Much before Shah Rukh Khan came and swept the ladies off their feet by flaring his arms, it was Rishi Kapoor who took up the mantle of the romantic hero from Rajesh Khanna. Rishi was the cherubic youngster who went on to serenade his leading ladies wearing colourful sweaters and showing prowess with different musical instruments in soulful, melodious songs that are still popular today.
Rishi, who breathed his last today morning, holds a unique distinction of being paired opposite almost all heroines belonging to varied age groups. Starting from senior actresses like Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini, Raakhee and Rekha to Madhuri, Sridevi, Tina Ambani and Raveena Tandon to the young Divya Bharti, he has romanced all of them. In fact, there are several actresses who made their debut opposite the late actor. In fact, he was paired opposite a staggering fifty lead actresses including debutantes Dimple Kapadia, Ranjeeta, Padmini Kolhapure and Shoma Anand.
Here’s a list of his leading ladies with whom he shared screen space in films.
1.Dimple Kapadia
Rishi made his Bollywood debut opposite Dimple Kapadia in Bobby. The film was directed by his director-producer father Raj Kapoor and went on to catapult the two young actors to the zenith of stardom. They also reunited in Saagar, Pyar Mein Twist and Patiala House.
2.Neetu Singh
Rishi starred in many films with Neetu and eventually after a whirlwind romance married her in 1980. They starred in films like Zehreela Inssan, Khel Khel Mein, Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony and others.
3.Simi Garewal
Rishi first shared screen space with Simi Garewal in his father Raj Kapoor’s ambitious film Mera Naam Joker that earned him a National Award for Best Child Actor. He later reunited with her in Karz that saw her play the negative role.
4.Meenakshi Seshadri
Rishi shared screen space with Meenakshi Seshadri in Damini. The film was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and also had Sunny Deol in a pivotal role.
5.Tina Munim
Rishi teamed up with Tina Munim in Karz, Bade Dil Wala, Yeh Vaada Raha and others. Their pairing in films was loved by the audiences.
6.Shoma Anand
Shoma Anand and Rishi Kapoor shared screen space in the film Coolie and Barood.
7.Hema Malini
Rishi and Hema starred together in Ek Chadar Maili Si. It was based on Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Urdu novella of the same name.
8.Moushumi Chatterjee
Rishi and Moushumi came together in Zehreela Insaan that also starred Neetu Kapoor.
9.Reena Roy
Rishi and Reena Roy wee cast opposite Badaltey Rishtey.
10.Kajal Kiran
Kajal Kiran made her debut opposite Rishi in the film Hum Kisise Kum Nahin.
11.Bhavana Bhatt
Bhavana Bhatt starred opposite Rishi in the film Naya Daur. The film was directed by Mahesh Bhatt.
12.Jaya Prada
Jaya Prada and Rishi lit the screen on fire with their crackling chemistry in Sargam and several other films as well. The film was Jaya’s first Hindi film.
13.Madhuri Dixit
Rishi and Madhuri Dixit shared screen space in several films like Sahibaan, Prem Granth, Yaarana and others.
14.Zeenat Aman
Rishi paired up opposite Zeenat Aman in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin.
15.Parveen Babi
With Parveen Babi, Rishi worked in the film Rangila Ratan.
16.Shabana Azmi
Rishi was paired romantically opposite Shabana Azmi in Raahi Badal Gaye.
17.Sridevi
Rishi and Sridevi did a lot of films together and most of them were hits and became iconic in their own ways. They were paired opposite each other in Nagina, Chandni and others.
18.Kim Yashpal
Kim Yashpal was paired opposite Rishi in the film Naseeb that also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Reena Roy, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and others.
19.Ranjeeta
Rishi went on to star opposite Ranjeeta in Laila Majnu. The film was based on the popular love story of the ill-fated love struck couple.
20.Poonam Dhillon
Rishi and Poonam Dhillon had a sizzling chemistry in several films. They starred in films like Yeh Vaada Raha, Sitamgar, Ek Chadar Maili Si and several others.
21.Rati Agnihotri
Rishi starred opposite Rati Agnihotri in Tawaif. The film was a love triangle and also featured Poonam Dhillon.
22.Varsha Usgaonkar
Varsha Usgaonkar and Rishi featured in the film Honeymoon.
23.Ashwini Bhave
Ashwini Bhave starred opposite Rishi in Raj Kapoor’s Henna. The film was a roaring success with its melodious songs.
24.Zeba Bakhtiyar
Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiyar starred opposite Rishi in Henna. The film was well-known for its cinematography as it was shot in picturesque locales and was a hit because of its soulful songs.
25.Radhika
Radhika played Rishi’s unwanted wife in Naseeb Apna Apna where she is shunned by him for her dark colour and village upbringing.
26.Farha
Farha shared screen space with Rishi in Naseeb Apna Apna, Naqab and others.
27.Vineeta
Vineeta played the lead actress in Janam Janam alongside Rishi.
28.Sangeeta Bijlani
Rishi worked with Sangeeta Bijlani in Hathyar.
29.Rekha
Rishi and Rekha teamed up in Azad Desh Ke Ghulam, Amiri Garibi, Sheshnaag, Khazana and others.
30.Juhi Chawla
Rishi and Juhi Chawla worked in several films together like Bol Radha Bol, Ghar Ki Izzat, Saajan Ka Ghar, Daraar, Eena Meena Deeka and others. Rishi was supposed to make his comeback to films with Sharmaji Namkeen opposite Juhi after his cancer treatment.
31.Divya Bharti
Divya Bharti and Rishi shared screen space in Deewana that also starred Shah Rukh Khan in a supporting role.
32.Raakhee
Raakhee and Rishi starred in the film Doosra Aadmi that also starred Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Deven Verma and Parikshit Sahni.
32.Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari and Rishi paired up opposite each other in Ranbhoomi. They also starred in Kasak and several other films.
33.Kimi Katkar
Kimi Katkar and Rishi shared the screen in the film Khoj that also starred Naseeruddin Shah and was directed by Keshu Ramsay.
34.Amrita Singh
Amrita Singh and Rishi were cast opposite each other in the film Duniya.
35.Naseem
Naseem made her debut in 1976 with Kabhi Kabhie opposite Rishi Kapoor.
36.Tabu
Tabu starred with Rishi in Pehla Pehla Pyar. It was loosely inspired by the Hollywood film Roman Holiday.
37.Yogita Bali
Yogita Bali and Rishi starred together in Yeh Ishq Nahi Aasan. The film also starred Padmini Kolhapure.
38.Padmini Kolhapure
Padmini Kolhapure and Rishi did many films together. Prem Rog is probably their best known film.
39.Mandakini
Mandakini and Rishi worked together in Hawaalat.
40.Rukhsaar
Rukhsaar was paired opposite Rishi in the film Inteha Pyar Ki.
41.Urmila Matondkar
Urmila worked with Rishi in the comedy film Shreeman Aashique.
42.Sonam
Sonam and Rishi were romantically paired in the film Vijay.
43.Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon and Rishi were romantically cast in the film Saajan Ki Baahon Mein.
44.Pooja Bhatt
Pooja Bhatt shared screen space with Rishi in the film Hum Dono.
45.Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala and Rishi worked in the film Anmol.
46.Sulakshana Pandit
Rishi and Sulakshana Pandit featured in the film Raja.
47.Madhu
Madhu and Rishi worked together in the film Prem Yog.
48.Deepti Naval
Deepti Naval starred with Rishi in the film Yeh Ishq Nahi Aasan.
49.Gautami
Gautami had made her debut in Rishi’s film Naqab. She had expressed her condolences for the late veteran actor as well.
50.Lillette Dubey
Lillette Dubey and Rishi shared screen space in Chashme Buddoor. The film also starred Ali Zafar, Taapsee Pannu, Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma.