Dimple Kapadia turns 63: Rare photos of Bollywood actor

Dimple Kapadia became an overnight star with her debut film Bobby. But she left it all to get married to then superstar Rajesh Khanna. The actor, however, made a successful comeback to films after a decade, and has since then been unstoppable. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

As the actor turns 63 today, here's looking back at her life and career. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Before her debut in Bobby, Dimple Kapadia was offered the role of a younger Vyjayanthimala in H. S. Rawail's Sunghursh (1968), and the titular character in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi in 1970. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Raj Kapoor finally cast Dimple at the age of 14 in his teen-romance Bobby (1973) opposite his son Rishi Kapoor. Both Dimple and Rishi became overnight stars. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

However, six months before the release of Bobby, Dimple tied the knot with then superstar Rajesh Khanna (30) and left acting to raise her two daughters - Twinkle and Rinkie. Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna are seen here with Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

After separating from Rajesh Khanna in 1982, and a hiatus of eleven years from films, Dimple made a comeback with Zakhmi Sher (1984). (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Ramesh Sippy's Sagar (1985) brought Dimple back in business. The film was India's official entry to the Oscars that year. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Sagar was followed by other projects like Aitbaar, Kaash, Janbaaz, Insaaf, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Saazish, Batwara, Gardish, Krantiveer, Prahaar and Ram Lakhan. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple's most successful pairing after Rishi Kapoor was with Sunny Deol. The duo did films like Arjun, Manzil Manzil and Narsimha. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple Kapadia has also worked with actors like Jackie Shroff, Raj Babbar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar and Vinod Khanna. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple Kapadia ventured into arthouse films in 1990s, and starred in critically acclaimed movies including Kalpana Lajmi's Rudaali, Govind Nihalani's Drishti, Gulzar's Lekin and Somnath Sen's Leela. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Amid all this, she kept her bond with Rajesh Khanna intact. The two never divorced. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple also acted in Khanna's production Jai Shiv Shankar (1990). She even campaigned for the actor when he fought elections. Seen here are Dimple, Twinkle and Rinkie with Khanna at an election rally. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple's filmography post 2000s includes Dil Chahta Hai, Being Cyrus, Luck By Chance, Funding Fanny, Patiala House with son-in-law Akshay Kumar, and reuniting with Rishi Kapoor in Pyaar Mein Twist. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

Dimple Kapadia also runs a candle making business. (Source: Photo by Express archives )

She was last seen in Irrfan Khan starrer Angrezi Medium. Her upcoming films include Hollywood outing Tenet and Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra. (Source: Photo by Express archives )