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.
In 1999, the actor tried a hand at direction with the movie Aa Ab Laut Chalen, starring Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna.
With changing times, Rishi adapted to the offers of supporting roles and starred in films like Hum Tum and Love Aaj Kal with absolute ease no matter what the scale of the portrayal was.
The actor also tried his luck in English films with Don't Stop Dreaming and Sambar Salsa, both released in 2007.
Rishi reaffirmed his range as an actor in 2012, when he enacted the ferocious Rauf Lala in the movie Agneepath, a remake of 1990 hit of the same name. His act as an underworld drug lord in the film would make one cringe whenever he enters the frame.
As they say, the journey of an actor is all about the choices that he makes and Rishi has not left any opportunity as far as experimenting with his roles is concerned. The veteran actor went on to play roles beyond his age in films like Kapoor & Sons, 102 Not Out and Mulk.
He left us wanting for more as the actor was about to get in the shoes of Robert De Niro for the Hindi adaption of Hollywood drama The Intern, in which he was supposed to share screen space with Deepika Padukone.
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While Irrfan and Rishi left us a day apart, uncannily, the year 2018 was as frightening for their family and fans as 2020 turned out to be. Both the actors were diagnosed with the deadly disease, cancer in the same year!
Following the diagnosis, the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering. Rishi's wife and veteran actress Neetu Singh had remained by his side in the US throughout the time. Their actor-son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni too paid regular visits to them.
Besides family, a slew of friends, celebrities from across the film and business world had showed up every other day by Rishi's side to keep him happy and entertained. These included Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Anupam Kher and the Ambanis.
Post return to India, his health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February.
Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi. The actor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia.
Leaving us at the dearth of words to express the loss, the least we can say is, Rishi Kapoor we were yet to treasure you!
