Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor was the most sought after romantic hero in Bollywood making a memorable debut with the movie Bobby.

Basics on Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor, known as Chintu, was born on 4th September 1952 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to the first family of Bollywood. His parents were the film-maker Raj Kapoor and Krishna. His brothers were actors Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor while his grandfather was Prithviraj Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor married actress Neetu Singh in 1980. They have two children Ranbir and Ridhima. Ranbir Kapoor was launched as an actor in Bollywood with Saawariya.

He got an early start in movies, having been born into a family of film-makers. He starred in the poignant Mera Naam Joker (1970), playing his father’s role as a boy. His performance won him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. Three years later, he was seen as the lead in Bobby (1973).

In 2008, he won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rishi Kapoor’s Movies
1973 to 1979 Bobby (1973), which saw a much leaner Rishi Kapoor with Dimple Kapadia, was hugely successful. The movie was directed by Raj Kapoor. He won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his role as Raj Nath. The remake of Hollywood hit Some Like It Hot called Rafoo Chakra (1975) saw him as a musician who witnesses a murder. It also starred Neetu Singh. They were seen together in Khel Khel Mein (1975).

Rishi Kapoor worked with another major star in the 70s, Amitabh Bachchan, in Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie (1976) in which he played Rakhee Gulzar and Shashi Kapoor’s son. In 1977, he saw two major hits in Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin and the comedy Amar Akbar Anthony which also starred Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. He appeared in a cameo in Patil Patni Aur Woh (1978).

1980 to 1989 Subash Ghai’s Karz did well at the box office. It was a remake of the Reincarnation of Peter Proud and starred Rishi Kapoor as the reincarnated Ravi Verma who wants to avenge his death. In Coolie (1983) he played Waheeda Rahman’s adopted son.

Ramesh Sippy’s Sagar (1985) saw him paired with his co-star from Bobby, Dimple Kapadia. Nagina (1986) with Sridevi was again a major hit. One of his biggest hits in 1989 was Chandni with Sridevi. His performance was applauded. He played Rohit who marries Chandni against his family’s wishes and is crippled by an accident. He spurns Chandni’s love so that she can find a better life.

1990 to 1999 Henna (1991) was the last movie his father made. He died while making the movie and it was later completed by his brother Randhir Kapoor. In 1992, he was seen in Deewana with Shah Rukh Khan and Divya Bharati and with Juhi Chawla in Bol Radha Bol. Both movies were hits.

The movies that followed didn’t do well.

2000 to 2009 Rishi Kapoor played supporting roles in movies like Raju Chacha (2000), Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001), Hum Tum (2004) and Fanaa (2006). He re-united onscreen with Dimple Kapadia in Pyaar Mein Twist (2005).

Luck By Chance (2009) saw him as a film producer Romy Rolly with Juhi Chawla playing his wife and as Ali, a bachelor in Delhi 6 (2009). His other releases in 2009 are Love Aaj Kal and Kal Kisne Dekha.