It was painful to see my sister suffer: Annu Kapoor

Annu Kapoor

Om Puri's personal life was never going to be the same after the launch of his tell-all biography written by wife Nandita Puri in 2011. 

The latter recently filed a case of domestic violence against the actor, which was followed by different versions splashed by both parties in the media. Om Puri's former wife Seema Kapoor, in the centre of controversy, also told her side. And now, her brother Annu Kapoor speaks out.

Your sister Seema has finally come out in the open about her personal life...
My sister was tortured and victimised, but we did not go public even after she got divorced. Circumstances forced her to talk now. There was no other alternative left for her except to let people know what really happened. If someone starts hurling abuses and maligning other family members, then it is time to lash out.

Om Puri is a respected and accomplished actor. Do you wonder what went wrong?
Just because someone is a good artiste does not make him a good human being. An actor lives in the world of make believe, but the definition of a good human being is different.

About three years ago, when there were talks of Om Puri reconciling with your sister and wanting to spend his old age with her, you had then said he should hire a maid for support...
Whatever I had said then was probably the truth. I believe in being committed and honest. There was a time when we wouldn't want our daughter, daughter-in-law or sister's personal life to be out in the open, but times have changed.

Would you be fine with your sister wanting to start life afresh with him?
I am nobody to stop her from going back to Om. She is an adult and an intelligent woman. She is not a child that she can be stopped. But she should know what is bad and what is good for her. She should live her life with dignity. I will always protect her. People should know that she has a brother called Annu Kapoor.

Has she discussed the matter with you and your older brother?
Never!

What is your equation with Om Puri?
Om was never my friend.

But Seema has said that Om Puri was in touch with you and your older brother Ranjit post their break up...
Om was close to my elder brother, but not that close. All of us are from the National School of Drama, so maybe there is some kind of connect. But Om was never my friend. We've just worked together in couple of films, like I have with so many other people.

How tough was it for the family to deal with the situation?
It was very painful for us to see our sister suffer. I come from old school — I sympathise and empathise with all women going through any kind of suffering. It shouldn't reach a point where the woman is tortured and made to suffer. It is best to separate at the earliest. I am a complete feminist.

Seema is a creative and independent person. How did she cope with all this?
She has her own production company, plus she is a writer and director. We may not be stars, but we are artistes of the finest order. She has been strong throughout. She meditates a lot and that helped her come out of her grief.

What do you have to say about Om Puri's controversial personal life?
The entire country is caught in so many controversies — cheats, godmen... what do I say about one Om Puri
?