Rishi Kapoor (4 September 1952 – 30 April 2020) was an Indian actor, director and producer. The son of Raj Kapoor, he became a star at 20 with Bobby (1973) and was Hindi cinema’s favourite romantic hero for two decades, known for his charm, his dancing and his colourful sweaters. In his later years he won fresh praise for character roles in films such as Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons and Mulk.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Rishi Raj Kapoor |
| Born | 4 September 1952, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Died | 30 April 2020, Mumbai (aged 67) |
| Nickname | Chintu |
| Parents | Raj Kapoor, Krishna Kapoor |
| Years active | 1970–2020 |
| Spouse | Neetu Singh (m. 1980) |
| Children | Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Ranbir Kapoor |
| Known for | Bobby, Karz, Chandni, Kapoor & Sons |
Early Life
Rishi was the second son of Raj Kapoor and a grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor. He went to Campion School in Mumbai and Mayo College in Ajmer. As a small child he appeared in the song “Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua” in Shree 420, and he played his father’s character as a boy in Mera Naam Joker (1970), which won him a National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
Career
His first lead role, opposite Dimple Kapadia in his father’s teenage love story Bobby (1973), was a sensation and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Through the 1970s and 1980s he starred in a string of musical hits, including Khel Khel Mein, Kabhi Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Karz, Prem Rog, Saagar, Nagina and Chandni with Sridevi. He made twelve films with Neetu Singh, whom he married in 1980. He directed one film, Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999).
From the 2000s Kapoor turned to character parts: a schoolteacher in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), a villain in Agneepath (2012), a gangster based on Dawood Ibrahim in D-Day (2013), a 90-year-old grandfather in Kapoor & Sons (2016), Amitabh Bachchan‘s son in 102 Not Out (2018) and a Muslim lawyer in Mulk (2018).
Illness and Death
Kapoor was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2018 and was treated in New York for almost a year. He died at a Mumbai hospital on 30 April 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. His last film, Sharmaji Namkeen, was completed with Paresh Rawal playing the same role and released in 2022. His frank memoir, Khullam Khulla, appeared in 2017.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rishi Kapoor born?
Rishi Kapoor was born on 4 September 1952 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
When did Rishi Kapoor die?
Died: 30 April 2020, Mumbai (aged 67).
What is Rishi Kapoor known for?
Known for: Bobby, Karz, Chandni, Kapoor & Sons.
Featured image: Rishi Kapoor (left) with Shahid Rafi, son of the singer Mohammed Rafi, at the Mohammed Rafi Academy, Mumbai, July 2010. Photo by Creativo Camaal (Lens Naayak Photography), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
