Rajesh Khattar with Shahid and Ishaan. (courtesy: rajesh_khattar)
Rajesh Khattar, the father of actor Ishaan Khatter, is an extremely popular face thanks to his work in films and television shows. The actor, who was formerly married to Ishaan and Shahid Kapoor's mother Neliima Azeem, has now spoken about his relationship with the actors. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actor not only addressed several rumours related to him but also opened up about his relationship with Ishaan and Shahid. As part of the conversation, Rajesh Khattar said that Ishaan was present at the hospital the day after the birth of Rajesh's younger son Yuvaan, whom he shares with Vandana Sajnani. He said that Ishaan had come to meet the little one in the NICU and that Shahid Kapoor was also aware of the situation, which he described as a particularly difficult time for him and Vandana.
Shahid Kapoor is Neliima Azeem's son with actor Pankaj Kapur. Rajesh Khattar said that while Ishaan is extremely busy, he shares a “good” relationship with Yuvaan. He also added that Shahid and his family are yet to meet Yuvaan. Rajesh Khattar said that it was up to the three boys to forge a bond with each other. Speaking of Shahid not having met Yuvaan so far, he explained, “You can't complicate it for them. They will have to work out their lives from here on. We should try and simplify it as much as possible for them. But they will find their own equation, if they have to and if they wish to.”
As part of the same conversation, he also added that he would never ask Ishaan Khatter and Shahid Kapoor to recommend his name to filmmakers he wants to work with. Denying it to be an issue of ego, Rajesh Khattar revealed, “Ishaan and I came very close to working together once, on an international project. But it wasn't because either of us tried to make it happen. That was solely due to the director. Everything happens for a reason. I like to believe we're perhaps destined to work on something better.”
Rajesh Khattar is known for his work in films such as Don, Don 2, Khiladi 786, and Race 2 as well as television shows such as Beyhadh, Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan, and Left Right Left, among others.
He was married to Neliima Azeem from 1990 to 2001. Their son Ishaan Khatter made his debut with Majid Majidi's Beyond the Clouds. He was last seen in the 2022 horror comedy Phone Bhoot.