From the babyfaced, dreamy eyed, a curly-haired chocolate boy in Bobby to the grumpy son who learns to lighten up from his dad (played by Amitabh Bachchan) in 102 Not Out, actor Rishi Kapoor had a good innings and has left behind a rich legacy in Indian cinema.
Coming from the Kapoor khandan, he was born into a household that lived and breathed cinema. As part of the First Family of Indian Cinema, Rishi Kapoor made his niche as the quintessential lover boy who wooed his heroines, including his lady love Neetu Singh, in romantic movies and picturesque songs most of which were shot in beautiful locales.
As he sang Tere Chehre Se Nazar Nahin Hat Ti Nazaare Hum Kya Dekhen to the bubbly, vivacious Neetu Singh, and made young couples dance to his iconic song Ek Main Aur Ek Tu Dono Mile is Tarah, the young Rishi danced his way into the audience's hearts and Neetu's too. The couple tied the knot in 1980.
He also played the role of little brother well. The inimitable antics of Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi in Chal Mere Bhai show pure brotherly love. Would Naseeb and Amar, Akbar, Anthony be the same without this incongruous pair? Lambu ji and Chintu ji regaling the audience with their charisma, charm and camaraderie.
On Thursday morning, as I learnt about the actor's demise from his big brother's post -- @SrBachchan wrote: "T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed !", a little part of me just died.
Irrfan Khan and then Rishi Kapoor --- two doyens of Indian cinema gone too soon. Bollywood will miss them, and so will their fans. A little prayer goes out to these mighty actors and beautiful souls and their families.
As his family statement said that he "would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears"; he indeed gave us all many such memories to smile.
Rishi Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir, daughter Riddhima and the massive Kapoor khandan.
