After "Antareen", Kapadia was expected to work in more independent films but she took a three-year hiatus from acting, later saying she was "emotionally exhausted". She returned to commercial cinema in 1997, playing Amitabh Bachchan's wife in "Mrityudaata" under Mehul Kumar's direction. The film was a critical and commercial failure; "India Today" panned its "comic book-level storytelling". The trade journal "Film Information" said Kapadia had a role unworthy of her time, and Kapadia shared similar sentiments. Her next release was the murder mystery "" (1998), which audiences rejected despite a stronger opening. Kapadia appeared opposite Jackie Shroff in "Laawaris" (1999), in a role that according to "Hindustan Times" did not allow her "much to do except scream"; Rediff.com's Sharmila Taliculam criticised the film for its formulaic script and lack of originality. In her final feature of the decade, "Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain", Kapadia played Devyani Chopra, the strict mother of a wealthy family. Subhash K. Jha called the film an embarrassment while Suparn Verma gave a scathing review of Kapadia's performance, noting she "wears a permanent scowl" throughout the film.