Legendary actor Rishi Raj Kapoor dies at 67

Published on 09.05.2020

SHADWAL WEB DESK: Versatile actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last at 8.45 am on April 30. Rishi Kapoor acted in about 125 films in a career spanning over five decades. For his work in Hindi cinema, he was bestowed with one National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards. The actor was battling leukemia for the last two years. He jetted off to the US for treatment and then returned to India after over a year, in September 2019. All the while, Neetu Kapoor stood like a pillar beside him. Rishi Kapoor is survived by his son, actor Ranbir Kapoor, daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and wife Neetu Singh.

Rishi and Neetu Singh’s love story inspired generations. The couple, who tied the knot in 1980, starred together in many films. The movies include Zahreela Insaan (1974), Zinda Dil, Khel Kel Mein and Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony and Doosara Aadmi (1977), Anjane Mein and Kabhie Kabhie (1978), Dhan Daulat (1980), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Do Dooni Chaar (2010) Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) and Besharam (2013).

As Raj Kapoor’s son, no doubt he was launched with style but with his performance in the first two movies itself; he showed the industry and the audience what he was made of. Eleven of his 51 solo hero films were successful at the box office, while 25 of his 41 films, which had more than one star, were successful. He won the National Award for the Best Child Actor for Mera Naam Joker (1971) and walked away with the Filmfare Best Actor trophy for his performance in Bobby (1973). Between 1973 and 2000, Kapoor starred as the romantic lead in 92 films.[6] Some of his notable films during this period include Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), and Chandni (1989). Since the 2000s, he played character roles to critical acclaim in such films as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Agneepath (2012) and Mulk (2018). For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), he won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, and for his role in Kapoor & Sons (2016), he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He was honoured by Russian Government for contribution to cinema in 2009. His final film appearance was in The Body (2019). In January 2017, Rishi released his autobiography titled “Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored.

He set out to carve a unique place for himself in the annals of Bollywood history. After all he belonged to the first family of Indian cinema and knew that if he had to make a name he would have to fashion an identity distinct from his father Raj Kapoor, his illustrious uncles Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, his renowned grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor and his elder brother Randhir Kapoor. In the last decade of his career, Kapoor appeared in around 25 films, some of which are super duper hits such as Love Aaj Kal, Agneepath, Shuddh Desi Romance, 102 Not Out and Rajma Rice.

Rishi Kapoor with Amitabh Bachchan in 102 Not Out

In an industry dominated by macho-men and action heroes, he stood out for his boyish looks, his pleasing personality and his innate sense of music and rhythm. He has shared screen space with almost every other actor of his time as well as many veteran seniors, be it a hero or a character artist but always left a mark by adding his special touch to his roles.

Among the heroines also, he had the unique distinction of having been paired opposite almost all heroines belonging to varied age groups. Starting from senior actresses like Aruna Irani, Rekha, Hema, Raakhee and Shabana to Tina Munim, Sridevi, Madhuri and Raveena and to the youngest Divya Bharati, he had romanced them all. He had also starred in many films opposite debutante actresses like Dimple Kapadia, Ranjeeta, Padmini Kolhapure and Shoma Anand. Here is a list of 50 actresses opposite whom he was paired romantically.

1-2. Aruna Irani and Dimple Kapadia in Bobby (1973)

3. Moushmi Chatterjee in Zehreela Insaan (1974)

4. Neetu Singh in Khel Khel Mein (1975)

5. Sulakshana Pandit in Raja (1975)

6. Parveen Babi in Rangila Ratan (1976)

7. Ranjeeta in Laila Majnu (1976)

8. Shoma Anand in Barood (1976)

9. Raakhee in Doosra Aadmi (1977)

10-11. Zeenat Aman and Kajal Kiran in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (1977)

12. Bhavna Bhatt in Naya Daur (1978)

13. Naseem in Kabhie Kabhie (1978)

14. Reena Roy in Badaltey Rishtey (1978)