Bollywood’s Akbar Allahabadi, a man who has played many shades including films like Mulk, 102 Not Out and Kapoor and Sons on the silver screen has passed away, leaving behind a legacy unmatched. A man fighting with cancer for atleast two years shuttling between two continents his death during the woefully depressing Coronavirus pandemic has left everyone shattered. It is not for nothing that Amitabh Bachchan broke the news saying He’s gone Rishi Kapoor is gone and I am destroyed. Rishi Kapoor, famed for romantic roles, died of cancer aged 67, a day after the death of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan.
Part of the Kapoor dynasty that long dominated Bollywood, he was charming, jovial and a man who was in your face and did not shy away from expressing himself. Rishi Kapoor was last seen in the web series The Body on Netflix. He shot for a film in Delhi earlier this year.
Kapoor, broke on to the Indian cinema scene with Mera Naam Joker playing a child artiste. The actor received a National Award for Mera Naam Joker.
In 1973, Rishi Kapoor made his film debut as an adult, with Bobby, opposite Dimple Kapadia.
Kapoor’s last Bollywood outing was 2018 film 102 Not Out with Amitabh Bachchan. Rishi Kapoor is survived by wife and actor Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.
Playing the chocolate boy in dozens of films for more than two decades, he made a successful transition to character roles. Many films in the 1980s and 90s – Khel Khel Mein, Karz and Chandni – became roaring hits. A good one at shaking a leg, gave him an edge over his peers.
He collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan and his uncle Shashi Kapoor to churn out hits.
Kapoor himself was also prolific on Twitter, frequently commenting on controversial issues and sometimes getting into heated exchanges with people on the social media platform.
His last tweet was an appeal to people not to attack medical staff at the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus saying, “we have to win this war together”. He knew how to laugh himself as well.
Kapoor’s roots were in Peshawar where one generation was born. The family migrated to India after the partition in 1947.
Kapoor was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 and returned to India last September after a year-long course of treatment in New York. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as “multifaceted, endearing and lively” and “a powerhouse of talent”.
The national award winner has several dialogues which make him a special man.
Among his famous dialogues were – हम सौकड़ों जनम लेते हैं. कभी पति-पत्नी बनकर… कभी प्रेमी बनकर… तो कभी अंजाने बनकर… लेकिन मिलते जरूर है आखिर में… नहीं मिलेंगे तो कहानी खत्म कैसे होगी. इसे प्यार कहते हैं.
Another one is तू साथ होकर भी साथ नहीं होती… अब तो राहत में भी राहत नहीं होती…
With two legends gone Bollywood is even more humbler.
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