Rishi Kapoor’s passing has made the year sadder. Perdy Mohindru, who lives in New Zealand, remembers an actor he adored:
It’s hard to digest that my teenage hero is no more.
Rishi Kapoor revolutionised teenage romance on the silver screen. In fact, the very first movie that I watched as a teenager was his debut film, Bobby.
Like many of my generation, I was smitten by the love story and the chemistry between Dimple Kapadia and Rishi.
The ultra modern costumes of both the leads became a hit amongst the youth.
Rishi’s oversized glasses, bell bottoms, long hair and Dimple’s mini skirts and polka dotted tops became a rage.
So much so that we all wanted to be dressed like him and take our girlfriends on a ride on the bike like him.
The song Meri Umar Ke Naujawano from Karz become a cult song in that era.
I remember watching the movie at least half a dozen times with my mates.
In his heyday, Rishi had a massive fan following globally.
Bobby was so big in the then USSR that girls in the Soviet Union wrote him letters in blood, expressing their love for him, mobbed him and wore Bobby tees.
Rishi and Neetu Singh, who he was to wed in 1980, starred in 12 movies together.
Known in Bollywood as the original chocolate hero for his exceptional good looks and innocence, he started the trend of teenage romance in Indian cinema, with Bobby.
He did more than 120 films in a career spanning almost five decades.
Girls would swoon on his appearance as the guitar strumming, dancing sensation wooed his female fans with his cute looks.
With 3.5 million followers on Twitter, Rishiji was immensely popular. People loved his bindaas, no holds, barred attitude. I loved his straight from the heart comments.
All of us, your fans, will miss you Rishiji.
Like the lines from your song Jeevan Ke Har Mod Pe, Mil Jaayenge Hum Safar, you will definitely be somewhere around us.
Your memories will always remain etched in my heart through your films.
