Neetu Kapoor refused Ranbir's private jet offer during Operation Sindoor crisis
Synopsis
When Ranbir Kapoor arranged a private jet to fly his mother Neetu Kapoor out of Shimla during the Operation Sindoor crisis, she said no — insisting the entire 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' crew leave together or not at all. Actor Deepakk Dutta's account reveals a side of Neetu Kapoor that had nothing to do with the camera.
Key Takeaways
Neetu Kapoor declined a private jet evacuation offered by son Ranbir Kapoor during the Operation Sindoor crisis.
The crew of 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' was shooting in Shimla when the Chandigarh airport was shut amid reports of Pakistani drone attacks across Punjab .
Neetu Kapoor insisted: 'If we leave, we leave together' — refusing to be evacuated before the entire unit could move.
Actor Deepakk Dutta shared the account on 28 July , describing her response as a defining act of leadership. 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' , directed by Ashish R Mohan , also stars Kapil Sharma , Riddhima Kapoor Sahni , Sadia Khateeb , and R.
Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor turned down a private jet evacuation arranged by her son Ranbir Kapoor during the Operation Sindoor crisis, choosing instead to stay with her entire film crew in Shimla until everyone could leave safely together. Actor Deepakk Dutta, who shared screen space with her on the comedy-drama 'Daadi Ki Shaadi', recalled the episode on 28 July, describing Neetu Kapoor's decision as an act of quiet but resolute leadership.
What Happened on the Shimla Set
The crew of 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' was mid-shoot in Shimla when geopolitical tensions escalated sharply as Operation Sindoor commenced following border escalations. Reports of Pakistani drone attacks across Punjab began circulating, and the Chandigarh airport was abruptly shut down. According to Deepakk Dutta, panic spread quickly through the unit as crew members' families in Mumbai grew increasingly anxious.
'It was a deeply stressful time, and the entire crew began panicking as families in Mumbai grew increasingly anxious. We started contemplating a total pack-up,' Dutta recalled.
The Evacuation Plan and Ranbir's Call
With the Chandigarh airport closed, the team began mapping an overland route — driving down to Delhi and flying back to Mumbai from there, since the Delhi airport remained operational. It was at this point that Ranbir Kapoor called from Mumbai and offered to arrange a private jet to evacuate his mother immediately.
Neetu Kapoor, however, refused. 'If we leave, we leave together. Everyone must be evacuated safely, or no one goes. I will not rescue myself alone. Besides, we are safe here in the hills, perhaps even safer than in Mumbai. Let’s continue shooting,' she reportedly said, as recounted by Dutta.
Neetu Kapoor's Stand: Collective Safety Over Personal Comfort
Deepakk Dutta, known for his role in 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story', described Neetu Kapoor's response as a defining moment of character. 'Beyond her artistry, her character as a leader shone brightest during a major crisis on set,' he said. Her decision to stay put until the entire unit could move together reportedly steadied the crew during what he described as a chaotic and emotionally charged period.
This comes amid broader accounts of how the entertainment industry navigated the uncertainty triggered by Operation Sindoor, with several productions shooting on location across northern India at the time.
About 'Daadi Ki Shaadi'
Directed by Ashish R Mohan, 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' features Neetu Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Sadia Khateeb, and R. Sarathkumar in pivotal roles, alongside Deepakk Dutta. The film is a comedy-drama that had been shooting on location in Shimla when the crisis unfolded.
As the dust settles on Operation Sindoor, personal accounts like Dutta's are beginning to surface, offering a ground-level view of how public figures and film crews responded to one of the most tense border situations in recent memory.
Point of View
Not Neetu Kapoor herself, which means the account — however compelling — carries a single-source limitation worth noting. That said, Deepakk Dutta's recollection is specific and internally consistent, and it lands at a moment when Operation Sindoor narratives are still being pieced together from ground-level witnesses. What the episode actually reveals is less about celebrity courage and more about how the absence of institutional crisis protocols leaves film crews — hundreds of below-the-line workers included — dependent on the moral choices of the highest-profile person in the room. Neetu Kapoor made the right call; the industry should probably not rely on that being the default.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Neetu Kapoor refuse Ranbir Kapoor's private jet offer during Operation Sindoor?
Neetu Kapoor refused because she did not want to be evacuated alone while the rest of the 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' crew remained in Shimla. She reportedly said, 'If we leave, we leave together,' insisting on collective safety over personal evacuation.
Where was the 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' crew when Operation Sindoor began?
The crew was shooting in Shimla when Operation Sindoor commenced and border tensions escalated. Reports of Pakistani drone attacks across Punjab led to the abrupt closure of Chandigarh airport, stranding the unit and prompting emergency evacuation planning.
Who is Deepakk Dutta and what is his connection to this story?
Deepakk Dutta is an actor known for 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' who shared screen space with Neetu Kapoor in 'Daadi Ki Shaadi'. He recalled the Operation Sindoor episode on 28 July, describing Neetu Kapoor's decision as a defining act of leadership on set.
What evacuation route was the 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' team planning?
With Chandigarh airport shut, the crew planned to drive overland to Delhi and fly back to Mumbai from there, as Delhi airport remained operational during the crisis.
What is 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' and who is in the cast?
'Daadi Ki Shaadi' is a comedy-drama directed by Ashish R Mohan, starring Neetu Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Sadia Khateeb, R. Sarathkumar, and Deepakk Dutta.
