Neetu Singh - Career

Career

Neetu Singh made her debut as a child actress with films like Do Kaliyaan in the late 1960's. She started playing leading roles in 1972 with Rikshawala which was a flop. She took a small role in Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973), which became a hit, and her sizzling dance number to the song Lekar Hum brought her so much attention that she was immediately offered lead roles again. In most films, Neetu was cast as the fun-loving daughter or the 'optimistic' or 'lively' girlfriend. She acted with the top stars of her day, especially Rishi Kapoor with whom she appeared in 11 films. The most successful films they acted in included Rafoo Chakkar (1974), Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Doosra Aadmi (1978). She was nominated for Best Actress for the Star Screen Awards for her performance in the movie. She also won, along with Rishi Kapoor, Best Lifetime Jodi at the 2011 Zee Cine Awards. She was also paired opposite actors like Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra and Shatrughan Sinha in hit films like Deewaar (1975), Adalat (1976), Dharam Veer (1977), Jaani Dushman (1979) and Kaala Patthar (1979).

On screen and off it, Neetu and Rishi Kapoor fell in love. This led to the couple tying the knot in January 1980 after a much publicized engagement that was the talk of Bollywood. Neetu was 21 at that time. She was at the top of her career, having just been nominated for a Filmfare Award as Best Supporting Actress for Kaala Patthar (1979), but she retired. She dismissed allegations that she left films because it was customary for actresses married to the famous Kapoor family to retire after marriage, claiming that it was her 'personal choice.'.

She made a comeback to films after 26 years appearing opposite her husband in Love Aaj Kal (2009), Do Dooni Chaar (2010) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012).