Like wine that gets priceless with age, Rishi Kapoor’s performances have only gotten better over the years. The actor, who had reached a point of saturation in the mid-90s, has reinvented himself and come back stronger, writes Rajiv Vijayakar
From a one-scene cameo in Shree 420 to playing his father Raj Kapoor’s adolescence in Mera Naam Joker to becoming the poster-boy of the nation with Bobby four decades ago, Rishi Kapoor has had a great journey in cinema.
After Bobby, he etched a starry path with more highs than lows, doing solo leads (Khel Khel Mein, Sargam, Karz, Prem Rog, Tawaif, Nagina, Henna, Bol Radha Bol) as well as being a part of the multi-hero game (Kabhi Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, Coolie, Chandni, Deewana), for over 20 years. Surviving the onslaught of the vendetta machine that was Amitabh Bachchan, the action era and later ‘teenage sensations’, Rishi Kapoor kept wooing heroines (often new finds) to tuneful serenades by a bevy of composers.
It was in 2000 that he — after a gap of steadfastly refusing more romantic leads — became a ‘father’ on screen. But if he found his world-class talent restricted earlier to romance, he now found things even more constrained and dreary.
Fresh roles
Happily, the tide changed in 2010 with Do Dooni Chaar, in which he played the pivotal role of a teacher. In 2012, his turn as the vicious Rauf Lala in Agneepath, followed by his comic essay in Housefull and his gay avatar in Student of the Year made people sit up and finally take notice of his range.
In 2013, the momentum has only increased. Rishi has dazzled as the calculating, ruthless cop in Aurangzeb as well as in the role of Goldman, the don in D-Day, while making the masses enjoy his lovable Joseph Furtado act in Chashme Buddoor.
The chameleon has finally been acknowledged, admits Rishi Kapoor with a smile. Ask him if his newfound status (and reportedly, even market rate) is like a dream, and he bristles. “What do you mean dream? I have worked for it! Yes, I agree I never got this variety as a leading man. It’s just that we heroes get caught in an image and have to do what is expected of us. Once I got out of that and there was a gap, I reinvented myself, choosing all kinds of roles — and well, God has been very kind!”
Rishi would still differentiate between what he calls the “boring daddy’s roles” that he played Raju Chacha (2000) downwards, even in hit films like Hum Tum, Namastey London or Love Aaj Kal, and his current slate of movies. “I have gone through that process and there is no meat in those roles. I want to play characters. I also bring something on the table like the hero and heroine. I don’t want to risk my status today. I don’t want to sound pompous, but people expect something extra when I am there in a film.”
“Do Dooni Chaar brought me on the map as a good actor, which I think I always was. I am the same person and the same actor, but I never got recognition. I want this situation to be established, so that by God’s grace, I can deliver each time.”
How does it feel to be back in the field at a time when son Ranbir Kapoor is in the forefront? “Well, I am absolutely delighted! Touch wood, it’s a delightful situation to know that my wife has to make two dabbas (lunch boxes) every day — one for the father and one for the son!”
Rishi clarifies, “for the record”, that his wife Neetu (Singh) and he are not playing biological parents to Ranbir Kapoor in the forthcoming Besharam. “Ranbir’s playing a petty thief and we are cops,” he reveals.
Bring in the topic of Ranbir’s super-success, and Rishi is very much the proud father. “What is very gutsy about Ranbir is that he has never followed the expected path for a hero. He worked with his own conviction, one film at a time, risking his career if that movie flopped. He did the kind of cinema he believed in, right from the beginning, like Rocket Singh — Salesman of the Year, Rockstar and Barfi!. It’s not that he does not believe in commercial cinema, but he’s balanced both so well. He’s made his mark as an actor and now he’s making his equity among the masses — Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani almost made 200 crore without any help like a festival release. He proved all his detractors wrong. Now all the young actors want to follow him, just like so many followed me in my time. We are trendsetters, man!” he laughs.
Upcoming releases
Among his other forthcoming films is Kaanchi, with which he reunites with Subhash Ghai 33 years after the cult musical Karz. “I play a typical, over-the-top Ghai villain with a touch of comedy. I am also musically inclined with a song in the end.” smiles Rishi. “I am happy to be associated with Ghai again.”
Another film coming up is Sudhir Mishra’s period romance Mehrunissa with Amitabh Bachchan and Chitrangda Singh. There is Sanjay Chhel’s comedy that stars Paresh Rawal, an Umesh Shukla-directed T-Series film with Abhishek Bachchan, and two films with Yash Raj Films — their Ayushmann Khurrana-Sonam Kapoor film directed by Nupur Asthana and Shuddh Desi Romance (he keeps on calling it Shuddh Desi Ghee!!) that will probably be his next release. “Shuddh… is an interesting role of a caterer who has more to him than that. It’s also a comic character,” he says.
How much does Rishi contribute to his own characters and performances, like that of Goldman in D-Day or his other standout roles? “I etch out and execute them with my sensibility,” he replies. “You will notice that my looks in each film are different, and get-ups do make a difference. None of my get-ups are over-the-top, and they are my contributions.”
He dismisses doing research for characters. “It’s all nonsense. Hindi films ke liye kya research karoge yaar? You have to understand the role and what your character does within the film. Then it’s all about how you can best translate it onto celluloid. I feel the shot. I am a natural, spontaneous actor who has been trained in the Raj Kapoor university, so I am not untrained,” he smiles. “My work should be liked, even if the film does not work, as with Aurangzeb.”
Rishi wryly agrees that no one saw the 1989 Khoj, which had him in his first negative role and in which he held his ground and more against Naseeruddin Shah.
Ask Rishi Kapoor why he has credited Rakesh Roshan with his current clout and he stresses, “He offered me the cameo he himself did finally in Koi…Mil Gaya, and I told him that it was not a good idea for me to do it. He stated that I was at an age when only such roles would come my way. I felt hurt but did not say anything, but I decided to prove that I was not just a star but an actor first. I struggled and found my space and today I have proved him wrong.”
He adds that his success now is a lesson for all good actors. “If you are good at your craft, and understand how to swim in the water, an actor will always survive in this industry. I am an actor first, not a star!” he declares.