Janhvi Kapoor Heartbroken Over Cruel Labels Given to Her Mother

Actor Janhvi Kapoor has spoken about the emotional toll and public scrutiny her mother, the late Sridevi, endured during her life, specifically recalling the use of the label homewrecker by critics. In a conversation with Raj Shamani on his YouTube channel, Kapoor detailed how the lack of kindness from the public deeply affected her mother and their family dynamics.

Kapoor noted that while public perception often becomes kinder after a person has passed away, the reality of the scrutiny Sridevi faced during her lifetime was brutal. She described the experience of seeing her mother deal with such unkind public perception firsthand.

The Impact of Sudden Loss and Public Trauma

The discussion also touched upon the trauma associated with Sridevi’s death in 2018, which occurred only a few months before Janhvi Kapoor’s cinematic debut in the film Dhadak. Kapoor identified the loss of her mother as the biggest trauma of her life, noting that the pain was compounded because the event unfolded in the global public eye.

I try to escape my mind, my inner turmoil. The feelings that I haven’t dealt with, the trauma that I haven’t dealt with. The biggest trauma was losing my mom, especially the way I did, in front of the whole world and dealing with that journey.

Janhvi Kapoor via Raj Shamani’s YouTube channel

Kapoor described her relationship with her mother prior to 2018 as one of high dependency. She stated that she relied on Sridevi for nearly every aspect of her life, including fashion choices, decision-making and her moral compass. The sudden disappearance of this safety net forced her to navigate adulthood and professional entry while facing intense public scrutiny and accusations regarding her family’s internal dynamics.

Navigating Vulnerability and Mental Health

Following her mother’s passing, Kapoor admitted to making mistakes in her personal life. She revealed that she allowed individuals into her inner circle who took advantage of her, which she stated compromised both her mental and physical safety.

This struggle with vulnerability was further echoed in an appearance at We The Women in Mumbai on December 2, 2025. During that event, she reflected on the brutality of the digital gaze and the risk that any expression of vulnerability could be transformed into a headline.

Kapoor also shared the profound sense of loss regarding her father, Boney Kapoor. She expressed that she lost her father on the same day her mother died, as the version of him that existed in tandem with Sridevi vanished. She noted that she misses the specific way her mother shaped their family and the humor she brought to their lives.

Evolving Perspectives

When asked how Sridevi might view her now, Kapoor acknowledged that she has evolved and developed opinions that differ from those held by her mother. Because of this growth, she admitted that the nature of their interaction today would be uncertain.

The actor concluded that she may never fully recover from the pain of the loss, continuing to process the trauma and the void left by her mother’s absence.