Karan Boolani mourns grandfather Baldev Boolani, 98; Sonam Kapoor sends love
Synopsis
Filmmaker Karan Boolani shared a moving tribute to his late grandfather Baldev Boolani, who passed away on 4 November at the age of 98. In an emotional post, Karan recalled how Baldev left Karachi with nothing and rebuilt his life — a story of resilience that shaped an entire family. Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor also paid their respects online.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Karan Boolani’s grandfather Baldev Boolani passed away on 4 November 2026 at age 98 .
Karan shared an emotional tribute on social media, recalling how his grandfather left Karachi with nothing and rebuilt his life from scratch.
Actress Sonam Kapoor commented ‘Love you Bools’ on the post, expressing her support for her brother-in-law.
Filmmaker Rhea Kapoor , Karan’s wife, described Baldev as a beloved father with a ‘life beautifully lived.’ Last rites were held privately at home, attended only by close family members.
Filmmaker Karan Boolani is grieving the loss of his grandfather, Baldev Boolani, who passed away peacefully on 4 November 2026 at the age of 98, surrounded by his family at home in Mumbai. His sister-in-law, actress Sonam Kapoor, extended her condolences in the comments section of his post, writing, ‘Love you Bools.’
Karan Boolani’s Emotional Tribute
Karan took to his social media account to share the news, posting a series of photographs with his late grandfather — including a poignant image of their hands clasped together, recent pictures of the two of them, and throwback photographs from Baldev Boolani’s younger days.
In a heartfelt note accompanying the post, Karan wrote: ‘I lost my grandfather yesterday. I was lucky to spend some time with him these last few days. I sat with him, talked to him, and got to tell him what he meant to me. Not everyone gets to say goodbye properly, and I’ll always be grateful I did.’
He further noted the remarkable care his parents provided: ‘My parents looked after him at home right till the end, with no nurses and no outside help, just a lot of love and patience. He’d looked after them all his life, and watching that come back to him was something special.’
A Life Built from Scratch
Karan’s tribute highlighted the resilience his grandfather embodied throughout his life. ‘He left Karachi with nothing and built it all again, and he taught me everything without ever sitting me down,’ Karan wrote, referring to Baldev Boolani’s migration and subsequent rebuilding of his life. He added: ‘He always said I’d have to look after the family one day. I hope I make him proud. 98 years. What a life. What a man.’
The tribute underscored the intergenerational bond the family shared, with Karan crediting his grandfather for instilling values of family, responsibility, and resilience.
Rhea Kapoor Also Pays Her Respects
Karan’s wife and filmmaker Rhea Kapoor — sister of Sonam Kapoor — also shared a tribute to her grandfather-in-law on her social media stories. She posted a photograph of Baldev Boolani and described him as a beloved father who had led a ‘life beautifully lived.’
The family confirmed that his last rites were held privately, attended only by close family members.
Who Is Karan Boolani
Karan Boolani is a filmmaker who married Rhea Kapoor, younger sister of actress Sonam Kapoor, in a private ceremony. The families of Anil Kapoor and the Boolani household share a close bond, making Baldev Boolani’s passing a moment of collective mourning for both sides of the family.
As the family observes a period of bereavement, the outpouring of warmth from the film fraternity reflects the quiet dignity with which Baldev Boolani lived his nearly century-long life.
Point of View
Not a news event of national consequence — but it carries a quietly significant human thread. Baldev Boolani’s migration from Karachi and his rebuilding of a life connects to a generational story shared by millions of Partition-era families. Karan’s tribute is unusually substantive for a celebrity social media post: it speaks of care, legacy, and responsibility rather than grief alone. In an ecosystem saturated with performative celebrity moments, that specificity is worth noting.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Baldev Boolani?
Baldev Boolani was the grandfather of filmmaker Karan Boolani. He passed away on 4 November 2026 at the age of 98, having migrated from Karachi and rebuilt his life from scratch — a journey Karan described as the foundation of his own understanding of family and resilience.
How is Sonam Kapoor related to Karan Boolani?
Sonam Kapoor is Karan Boolani’s sister-in-law. Karan is married to Rhea Kapoor, the younger sister of actress Sonam Kapoor. Sonam commented ‘Love you Bools’ on Karan’s tribute post.
What did Karan Boolani write in his tribute?
Karan Boolani wrote that he was grateful to have spent time with his grandfather in his final days and to have said a proper goodbye. He recalled how Baldev left Karachi with nothing, rebuilt his life, and instilled in him a deep sense of family and responsibility.
Who is Rhea Kapoor and what did she share?
Rhea Kapoor is a filmmaker and the wife of Karan Boolani, as well as the younger sister of actress Sonam Kapoor. She shared a tribute on her social media stories, posting a photograph of Baldev Boolani and describing him as a beloved father with a ‘life beautifully lived.’
Where and how did Baldev Boolani pass away?
Baldev Boolani passed away peacefully at home on 4 November 2026, surrounded by family. His last rites were held privately with close family members in attendance.
