strength,” says Sanjay. Love is many things in the Kapoor family — a shared passion for travel, movies and food. But at the heart of it all, “It’s the little things,” says Maheep. “Love for me is when my children and Sanjay come home — they should be at peace. This is their sanctuary, and we will always be there for each other.”