Riddhima Kapoor Sahni makes history Kapoor made her acting debut as the oldest woman, appearing in front of the camera for the first time at the age of 45 in ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’, opposite her mother Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma. But the road to her debut didn’t start with an audition or narration, it started with two women laughing out loud at the idea. In a candid interview ahead of the film’s May 8 release, Neetu Kapoor, Kapil Sharma and director Ashish R. Mohan revealed a charming and perfectly planned story of how this mother-daughter casting came together.
Neetu Kapoor’s first reaction
Speaking to SCREEN, when Riddhima’s casting came up, Neetu Kapoor’s response was immediate and emphatic.“When I got a call asking if Riddhima would do this film, I laughed out loud and said, ‘Riddhima? Films? No, no.’ So I put the phone down and thought: how can I make a decision on his behalf? So I called Riddhima and asked her if she would do the film. He laughed even more than I did and then said, ‘Why not?'” recalls Neetu.
Kapil Sharma on organic casting decision
Kapil Sharma revealed that Riddhima’s name came naturally from the casting process and the team’s only real uncertainty was whether she would agree.“When they were discussing the casting of the daughter’s role, the team said that there was one character left, who should play Neetu ji’s daughter? Everyone thought of Riddhima at the same time. But the question in everyone’s mind was the same, will Riddhima agree? And when she came, her first shot on the first day was very natural. In your blood, Ri Kapilma said directly.”
How did Neetu Singh fare in ‘Dadi Ki Shaadi’?
The signing of Neetu Kapoor was equally unplanned and equally serendipitous. Kapil Sharma revealed that Neetu’s initial attitude was clear.“When director Ashish went to narrate Neetu maam, she told her, I won’t do a film for money, I don’t need a job, I’m in a family space now,” he shared.Director Ashish R. Mohan took it from there. “I asked Ms. Neetu how long she wanted the narration to be. I told her it could be half an hour or three hours. We started the narration, and it ended up being two hours and forty minutes. She listened to everything. After the narration, she said, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to do the film yet, but this film should be made.’
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni in her debut at 45
For Riddhima, the experience carries an emotional weight that goes beyond her debut.“It feels really surreal and very emotional. I know everything will come full circle. I know my father is always with me, blessing me in whatever I want to do. That thought gives me a lot of strength and comfort,” he told SCREEN.
More about ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’
Directed by Ashish R. Mohan, ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’ is a family entertainer built around relationships, emotions and light drama. The cast includes Neetu Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, R. Sarathkumar, Yograj Singh, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Aditi Mittal, Nikhat Khan, Vidhaan Sharma and Swarna Pandey. The film will hit the theaters on May 8, 2026 and marks Neetu Kapoor’s big screen comeback after four years.
