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Rishi Kapoor (1952-2020): The chocolate hero who also reveled in characters of dark shades

While he made a career out of playing the chocolate hero, Rishi Kapoor’s few intense dark characters in the third innings of his career proved his versatility as an actor

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By Mayur Lookhar

In an industry where nepotism has often been a norm, Rishi Kapoor taking to cinema was no carrying forward of the family legacy.

There was a misconception that the film (Bobby) was made to launch me as an actor. The film was actually made to pay the debts of Mera Naam Joker [1970]. Dad [Raj Kapoor] wanted to make a teenage love story and he did not have money to cast Rajesh Khanna in the film,” Rishi Kapoor would reveal in an interview in 2012. He would later spill it all in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored [2017].

While Rishi Kapoor being drafted in Bobby [1973] was purely an economically viable option, but it is fair to say that Raj Kapoor’s second son was destined to carry forward the family legacy. Chintu, as he was lovingly called, had his little tryst with cinema before as a child artiste in his father earlier works – Shree 420 [1955] and more famously as the teen in Mera Naam Joker [1970].  Remember how, a young Raju [Rishi] crushed over his teacher Mary [Simi Grewal]?  Though 18, he looked much younger. The cute, bright, fair boy with dimples surely had many women wanting to be a cougar.

Bobby [1973] merely fastened his arrival on the big stage.  His co-star Dimple Kapadia was just 16.   Bobby’s inter-faith love story struck a chord with the masses.  Here is a rich Punjabi boy Raj Nath [Rishi] falling in love with a fisherfolk’s daughter Bobby Braganza [Kapadia]. The film’s fine music and the chemistry of its young, gorgeous lead artistes cast a spell on the audience.  Bobby’s huge success perhaps eased the losses of Mera Naam Joker [1970] but more importantly, it turned Rishi and Kapadia into overnight stars.  Both picked the top honours at Filmfare Awards in 1974.

The Indian film industry has a long history of stereotyping. One bad experiment and you could bust the good image.  A meteoric start is often followed by a lull. His next Zehreela Insaan [1974] was a dud.  Rishi Kapoor tasted success again with Narendra Bedi’s romantic comedy Rafoo Chakkar [1975]. Inspired by the Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon-starrer Some Like It Hot [[1959], Rafoo Chakkar was adapted well to Indian sensibilities.  It was very brave on Rishi’s part to take up cross gender acting in just his third film. He looked elegant though in drag.  Rafoo Chakkar was the second among the near dozen collaborations with Neetu Singh, the woman who he would later marry in 1980.

1975 saw Rishi and Singh produce another hit in filmmaker Ravi Tandon’s suspense thriller Khel Khel Mein [1975]. The film is particularly remembered for its music, the natural chemistry between Singh and Kapoor as they danced merrily to iconic tracks like Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karenge Hum Dono, Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu, and Humne Tumko Dekha.

Singh had quit acting post her marriage. and worked as a costume designer.  Singh and Kapoor would save their best years later in Habib Faisal’s slice-of-life tale Do Dooni Chaar [2010].

The lover boy came calling again with Harnam Singh Rawail’s desi adaption of the classic Laila Majnu love story.  Through the 70s and 80s, Kapoor established himself as the chocolate hero of Hindi cinema with films likes Hum Kisise Kum Naheen [19977], Sargam [1979], Phool Khile Gulshan Gulshan [1978], Zamane Ko Dikhana Hain [1981], Prem Rog [1982].  The few odd exception was Subhash Ghai’s reincarnation revenge drama Karz [1980], a blockbuster.

Kapoor started with a bang, but he had heavy competition in the 70s, 80s. There was Rajesh Khanna, the eternal heartthrob, while Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna, briefly ruled the roost as the tall, handsome action men.  Kapoor was somehow deeming unfit for action roles.

He shared a frosty relationship with Bachchan but that didn’t stop him from being part of ensemble films like Kabhie Kabhie [1976], where he practically played the third lead. It took Manmohan Desai to bring together Bachchan, Khanna and Kapoor in one frame through the lost and found family drama Amar Akbar Anthony [1977].

Post Karz [1980], Kapoor enjoyed limited success. He started the decade with a hit and ended with another in Yash Chopra’s Chandni [1989], though the latter was largely driven by Sridevi’s charisma. Raj Kapoor’s last directorial Henna [1991] was completed by his eldest son Randhir post the great man’s death.  Set in times when Indo-Pak relations strained over militancy in Kashmir, Henna [1991] was Raj, Rishi and Randhir Kapoor’s plea for peace.

While forty is the perhaps the new 30, but in the 1990s, it was difficult to pick a lead hero over 40 and portly.  Kapoor impressed in Rajkumar Santoshi’s crime drama Damini [1993]. But like all chocolate heroes, Kapoor, too, had to move on.  He seemed fine playing supporting characters.

Most actors usually past their prime when they cross 40-50. Kapoor though would find a new lease of life first as the aging middle class simpleton in Habib Faisal’s slice of life saga Do Dooni Chaar [2010]. But it really was the Agneepath [2012] remake that left his fans and even Kapoor stunned. Here’s a man who made a career playing a lover boy and he was asked to play a brutal pimp in Karan Malhotra’s Agneepath [2012].  Kapoor was angry when Malhotra narrated the character. “All my life I’ve played the romantic hero, and you want me to play a bloody pimp. Are you mad?” Kapoor said in his many interviews while promoting Agneepath. He was evil, but Rauf Lala [Kapoor] was the lone refreshing factor in the overrated remake.

Most fans were surprised but not yours truly. Not many would recall that Kapoor had played a wife killer in Keshu Ramsey’s underrated thriller Khoj [1980]. Ravi Kapoor [Rishi Kapoor] files a missing complaint of his wife Anita [Kimi Katkar]. It turns though that Ravi had killed Anita in a fit of rage after catching his wife cheating on him.  Ravi Kapoor though was not all evil. He presented a sorry, a poker face throughout the film. In fact, even when telling the truth, Ravi Kapoor sheds few tears. Khoj [1989] though proved that Kapoor is a versatile actor.

In 2013, Kapoor left you mesmerised with two more negative roles. First in Atul Sabharwal’s critically acclaimed Aurangzeb. Staying true to its title, DCP Ravikant Phogat [Kapoor] kills his own blood for greed. All through the film, you don’t see any remorse on Rishi Kapoor’s face.  Unlike Rauf Lala, Ravikant, though, wasn’t loud. The cold act sends few chills down your spine.

Few months later, Nikkhil Advani cast him as Goldman in D-Day, another variant of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.  The film had its flaws, but Kapoor was brilliant.

After being a prisoner of his own image earlier, Kapoor was smart enough to know that he wouldn’t want to be tag a ‘bad’ man in his third innings. He played grumpy, cribbing but lovable characters in films like Kapoor & Sons [2016] and 102 Not Out [2018].  Then came the critically acclaimed Mulk [2018] that tackled Islamophobia. Kapoor’s bearded look did give us few scares initially, but the film busted myths that all bearded men in skull caps are terrorists. Kapoor was last seen in the suspense thriller The Body [2019] playing a grey cop.

In his near five-decade career, it would wrong to label Kapoor just as the chocolate hero.  While that’s true for the best part of his career, but in his third innings, Kapoor showed his true versatility thereby establishing himself as one of the finest actors of all time.

His on-screen image was largely sweet, but off it, Kapoor courted his share of controversies. His relationship with his wife was often subject of page 3 gossip. He loved alcohol – well all Kapoors do.  Once he got hooked to social media, Kapoor adopted a devil may care attitude. He riled famed politicians, religious bigots, sometimes made sexist tweets. He would often condemn his son Ranbir Kapoor’s film choices.  He had blasted Anurag Basu, holding him solely responsible for the failure of Jagga Jasoos [2017].

Before the launch of his autobiography, he admitted to buying his first, and only Filmfare Award for Best Actor [popular] for some 25,000 rupees. [Kapoor won the award for Bobby]. That was perhaps the reason he initially shared a frosty relationship with Bachchan, who was touted to be the firm favourite for Zanjeer [1973].  He did wrong but as he said in his firm tone to TV journalist Barkha Dutt, “I think I should be credited for accepting the fact that I did it.”.

Both Kapoor and Bachchan have long buried the hatchet. They reunited after many years in Umesh Shukla’s 102 Not Out [2018].

The Bobby [1973] actor’s Twitter bio reads as,” I do not think people are understanding. Any joke, barb, comment on my life style, that will make me block you. Now up to you!”

Well, that is Rishi Kapoor for you.  Brutally honest. Not all appreciate a dark sense of humour.  One of his memorable last Tweets was when he appealed to the state government to open liquor stores in the lockdown period.

“Think. Government should for some time in the evening open all licensed liquor stores. Don’t get me wrong. Man will be at home only what with all this depression, uncertainty around. Cops, doctors, civilians etc… need some release. Black mein to sell ho hi raha hai. (cont. 2), “Kapoor had tweeted on 28 March, 2020.

And he backed his bizarre tweet with good reasons.

“State governments desperately need the money from the excise. Frustration should not add up with depression. As it is pee to rahe hain legalize kar do no hypocrisy. My thoughts,” added Kapoor.

Many an artiste take great pains to preserve their good image. Kapoor, though liked to live on his terms. Working, drinking, entertaining, tweeting.  In the statement issued by the Kapoor family after his death, the family said the man was in jovial mood, laughing, joking around with family and medical staff before he died peacefully.

The chocolate hero remained sweet even in his darkest hour. The gates of heaven must be bustling with a voice screaming, ‘Bachana Ae Haseeno Lo Main Aa Gaya’.  And good old’ Chintu sure has his premium Scotch in one hand and the other on his wireless communication decisive waiting to post the next quirky Tweet.  Goodbye Chintu, you remain a giant in Indian cinema.

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