'Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan': A look at the exceptional film career of Bollywood’s bona fide romantic star, Rishi Kapoor!

By Gurpreet Kaur

on April 30, 2020

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is no more. According to a statement issued by the family, he passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. In fact, “he remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents.” He is survived by wife, actress Neetu Kapoor, daughter Riddhima and son Ranbir.

Rishi Kapoor belongs to the illustrious Kapoor family of Bollywood, widely known as first family of Hindi films. Son of late iconic actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, his uncles Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor were stars, too, as have been his brothers Randhir and Rajeev Kapoor in their time. However, in his generation, he was the one emerged as the bona fide superstar, a heartthrob that impressed millions of people across the globe with his acting chops and jovial personality.

Although he made his first on screen appearance in the song Pyar Hua Ikraar from Raj Kapoor’s Shree 420 in 1955 along with siblings Randhir and Ritu, his full screen role was Mera Naam Joker in 1970. He was then 16 years old and was cast to play the younger version of Raj Kapoor’s character Raju. He also took home the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. However, it was when a love-smitten Rishi sang 'Main shayar toh nahin, magar ae haseen. Jab se dekha maine tujhko mujhko shayari aa gayi’ in Bobby, he managed to make many hearts skip a beat. And that’s when the whole world realised that a star was born!

In the next few years, he cemented his position as the ideal lover boy with films like Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), Laila Majnu (1976), Sargam (1979) and Prem Rog (1982) although he did have some flops in between, including Zehreela Insaan (1975), Rafoo Chakkar (1975). Amid all this, Khel Khel Mein released in 1975 and the romantic thriller made the onscreen pair of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, whom he later married, a hit.

Soon, he ended up doing a lot of supportive roles as well as lead roles. But his career trajectory was formidable, with a few hits and misses. He once again rose to fame with Karz, Subhash Ghai’s unofficial remake of the Hollywood film The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony and others. Later, in 1980s with films like Sargam, Prem Rog, Naseeb, Saagar and Nagina, Rishi managed to stayed in the limelight. He ended the decade with with Yash Chopra’s Chandni and in 90s, he once again delivered super hits like David Dhawan’s Bol Radha Bol (1992), Raj Kanwar’s Deewana (1992), and Damini (1993).

In the 2000s, he started featuring in films like once appeared in films such as Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002), Hum Tum (2004), Fanaa (2006), Namastey London (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Patiala House (2010) as a supporting actor. But never away from media attention.

Not to miss, his second innings were equally exceptional as he earned acclaim for Shakun Batra’s Kapoor & Sons (2016), Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk, The Body (2019) and 102 Not Out (2018). After his treatment, he was to star in the remake of Hollywood film The Intern with Deepika Padukone. However, little did he knew that the project would not happen for him.