At the `A Candle in the Dark' show in the Capital last week, she also addedthe incense of responsibility to her venture, by splitting the proceeds ofthe sale of her candles, tagged in the price range of Rs 25 to Rs 25,000,with People for Animals, an animal rights non-profit.

Explaining the journey from celluloid to candles, Kapadia says: ``I enjoygiving shape to candles. It gives me immense pleasure, which I can'texplain. Though it is quite different from turning in a good performance orTwinkle getting a good role, it's equally satisfying."

She adds, ``And it's a great relief from stressful shoots where you aresupposed to give your best always.'' It must definitely seem better thanthose uninspiring mother roles she has done recently in movies like Hum TumPe Marte Hain.

But doesn't her obsession with candles divert her from her first love,acting? Is it possible that the candles are the cause of the ignominiousroles, rather than the result? She says quite dismissively, ``Lost of peoplefeel that by making candles, I am not doing justice to my career. But thereis more to life than movies.''

She adds, ``I don't know what life has in store for me. I take each day asit comes and with whatever it brings.''

It may sound philosophical, but when you stop to consider the fantastic upsand downs in Kapadia's film career, it is not unnatural. A sensational debutin 1974 at barely 15 with a sizzling performance in Raj Kapoor's Bobby, shebecame a veritable role model for teenagers of the time, who adopted notonly her dress styles, but even her mannerisms. However, even before thefilm was officially released, she wangled her bonus in the form of the-thensuperstar Rajesh Khanna as her husband and a long vacation from films.

During that time, she played bored housewife and doting mother toperfection. Looking back, she confesses, ``I really don't know why I wasn'tworking. I didn't plan anything for myself. It just happened.''

Thirteen years later, after bearing Khanna two daughters and going through abitter divorce, she made a comeback in 1987 with a sensuous performance inSaagar. But the audience response to a gracefully ageing, mature actress,who still retained her sparkling deep brown eyes, husky voice and long,chestnut tresses, did not match the euphoria that had surrounded the debutof the innocent starlet in mini skirts and undersized shirts under the RKbanner.

Having learnt her lessons the hard way, Kapadia decided she wouldn't give upwithout a fight. She cut back on the number of roles, and went instead forthe quality performances that would get her an ovation from the critic'sgallery, redoubling her efforts in both art and commercial cinema. Thereturns matched her efforts. She won a National Award winning performance inKalpana Lajmi's Rudaali. There were also the critically acclaimed portrayalsin Antareen, Drishti and kin. Simultaneously, she also left an indelibleimpression in commercial cinema through her powerful performances in Kaash,Prahaar, Insaaf, Krantiveer and Gardish. Dimple Kapadia's latest role as aresponsible entrepreneur seems equally promising.