Rishi Kapoor was widely recognized for his straightforward and unfiltered personality, often eschewing political correctness. In a recent discussion, former film journalist Rajeev Masand, who currently serves as COO at the Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA), shared some personal anecdotes about the late actor. Masand revealed that Rishi had approached him about writing his biography, but he declined the offer after receiving a warning from Rishi’s son, actor Ranbir Kapoor. During the same conversation, Cyrus Broacha recounted a memorable incident where Rishi Kapoor lost consciousness while dining at a wedding.
During a chat featured on the YouTube channel Cyrus Says, Masand described Rishi as someone who was brutally honest, even with his family. He recounted how Rishi predicted that Ranbir’s debut film, Saawariya, would perform poorly right from the first day of filming. “He visited the set of Ranbir’s inaugural film and immediately sensed the absurdity of the situation,” Masand recalled.
Masand elaborated on Rishi’s observations, noting that the actor questioned the peculiar blue lighting and the overall setting. When he asked Ranbir about the time of day depicted in the scene, Ranbir was unable to provide an answer. Rishi noticed various elements like a bridge, water, an RK Studios sign, and a windmill, leading him to inquire about the intended ambiance of the scene. Ranbir, again, could not clarify. Rishi bluntly declared it would be a “super flop” before the first day’s shooting concluded, a prediction that ultimately proved accurate. “He called it like he saw it,” Masand remarked with amusement.
Masand also recounted how Ranbir had cautioned him against collaborating with Rishi on the biography project. Although excited by the prospect, Masand remembered Rishi explaining that he would need to take six months off to accompany him on travels. However, Ranbir advised him against it, saying, “You’re a big fan, right? Don’t do it. If you do, you’ll stop being a fan—he’ll drive you crazy,” Masand said.
Eventually, Rishi’s biography, titled Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, ended up being authored by Meena Iyer. Years later, when Rishi presented Masand with a copy of the book, he remarked, “See, you could have done this.” To which Masand replied, “Your son told me not to.”
During the same discussion, Cyrus Broacha shared his own “rockstar” experience involving Rishi Kapoor. As a teenager, he witnessed Rishi and Randhir Kapoor at a wedding. After greeting them, Broacha observed Rishi suddenly slump over his plate, seemingly overwhelmed. “For us, it was a quintessential rockstar moment,” he reflected, suggesting that Rishi had overindulged. The incident left a lasting impression on Cyrus, who recalled that Randhir gently lifted Rishi’s head, placed food on his plate, and then set his head back down.
Rishi Kapoor passed away in 2020 at the age of 67 following a prolonged battle with cancer.
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