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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Rishi Kapoor felt embarrassed watching himself on screen after gaining weight: 'My name is not there among the top...'
Actor Rishi Kapoor , known for his charismatic roles, once talked about feeling bored of doing movies and portraying romantic characters on screen. The actor revealed that he decided to quit acting and try directing movies after feeling tired of his young roles. He had to return all the money he received from producers after turning down each and every movie he had signed as an actor. Rishi Kapoor about feeling tired of romantic roles In an old interview with Firstpost, Rishi shared that he usually switches the channel if he comes across any of his movies: 'I am embarrassed watching myself on screen. I don't know if there is an opposite word for narcissist… but that's how I feel watching my films. I can admire my physical self as an actor, but not my body of work,' he said. Neetu Kapoor shares vintage picture with late husband Rishi Kapoor Rishi Kapoor's dark shaded role in Angeepath In Agneepath, Rishi did not play a romantic role but showcased a dark, intense character. Kapoor held no bitterness over the trajectory of his long-spanning career. 'I've no regrets in my life – even though my name is not there among the top names. I didn't wait for stardom – Bobby was an instant hit in 1973 and it was after that, that I had to struggle to match its success. I've been working for 25 years as a leading star from 1973 to 1998, after which I got bored, gained weight and felt I couldn't compete with the younger lot,' he added. Rishi Kapoor directing movies after his hiatus After a brief hiatus, Kapoor returned to the industry. He gave the money back to filmmakers and sat at home for three months. He decided to direct Aa Ab Laut Chalein with Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and Akshaye Khanna. It was Ajay and Veeru Devgn who reignited his interest in acting with roles in Khatti Meethi and Raju Chacha. Rishi Kapoor's way to the industry Rishi's passion for acting began long before his official debut. Although he entered films as a teenager with Mera Naam Joker at the age of 16, his uncle, Shashi Kapoor , was the first to recognise his interest when he saw the young Rishi mimicking expressions and drawing fake moustaches with pencils. He was often seen loitering around RK Studios before becoming a performer. He recalled failing his English exam during Senior Cambridge after mistakenly writing 14 foolscap sheets for a précis, which led to his papers being marked down under the British evaluation system. Rishi was encouraged by his father, legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor , to join him as an assistant director on Kal Aaj Aur Kal. This behind-the-scenes experience eventually paved the way for his acting debut.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Raza Murad says distributors who once begged for Raj Kapoor's films refused to buy Bobby without seeing it after Mera Naam Joker flop: 'He was in tremendous debt'
Raj Kapoor 's magnum opus Mera Naam Joker may have become a cult classic over time, but at the time of its release, the four-hour-long epic left the legendary actor-filmmaker in financial ruin. The film took six years to make and failed at the box office, putting Kapoor in a position where he was forced to rebuild the trust of an industry that had once revered him. In an interview with Filmy Charcha, veteran actor Raza Murad , who frequently collaborated with Kapoor, reflected on the aftermath of Mera Naam Joker's failure and how it impacted the making of Bobby . 'After Mera Naam Joker, he was in tremendous debt,' Murad said. 'Things got so bad that distributors refused to buy Bobby without seeing it first. These were the same people who were once desperate to secure the rights to his movies. But after Mera Naam Joker, everything changed.' Raj Kapoor wouldn't drink until his films got a censor certificate Despite being hailed early in his career and often compared to Orson Welles, Kapoor's subsequent films faced the burden of great expectations. Murad described him as a deeply passionate filmmaker who sacrificed everything, his time, his health, and even his family, for cinema. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'He loved his drinks and meat, but he would quit before getting a censor certificate,' Murad recalled. 'He would become absolutely consumed by films. He had the mind of a 14-year-old. He would fall ill a week before his film's release because he would be so tense about its reception. He was aware that his reputation was at stake. It wasn't about the money. He would put everything on the line.' When Raj Kapoor cheated on wife Krishna Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor was a Shiva devotee and musical genius Raj Kapoor, who founded the iconic RK Studios and helped define post-Independence Indian cinema, was also deeply spiritual, Murad said. 'He was a devotee of Lord Shiva, and frequently referenced the Ganga in his films.' The actor also recalled Kapoor's exceptional musical instincts: 'He could play any musical instrument under the sun without practice.' Faced with skepticism from distributors during Bobby, Kapoor stood his ground. He reportedly refused to show them the full film but eventually agreed to show the songs to generate confidence. With Bobby, Raj Kapoor not only revived his fortunes but also launched his son Rishi Kapoor into stardom, proving once again why he was called 'The Showman' of Indian cinema.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Distributors abandoned Raj Kapoor after Mera Naam Joker, same people who'd beg for his movies were making demands': Raza Murad
Actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor was often compared to Orson Welles. After being hailed as a maestro early in his career, he struggled to live up to that massive success with every subsequent project. He established RK Studios, and his cinema came to define post-Independence India. But his passion project, the four-hour-long Mera Naam Joker, flopped after being in production for six years and Raj was on the verge of losing it all. He took a financial hit because of the film's performance, which also led to the industry losing faith in him as he mounted his next film, Bobby. In an interview, his frequent collaborator, actor Raza Murad, recalled working with 'The Showman', and said that distributors who would once fall over themselves to secure the rights to his movies refused to buy them sight unseen. In an interview with Filmy Charcha, Raza Murad recalled what Raj Kapoor was like as a person and an artiste, and said that he could play any musical instrument under the sun without practice. He was also a devotee of Lord Shiva, and frequently alluded to this by referencing the Ganga in his films. He would also abstain from drinking alcohol after he finished shooting his films, and wouldn't start drinking again until his film received its censor certificate. 'He loved his drinks and meat, but he would quit before getting a censor certificate,' Raza Murad recalled. Also read – Bollywood's most celebrated Golden Age writer died penniless, burdened by heavy debts; Javed Akhtar blamed Raj Kapoor He continued, 'He would sacrifice everything for his films, including time with his family, and his children. He would become absolutely consumed by films. He had the mind of a 14-year-old. He would fall ill a week before his film's release, because he would be so tensed about its reception. He was aware that his reputation was at stake. It wasn't about the money. He would put everything on the line. After Mera Naam Joker, he was in tremendous debt. Things got so bad that distributors refused to buy Bobby without seeing it first. These were the same people who were once desperate to secure the rights to his movies. But after Mera Naam Joker, everything changed. He refused to show them the movie, but he agreed to show them the songs.' In an interview with Zoom Entertainment last year, the veteran actor Prem Chopra reflected on the difficulties that Raj Kapoor faced after Mera Naam Joker bombed. 'Raj Kapoor was finished! Unka sab kuch bik gaya (He was compelled to sell everything he had). Mera Naam Joker failed miserably at the box office. Raj saab was under a tremendous financial crisis. He not only mortgaged RK Studios but also had to sell off his family properties, but he didn't give up on his love for filmmaking,' he said. In a 2018 press interaction, Raj Kapoor's son, the late Rishi Kapoor, spoke about the problems that they faced after Mera Naam Joker. 'When Mera Naam Joker was about to release, our studio and all our assets were mortgaged to release that film, and the picture bombed. We were in severe problems. Then he made a film called Bobby with new boy and new girl, which was a huge risk after seeing the failure of Mera Naam Joker. But it became super hit and that is when his friends and my uncles insisted that he should to buy a house,' he said, making a reference to the film that launched him and Dimple Kapadia.
Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
When Rekha's new look made Jaya Bachchan cry at a famous Bollywood wedding, biographer reveals
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Rekha's Entrance That Stopped the Show The Mystery of the Sindoor and the Silent Interaction Jaya Bachchan's Quiet Reaction and Rekha's Clarification Unspoken Boundaries and a Final Goodbye on Screen The late 1970s and early 1980s marked an unforgettable phase in Hindi cinema—an age defined not only by timeless films and soulful music but also by high-voltage drama, iconic personalities, and moments that left a permanent imprint on the industry's collective memory. Among these legendary instances was the wedding of celebrated actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, held on January 22, 1980. Their transition from on-screen romance to an off-screen union attracted a galaxy of stars to the grand event, held at RK Studios. While names like Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan were part of the glittering guest list, it was Rekha's unanticipated arrival that completely shifted the 1980, Rekha was already an established and adored figure in Bollywood. But her appearance at the Kapoor wedding became the evening's focal point. Draped in an elegant white saree, a striking red bindi on her forehead, and sindoor prominently applied in the parting of her hair, Rekha walked in with immense poise. As soon as she stepped into the venue, cameras that were focused on the bride and groom instinctively turned toward her. She moved confidently to the centre of the reception area in the RK Studios garden. Her graceful demeanor and striking appearance stirred whispers among guests and photographers alike, who were taken aback by what many perceived to be bridal look led to intense speculation. Many wondered aloud whether she had secretly gotten married. Author Yasser Usman, in his biography Rekha: The Untold Story, documented this moment vividly, describing how her sindoor-streaked hairline dominated the whispers and murmurs that filled the chilly Mumbai night. The tension escalated when she approached Amitabh Bachchan, who was deep in conversation with director Manmohan Desai. Although their exchange was brief and seemingly innocuous, the moment was electrified by the weight of past rumours linking the two stars romantically. Despite the formality of their words, their proximity in such a charged environment made it one of the night's most talked-about the evening unfolded, what added further depth to the drama was Jaya Bachchan's subdued reaction. According to Stardust magazine, Jaya maintained her composure for most of the night but eventually lowered her head as tears welled up in her eyes—a moment of silent vulnerability amidst the grandeur. Later, Rekha addressed the speculation in an interview with Hindustan Times, stating that she had come directly from a film shoot and had forgotten to remove the sindoor and mangalsutra. She dismissed the buzz casually, remarking that the traditional adornments actually looked good on later, during a conversation on the Meri Saheli podcast, film expert Hanif Zaveri revealed a lesser-known follow-up. He stated that Jaya Bachchan had once invited Rekha for lunch, a meeting that Big B did not attend. The interaction was civil, but Jaya eventually made it clear where things stood, reportedly telling Rekha firmly that Amitabh belonged to her and always their film Silsila, which also starred Jaya, Rekha and Amitabh never appeared together in another movie. That film, and that night, became symbolic endpoints to one of Bollywood's most enigmatic chapters.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Rekha's new look made Jaya Bachchan cry at a famous Bollywood wedding, biographer reveals
The late 1970s and early 1980s marked an unforgettable phase in Hindi cinema—an age defined not only by timeless films and soulful music but also by high-voltage drama, iconic personalities, and moments that left a permanent imprint on the industry's collective memory. Among these legendary instances was the wedding of celebrated actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, held on January 22, 1980. Their transition from on-screen romance to an off-screen union attracted a galaxy of stars to the grand event, held at RK Studios. While names like Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan were part of the glittering guest list, it was Rekha's unanticipated arrival that completely shifted the spotlight. Rekha's Entrance That Stopped the Show By 1980, Rekha was already an established and adored figure in Bollywood. But her appearance at the Kapoor wedding became the evening's focal point. Draped in an elegant white saree, a striking red bindi on her forehead, and sindoor prominently applied in the parting of her hair, Rekha walked in with immense poise. As soon as she stepped into the venue, cameras that were focused on the bride and groom instinctively turned toward her. She moved confidently to the centre of the reception area in the RK Studios garden. Her graceful demeanor and striking appearance stirred whispers among guests and photographers alike, who were taken aback by what many perceived to be bridal symbols. The Mystery of the Sindoor and the Silent Interaction Rekha's look led to intense speculation. Many wondered aloud whether she had secretly gotten married. Author Yasser Usman, in his biography Rekha: The Untold Story, documented this moment vividly, describing how her sindoor-streaked hairline dominated the whispers and murmurs that filled the chilly Mumbai night. The tension escalated when she approached Amitabh Bachchan, who was deep in conversation with director Manmohan Desai. Although their exchange was brief and seemingly innocuous, the moment was electrified by the weight of past rumours linking the two stars romantically. Despite the formality of their words, their proximity in such a charged environment made it one of the night's most talked-about interactions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Never Throw Away the Water After Boiling Eggs - The Reason is Genius! Tips and Tricks Jaya Bachchan's Quiet Reaction and Rekha's Clarification As the evening unfolded, what added further depth to the drama was Jaya Bachchan's subdued reaction. According to Stardust magazine, Jaya maintained her composure for most of the night but eventually lowered her head as tears welled up in her eyes—a moment of silent vulnerability amidst the grandeur. Later, Rekha addressed the speculation in an interview with Hindustan Times, stating that she had come directly from a film shoot and had forgotten to remove the sindoor and mangalsutra. She dismissed the buzz casually, remarking that the traditional adornments actually looked good on her. Unspoken Boundaries and a Final Goodbye on Screen Years later, during a conversation on the Meri Saheli podcast, film expert Hanif Zaveri revealed a lesser-known follow-up. He stated that Jaya Bachchan had once invited Rekha for lunch, a meeting that Big B did not attend. The interaction was civil, but Jaya eventually made it clear where things stood, reportedly telling Rekha firmly that Amitabh belonged to her and always would. After their film Silsila, which also starred Jaya, Rekha and Amitabh never appeared together in another movie. That film, and that night, became symbolic endpoints to one of Bollywood's most enigmatic chapters.
