Women's Day 2026: Meet the boss ladies of Bollywood: Gauri Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Sussanne Khan and other successful star wives

As Women’s Day is around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate women who have carved their own identities and built successful careers. In a society where women are often defined as someone’s daughter, wife or mother, many have stepped beyond these labels to create their own legacy. Several Bollywood star wives, once known mainly through their famous partners, have established themselves as entrepreneurs, designers, producers and authors. Their journeys are inspiring reminders that success is shaped by talent, vision and determination.

Gauri Khan is a celebrated interior designer and film producer with a strong presence in the design industry. She has designed luxurious spaces for international and Indian personalities such as Roberto Cavalli, Mukesh Ambani, Ralph Lauren, Jacqueline Fernandez, Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra. Married to Shah Rukh Khan since 1991, Gauri co-founded Red Chillies Entertainment with him in 2002. In 2018, she was also featured in Fortune India’s list of the ‘50 Most Powerful Women’.

Interior designer Sussanne Khan earned an Art Associate degree in Interior Designing from a college in the United States. In 2011, she joined hands with Gauri Khan to launch India’s first interior fashion design store, The Charcoal Project. She has also been associated with the fashion and lifestyle brand The Label Life and helped launch a branch of Pearl Academy. Sussanne married actor Hrithik Roshan in 2000, and although the couple separated in 2013, they continue to co-parent their two sons.

Entrepreneur and jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor has made a mark in the fashion and luxury space. She previously collaborated with Satyani Fine Jewels, where her collection ‘Chandbalis for Satyani Fine Jewels’ became popular among buyers. Maheep also designed jewellery for several Bollywood films. She co-founded Bandra 190, a luxury retail boutique, and runs VIVA-LUXE, an online platform featuring Asian designer wear. Married to actor-producer Sanjay Kapoor, Maheep also stepped into the digital spotlight with Netflix’s ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’.

Shobha Kapoor is a prominent figure in the Indian entertainment industry. She serves as the Managing Director of Balaji Telefilms Limited and runs the production house alongside her daughter Ekta Kapoor. Over the years, she has produced numerous television shows, web series and films, including ‘Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta’, ‘Krishna Cottage’, ‘Kucch To Hai’, ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum’, ‘C Kkompany’, ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai’. Shobha married actor-producer Jeetendra in 1974.

Fashion entrepreneur Seema Khan is another successful businesswoman in Bollywood circles. She co-founded Bandra 190 and runs her own clothing store with outlets in Mumbai and Dubai. Her clientele includes well-known celebrities such as Malaika Arora, Shilpa Shetty, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Katrina Kaif. Seema married actor Sohail Khan in 1998 and later appeared in Netflix’s ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’.

Twinkle Khanna began her career as an actor with films like ‘Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan’, ‘International Khiladi’ and ‘Baadshah’. Although her acting career was brief, she reinvented herself as a successful author, columnist and producer. She writes popular columns for The Times of India and Daily News and Analysis. Her books ‘Mrs Funnybones’, ‘Pyjamas Are Forgiving’ and ‘The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad’ have been widely appreciated by readers. Twinkle married actor Akshay Kumar in 2001.

Mana Shetty is a businesswoman, designer and social activist. She owns R-House in Mumbai, a store that offers luxury lifestyle and décor products. Along with her husband Suniel Shetty, she also ventured into the real estate business. Mana is actively involved with the NGO Save the Children India and organises exhibitions under the banner of Araaish. The proceeds from these events are donated for the welfare of underprivileged women.

Before her marriage, Sunita Kapoor was a successful model at a time when Anil Kapoor was still trying to establish himself in the film industry. After marriage, she stepped away from modelling but continued to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Today, she runs a jewellery line that counts celebrities and royal clients among its patrons. Sunita and Anil Kapoor have three children: actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, producer-designer Rhea Kapoor and actor Harshvardhan Kapoor.