After years of being admired for her strength and grace, Neetu Kapoor has candidly spoken about one of the most painful chapters of her life — coping with the loss of her husband, legendary actor Rishi Kapoor.Appearing on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast alongside daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Neetu reflected on the emotional turmoil that consumed her after Rishi Kapoor’s passing in 2020.Having entered the film industry as a child actor, Neetu spent her youth balancing nonstop film schedules and eventually became one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable faces.She later stepped away from acting after marrying Rishi Kapoor in 1980, choosing family life over an exhausting career that had already seen her complete dozens of films in a short span.The couple shared four decades together before Rishi Kapoor lost his battle with leukaemia on April 30, 2020. His death, Neetu admitted, left her emotionally shattered and unable to cope with the silence and loneliness that followed.Speaking honestly about that period, Neetu said she found it difficult to sleep for months and gradually began depending on alcohol just to calm her mind at night.As someone deeply conscious about health and discipline, she said she was disturbed by how quickly things had changed and realised she needed professional help before the habit consumed her.Although many encouraged therapy, Neetu shared that she personally found greater comfort in conversations with close friends rather than formal counselling. She explained that healing ultimately depends on one’s own willingness to recover and make difficult choices.To help her through the worst phase, her doctor reportedly visited daily for several days, administering medication that helped her rest and slowly regain stability.Over time, she began feeling emotionally stronger and decided she no longer needed medical support to sleep.Neetu also credited work for helping her heal. She recalled how filmmaker Karan Johar encouraged her to return to cinema, despite her hesitation and fragile mental state.That comeback eventually came through Jugjugg Jeeyo, though she admitted she felt anxious and emotionally drained during filming.The actor also addressed criticism she faced for resuming work soon after her husband’s death, saying people misunderstood her decision.For Neetu, returning to films was not about career ambition, but about finding purpose and emotional recovery during an unbearably difficult time.Today, she says acting is no longer a necessity but a source of happiness and personal fulfilment.