Rishi Kapoor passes away: Revisiting his most successful pairings, from Neetu Singh, Sridevi to Juhi Chawla

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at 67 after a two-year long battle with leukaemia. He was admitted to Mumbai’s HN Reliance Hospital on Wednesday after he complained of breathing issues. Rishi, who ventured into films as a child actor in father Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker, eventually solidified his reputation in Bollywood as a romantic hero. He has shared the screen space often with wife Neetu Singh, whom he eventually married. Here is a look at his several pairings over his illustrious career. _(Also read on Firstpost: Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67 after battle with leukemia: 'He remained jovial, determined to live life to the fullest,' says family)_ Neetu Singh [caption id=“attachment_8315541” align=“alignnone” width=“800”] Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh in a still from Kabhie Kabhie[/caption] Rishi and Neetu have starred together in as many as 12 films. Their combined filmography includes films like Yash Chopra’s romantic drama Kabhi Kabhie, thriller Khel Khel Mein, Zehreela Insaan, and Amar Akbar Anthony among other films across the 1970s and ’80s. [caption id=“attachment_8316291” align=“alignnone” width=“835”] In Do Dooni Chaar (2010), he played Santosh Duggal, a school teacher. Image from Twitter[/caption] In the latter part of their careers, the two played the adorable husband-wife in Habib Faisal’s debut film Do Dooni Chaar. The story followed the life of a middle-class school teacher Santosh Duggal in Delhi, whose income is supplemented by being a tutor at a coaching centre. The film garnered positive responses from audience and critics alike. It even went on to win the National Award for Best Hindi Feature. They were also seen for much shorter spans in Besharam, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, and Love Aaj Kal (2009). Dimple Kapadia [caption id=“attachment_8316321” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in a poster of Bobby. Image from IMDb[/caption] Bobby marked the first major lead role for Rishi as well as Dimple Kapadia. Rishi played Raj, a privileged young bachelor, who falls head-over-heels in love with Bobby, a fisherman’s daughter. In his autobiography, the actor had admitted to buying an award for Bobby, though he never named it explicitly. “I feel guilty about the fact. I was all of 20-21 years of age and I was suddenly a huge star after Bobby, and I was a real brat. Someone told me that, ‘You know, we can get this award, do you want it?’, and I said, ‘Yes, of course,’ and then he said, ‘It will cost you Rs 30,000.’ 30,000 rupees back then was big money. So I said why not,” Rishi had told  India Today. He later also starred with Kapadia in Saagar (1985), directed by Ramesh Sippy. Kamal Haasan also played a pivotal role in the film. Here also, he plays an affluent man who falls in love with Kapadia’s Mona D’Silva, but she is dissuaded from pursuing the relationship owing to class differences. This may come as a surprise to most, but the romantic drama was India’s entry for Best Foreign Language category to the 58th Academy Awards. They also starred together in an unforgettable film Pyaar Mein Twist in the 2000s before reuniting in non-romantic roles in Zoya Akhtar’s 2009 directorial debut Luck By Chance. Sridevi  [caption id=“attachment_8316501” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Nagina. Image from YouTube[/caption] Though the film focused on Sridevi’s character of a shape-shifting snake out to seek revenge against an ascetic who had killed her partner, Rishi played Rajiv, the human she marries as part of her plan. He once again played her suitor Rohit in the 1989 Yash Chopra directorial Chandni. His character is left paralysed after an accident. post which he decides to part ways with Sridevi’s Chandni. After a brief romance with Lalit (Vinod Khanna), fate reunites them once again. Despite some hurdles, they reunite and have a happily ever after. Poonam Dhillon [caption id=“attachment_8320471” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”]  Rishi Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon in the song Yeh Waada Raha. Image from YouTube[/caption] Rishi Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon worked together in as many as 10 films together, including Yeh Vaada Raha (1982), Tawaif (1985), Zamana (1985), Sitamgar (1985), Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), Dosti Dushmani (1986) and Amiri Garibi (1990). But it is the title song from Yeh Waada Raha, composed by RD Burman, that became an icon of their on-screen chemistry. In a tribute to her co-star, Dhillon writes that Kapoor was one of her most favourite co-actors, along with Kamal Hasan. In an interaction with Hindustan Times, she recounted how they planned to work together again. “The other day I joked with him saying, ‘Kya baat hai aaj kal baat toh karte ho par kaam kab karenge?’ and he was like, ‘Haan yaar, chal ek saath ek film karte hai’,” she was quoted as saying. Rati Agnihotri [caption id=“attachment_8320461” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”]  Rati Agnihotri and Rishi Kapoor in a still from Tawaif. Image from YouTube[/caption] Rati Agnihotri and Rishi Kapoor most notably starred together in BR Chopra’s 1985 movie Tawaif, which also starred Dhillon. In the film, Rishi’s character Dawood takes Rati’s character of a courtesan as a wife, despite having fallen in love with Kaynat, played by Dhillon. Rati and Rishi reunited years later for Kunal Kohli’s romantic drama Hum Tum, where Rati essayed the role of Rhea’s (Rani Mukerji) mother and Rishi portrayed Karan’s (Saif Ali Khan) father. Juhi Chawla [caption id=“attachment_8316631” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Juhi Chawla and Rishi Kapoor in a still from Bol Radha Bol. Image from YouTube[/caption] David Dhawan-directed Bol Radha Bol (1992) is probably remembered for its song ‘Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara,’ where Juhi seems to chase Rishi’s character. The actor was seen in a double role — one as an industrialist named Kishen Malhotra and the other Tony Braganza, who tries to infiltrate the Malhotra household. They reunited in Saajan Ka Ghar (1994), where he played Amar Khanna, husband to Juhi’s Laxmi. Madhuri Dixit [caption id=“attachment_8316651” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in Prem Granth. Image from YouTube[/caption] Rajiv Kapoor directed Rishi and Madhuri Dixit in Prem Granth, which did not fare well at the box office. This was followed by David Dhawan’s Yaarana, where Madhuri’s Lalita first plays his fake wife and then eventually the two characters fall in love. After a roller coaster ride, the two characters tie the knot. Tina Munim [caption id=“attachment_8316731” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Rishi Kapoor and Tina Munim in Karz. Image from YouTube[/caption] Rishi was seen in a double role — as Ravi Verma and his reincarnation Monty — in Karz, directed by Subhash Ghai. Tina Munim was cast as his romantic interest. Songs picturised on the onscreen couple from the film, including ‘Ek Hasina Thi Ek Diwana Tha’ and ‘Main Solah Baras Ki,’ are still remembered by fans. In the 1982 film Yeh Vaada Raha, he portrayed Vikram Rai Bahadur, who falls in love with Sunita (Poonam Dhillon). Unfortunately, she suffers an accident, which injures her face badly. Vikram’s mother dissuades her from staying in the relationship. Sunita eventually goes through several surgeries which completely changes her face, played by Tina. She then changes her name to Kusum, and they eventually cross paths. However, the story sees them meet again and eventually end up together.