While the Hindi film industry is still grappling to deal with the departure of its prolific talent Irrfan Khan, the news of his D-Day co-star Rishi Kapoor has left for his heavenly abode is too much to bear for our already grief-stricken hearts. As a child actor in Mera Naam Joker (1970) to a naughty old man in Kapoor & Sons (2016), Rishi Kapoor literally grew up on-screen. He has played numerous versatile characters. Suffice to say that he played larger than life and had a glorious and illustrious career throughout his career as an actor.
On September 4, 1952, Kapoors, the first family of Indian cinema was elated with the birth of Rishi, the third of the five children of Raj and Krishna Kapoor. Rishi wasted no time to figure out his true calling -- acting.
As a child, he was frequently taken to the sets. Along with his siblings Randhir and Ritu, he was featured in the song Pyar Hua Ikraar from Raj Kapoor’s Shree 420 in 1955.
Hindi cinema's quintessential romantic hero had begun his romance with the camera when he was barely in his teens. Being the son of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, the environment on a film set was no novice to him when he officially entered the films with his father’s Mera Naam Joker in 1970.
When Raj called the shots on his ambitious film Mera Naam Joker in 1968, Rishi Kapoor was 16, playing the younger version of Raj Kapoor’s character Raju, who has a crush on his svelte teacher Mary (Simi Garewal). For his impressive debut, Rishi won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
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Three years later, Bobby catapulted Rishi to stardom. With Dimple Kapadia as the leading lady, the romance pulled huge crowds to theatres. His illustrious filmography spread over five decades is a glowing example of his range. Beginning with playing a boy-next-door to romantic star to even win over the audience with his negative role in Agneepath.
Following the success of Bobby, Rishi went on to star in several films in the next few years, including Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar, Sargam, Karz, Nagina, Honeymoon, Banjaran, Heena and Bol Radha Bol.
However, from his filmography of over 150 films, Prem Rog and Doosra Aadmi, need special mention as they were way ahead of their times when released nearly four decades ago.
While in Doosra Aadmi Ramesh Talwar narrated the story of a woman who falls in love with a much younger man, who resembles her late lover, Prem Rog was Raj Kapoor's one of the celebrated films indulging in the subject of widow remarriage and castiesm.
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80s were treating Rishi right with numerous films on his hands while personal life too was going great as he entered the wedlock with Neetu Singh. Love blossomed between the two on movie sets and they together delivered many hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Kabhi Kabhie and Do Dooni Chaar. The lady stood by Rishi like a rock through thick and thins and was by his side when he breathed his last today.