‘Still Can’t Forgive Myself…’: Anil Kapoor Reveals Why He Missed Daughter Rhea Kapoor’s Birth

Anil Kapoor has spent decades building one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring careers, but the veteran actor says there is one moment when his commitment to work came at a personal cost — and it remains difficult for him to forget.

Ahead of the premiere of his new quiz-based reality show India Ke Top 1%: The Anil Kapoor Show, the actor recalled missing the birth of his younger daughter Rhea Kapoor because of his professional commitments.

The deeply personal admission came during a conversation with a contestant who spoke about taking a break from work after realising his family needed more of his time. The contestant’s story struck a chord with Kapoor and prompted him to reflect on his own struggle to balance an intense career with family life.

‘I reached the hospital late’

Kapoor said people often justify long working hours by saying they are doing it for their families, but he has come to recognise just how important it is to actually make time for family.

The actor then recalled the day Rhea Kapoor was born.

Kapoor revealed that he had been shooting throughout the night and eventually fell asleep. By the time he woke up and reached the hospital, Rhea had already been born.

Reflecting on that moment decades later, Kapoor admitted: “I have never been able to forgive myself.”

His admission offered a rare glimpse into the sacrifices behind a career that has kept him continuously occupied across films, television and streaming projects.

Anil Kapoor praises his sons-in-law

During the same conversation, Kapoor also spoke appreciatively about his sons-in-law, saying they manage to make proper time for both their families and their professional responsibilities.

The comparison appeared to make Kapoor reflect on how differently he handled the same balance when he was younger.

Rather than presenting his work-first approach as something to celebrate, the actor acknowledged that he continues to learn about the importance of being present for the people closest to him.

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Sonam and Rhea are Anil Kapoor’s ‘double bonus’

Despite the regret attached to Rhea’s birth, Kapoor’s recollection ended on a warm note as he spoke about his daughters Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor.

Calling having a daughter a “bonus”, the actor said being the father of two daughters makes it a “double bonus” for him.

Anil Kapoor and his wife Sunita Kapoor have three children — Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor and Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor.

Sonam followed her father into acting, while Rhea established herself as a film producer and fashion entrepreneur.

Anil Kapoor turns host for ‘India Ke Top 1%’

Kapoor’s emotional revelation comes as he prepares for another television outing with India Ke Top 1%: The Anil Kapoor Show, the Indian adaptation of the international game-show format The 1% Club.

The show is scheduled to premiere on September 19 at 8 pm on Star Plus and JioHotstar. It will feature 100 contestants facing 13 progressively challenging rounds designed around logic, observation and everyday thinking, rather than conventional general knowledge.

Contestants will attempt to survive until the final 1% question, while the overall prize pot can rise to ₹1 crore. Viewers will also be able to participate from home through JioHotstar’s Play Along feature.

For Kapoor, however, one of the show’s most memorable moments may have little to do with winning the jackpot.

His conversation about Rhea’s birth turned a discussion about work-life balance into something deeply personal — a reminder from an actor with decades of professional success that some missed moments cannot be recreated.