Bollywood loves a good plot twist. But some of its most dramatic stories don’t happen on screen—they happen in courtrooms, over wills, properties, and legacies that families tear apart fighting for.
When a superstar dies, the myth often dies with them. What’s left behind is messier: disputed assets, contested wills, second families, and relatives who suddenly remember they were close. Here are some of Bollywood’s most bitter inheritance battles.
Raj Kapoor’s Empire: A Family Divided
When Raj Kapoor died in 1988, he left behind R.K. Studios, one of Bollywood’s most iconic production houses, and a sprawling family empire. But dividing it wasn’t simple.
Raj Kapoor had five children—Randhir, Rishi, Rajiv, Ritu, and Rima—and each had different stakes in the legacy. Over the years, reports emerged of internal disputes over the studio’s management, finances, and future. By 2018, the family sold R.K. Studios after a devastating fire. The sale was emotional, but some insiders suggested financial disagreements had already fractured the family’s bond.
The Kapoor legacy, once synonymous with unity and tradition, had crumbled under the weight of money and mismanagement.
Vinod Mehra: The Secret Wives and Missing Millions
Vinod Mehra died suddenly in 1990 at the age of 45, leaving behind a murky personal life. He was officially married to Kiran (formerly Bindiya Goswami), with whom he had a son. But after his death, two other women came forward claiming they had married him too.
Meeta claimed she married Vinod in 1974. Anju Mahendroo said the same. Both relationships allegedly ended in divorce or separation, but legal documentation was scarce. The inheritance battle dragged on for years, with Vinod’s mother and wife fighting off claims from multiple directions.
The case became a cautionary tale: even in death, secrets don’t stay buried—they just become lawsuits.
Kishore Kumar’s Four Wives and One Estate
Kishore Kumar, one of Bollywood’s greatest singers, was married four times. His last wife, Leena Chandavarkar, was with him when he died in 1987. But his estate became a battlefield.
Kishore had two sons—Amit Kumar (from his first marriage to Ruma Guha Thakurta) and Sumit Kumar (from his second marriage to Madhubala’s sister). Leena claimed she was the rightful heir. Amit argued otherwise. The family fought over property, royalties, and even Kishore’s personal belongings.
Decades later, the wounds haven’t fully healed. The legacy of one of India’s most beloved voices remains fractured.
Rajesh Khanna and Anita Advani: The 13-Year Battle for Dignity
When Rajesh Khanna died in 2012, most assumed his estate would go to his estranged wife Dimple Kapadia and daughters Twinkle and Rinkie. But in 2013, Anita Advani filed a lawsuit that changed everything.
Anita, an actress who had appeared in films like Shalimar and Daasi in the late 1970s and 1980s, claimed she had been Rajesh Khanna’s live-in partner during his final years. She alleged she was forcibly removed from his Bandra bungalow, Aashirwad, after his death and had never been shown his will.
But here’s what makes Anita’s case different from most inheritance battles: she has consistently insisted it’s not about money. In a recent interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani uploaded on February 14, 2025, she said, “It’s not money. It’s also my respect. More than anything else, and also the way I want to be, the way I was. I have a right to do that.”
She also revealed she has never seen the will, despite knowing “sabke liye hai bahut kuch”—that it had provisions for many people. The case remains unresolved in 2025, making it one of Bollywood’s longest-running inheritance disputes.
Anita’s battle raises uncomfortable questions about live-in relationships, legal rights under Indian succession law, and how the industry treats women who loved its legends outside of marriage. Unlike cases driven by greed, hers seems driven by something harder to litigate: the need to be acknowledged, not erased.
Why These Battles Matter
Bollywood’s inheritance fights aren’t just about money. They’re about identity, legitimacy, and who gets to control the narrative after someone dies.
They expose the gap between public image and private reality. The stars we worship on screen often leave behind chaos—secret relationships, fractured families, contested legacies. And the people caught in the middle—second wives, live-in partners, estranged children—are often the ones who suffer most.
These battles also highlight legal gray areas. Indian succession law is complex, especially when it comes to live-in relationships, contested wills, and informal marriages. Without clear documentation, disputes can drag on for decades, enriching lawyers while impoverishing families.
Bollywood may sell us dreams, but its inheritance battles are a reminder: real life is rarely a fairy tale.
For a deeper look at Anita Advani’s ongoing legal battle and her recent statements, read her full interview breakdown where she insists the fight is about dignity, not money.
