Dimple Kapadia was born on June 8, 1957, in Bombay (now Mumbai). Her father, Chunibhai Kapadia, was a Gujarati businessman, and her mother, Bitti Kapadia (known as Betty), was a homemaker.

• Parents:
  Chunibhai Kapadia (Father)
  Betty Kapadia (Mother)
• Siblings:
  Simple Kapadia
  Reem Kapadia
  Suhail (Munna) Kapadia
• Spouse:
  Rajesh Khanna
• Children:
  Twinkle Khanna
  Rinke Khanna
• Relatives:
  Akshay Kumar (Son-in-law)
  Aarav Kumar (Grandson)
  Naomika Saran (Granddaughter)

She attended St Joseph's Convent High School in Santacruz, Bombay. 

In addition to her acting career, she has also explored her artistic side through painting and sculpture.

• Dimple Kapadia aspired to be an actress from childhood, influenced by her love for movies.
• Her father, who was socially connected in the film industry, helped her get opportunities.
• Initially, she was considered for a role in Sunghursh (1968), but was rejected for looking older than the character.
• She turned down the lead role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi (1970).
• In 1971, at age 14, she was cast by Raj Kapoor for the film Bobby (1973) after a screen test.
• Bobby became a major success and India's highest-grossing film of the year.
• Her portrayal of Bobby Braganza, along with her fashion in the film, made her a youth icon.
• Several of her lines, like "Mujhse dosti karoge?", became popular.
• Bobby established her as a "cult figure" and a trendsetter in fashion.
• Dimple credited Raj Kapoor for shaping her acting career.
• In 2008, her debut performance was ranked as one of the best female debuts in Hindi cinema.

Dimple Kapadia married actor Rajesh Khanna in March 1973. The couple divorced in April 1982.

They had two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna.

• Dimple Kapadia returned to acting in 1984, two years after separating from Rajesh Khanna, driven by the personal need to prove her capabilities.
• Her first film post-hiatus was Saagar (1985), where she starred opposite Rishi Kapoor. Despite a shaky screen test, she was cast for the role.
• Saagar was delayed, leading to other projects being released before it, including Zakhmi Sher (1984), Manzil Manzil (1984), Aitbaar (1985), and Arjun (1985).
• She worked opposite Sunny Deol in Manzil Manzil, although her performance received mixed reviews.
• Aitbaar (1985) earned positive reviews for her portrayal of Neha, a woman targeted by her husband's murderous plot.
• Arjun (1985) marked her first commercial success after her return.
• Saagar (1985) was controversial for a brief topless scene but was chosen as India's official entry for the 58th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
• Janbaaz (1986), with Anil Kapoor, was another notable film in her post-hiatus career.
• In 1986, she also acted in Vikram, her first regional film, in a minor role opposite Kamal Haasan.
• She worked in several South Indian films, including Pataal Bhairavi, which she later regretted accepting due to financial motives rather than artistic value.

• In 1987, Dimple Kapadia became one of the most sought-after actresses in the film industry, with hits like Insaniyat Ke Dushman and Insaaf, both action films that were commercially successful.
• In Insaaf (1987), she played dual roles: Sonia, a club dancer, and Dr. Sarita, a physician.
• Later that year, she starred in Mahesh Bhatt's Kaash as Pooja, an estranged wife who reunites with her husband to care for their terminally ill son. Kapadia's performance was widely praised for its depth and sensitivity, marking a career highlight. Critics hailed her performance in Kaash (1987) as "beautiful, sensitive, intense," with The Times of India recognizing it as one of her best.
• In Zakhmi Aurat (1988), Kapadia portrayed Kiran Dutt, a police officer who seeks revenge after being gang-raped and failed by the judicial system. The film was controversial for its brutal rape scene but was praised for Kapadia's powerful performance.
• She also appeared in Saazish and Bees Saal Baad in 1988 and starred in Mera Shikar, where she played a martial artist seeking revenge for her sister’s assault. The film was praised for its restraint compared to other films of the genre.
• In 1989, Kapadia starred opposite Jackie Shroff in the successful crime drama Ram Lakhan (1989), which became the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
• She also played a courtesan-turned-vengeful mistress in Pati Parmeshwar (1989), which faced a two-year court battle over its perceived themes of female submissiveness.

• Dimple Kapadia transitioned into parallel cinema in the 1990s, driven by a desire to showcase her full potential.
• Drishti (1990): Directed by Govind Nihalani, inspired by Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage. Kapadia played Sandhya, a career woman navigating marital issues.
• Lekin... (1991): Directed by Gulzar, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s Hungry Stones. Kapadia played Reva, a spirit haunting a palace.
• Gulzar asked Kapadia not to blink during filming to enhance the character’s surreal quality.
• Rudaali (1993) and Antareen (1993): Both films reinforced her standing as a serious actress in parallel cinema.
• Prahaar (1991): Kapadia portrayed a young widow in this military drama starring Nana Patekar.
• Narsimha (1991): She played a principled office receptionist opposite Sunny Deol.
• Haque (1991): Kapadia portrayed an Orthodox Hindu woman who defies her oppressive husband.
• Ajooba (1991): In this fantasy film, Kapadia starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan as Rukhsana, a woman on a mission to rescue her father.
• Kapadia’s performances in these films were widely praised for their emotional depth and sensitivity, cementing her place as a leading figure in parallel cinema.

• Maarg (1992): Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the film faced delays and was released straight-to-video. Kapadia played Uma, a prostitute by choice. Critics praised her intense performance, with Bhatt noting it left her near a breakdown.
• Dil Aashna Hai (1992): Kapadia played Barkha, a single woman who abandons her out-of-wedlock daughter.
• Angaar (1992): In this crime drama, Kapadia portrayed Mili, a homeless orphan. Despite a positive critical reception, the film underperformed at the box office.
• Rudaali (1993): Kapadia starred as Shanichari, a professional mourner in a Rajasthani village.
• Gardish (1993): Kapadia played Shanti, a street prostitute in this crime drama, earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
• Antareen (1993): In this Bengali drama, Kapadia portrayed an unhappily married woman in a telephonic relationship.
• Krantiveer (1994): Kapadia played Meghna Dixit, a journalist and rape victim, in this successful film.
• Kartavya (1993): Kapadia walked out of this film after the death of co-star Divya Bharti, citing discomfort in playing a mother-in-law to Juhi Chawla. A ban was imposed on her, but it was later lifted by the Cine Artistes' Association.

• After Antareen (1993), Kapadia took a three-year acting break, stating she was "emotionally exhausted."
• She returned to commercial cinema in 1997 with Mrityudaata, but the film was a critical and commercial failure.
• Kapadia then starred in 2001: Do Hazaar Ek (1998) and Laawaris (1999), both of which were rejected by audiences.
• In Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain (1999), Kapadia played a strict matriarch, but her performance was widely criticized.
• She made a comeback in the new millennium with Dil Chahta Hai (2001), portraying Tara, a middle-aged alcoholic woman. The film received critical acclaim and became a cult hit.
• In 2002, Kapadia played the title role in Leela (2002), an American production. The film was praised, particularly for her nuanced performance.
• She starred in Hum Kaun Hai? (2004), a supernatural thriller, where her performance was well-received despite the weak script.
• In Pyaar Mein Twist (2005), Kapadia reunited with Rishi Kapoor, playing a middle-aged single mother, but the film was a commercial failure.
• In 2006, she starred in the black comedy Being Cyrus, which was praised for her portrayal of a neurotic woman, despite some critics accusing her of overacting.
• In the mystical love story Banaras (2006), Kapadia played a wealthy Brahmin woman dealing with her daughter's love for a man of a lower caste.
• She appeared in Phir Kabhi (2008), a romance about aging lovers, which won multiple awards but was released directly on streaming platforms.
• Kapadia voiced the character Devi in the animated film Jumbo (2008) at the request of her son-in-law, Akshay Kumar.

• In 2009, Kapadia was cast in Luck by Chance, where she played Neena Walia, a former superstar struggling to launch her daughter in the film industry. Her performance earned praise, with a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at Filmfare.
• In 2010, she appeared as Salman Khan's asthmatic mother in Dabangg, one of the most successful films of the year. Reviews of her role were mixed.
• She then starred in Tum Milo Toh Sahi (2010), playing Delshad Nanji, a Parsi woman running an Irani café. Kapadia's performance was well-received.
• In Patiala House (2011), she played Rishi Kapoor's wife and Akshay Kumar's mother, in a film centered on cricket.
• Kapadia reunited with Homi Adajania for Cocktail (2012) and Finding Fanny (2014), both critical and commercial successes. In Cocktail, she played Saif Ali Khan's loud Punjabi mother, Kavita Kapoor, and received positive feedback for her performance. In Finding Fanny, she portrayed Rosalina "Rosie" Eucharistica, a well-meaning but conceited woman on a road trip.
• In 2013, Kapadia starred in What the Fish, playing Sudha Mishra, a divorcee who entrusts her house to her niece. Reviews were mixed, with some praising her performance and others criticizing the film's script.

• She played a trickster in Welcome Back (2015), part of a large ensemble cast led by Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar.
• In Dabangg 3 (2019), she briefly reprised her role as Naina Devi in the third installment of the Dabangg series.
• In Angrezi Medium (2020), she starred as a strict store owner, estranged from her daughter, in this comedy-drama alongside Irrfan Khan and Kareena Kapoor. However, the film's commercial performance was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• She played arms dealer Priya Singh in Tenet (2020), Christopher Nolan’s spy thriller. Her performance was widely praised, with critics noting her charisma and poise.
• In Tandav (2021), she starred as Anuradha Kishore, a power-hungry politician, in this Amazon Prime political series. Despite controversies surrounding the series, her performance was well-received.
• Kapadia appeared as Prime Minister Maya Rajguru in A Thursday (2022), a vigilante thriller starring Yami Gautam.
• She made a cameo in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022).
• In Pathaan (2023), she portrayed Nandini, a senior officer in RAW, in this highly successful spy thriller led by Shah Rukh Khan. Her performance garnered significant praise.
• In Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar (2023), Kapadia played the mother of Ranbir Kapoor's character, earning positive reviews for her supporting role.
• She reunited with Homi Adajania for Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo (2023), where she played the powerful matriarch of a drug cartel.
• Kapadia appeared in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) and Murder Mubarak (2024). Additionally, she starred opposite Pankaj Kapur in Jab Khuli Kitaab, a romantic comedy about an older couple seeking a divorce after 50 years of marriage.