Legendary Actor Rishi Kapoor No More, India Mourns

Bhubaneswar: Legendary Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai today morning. He was 67.

The 67-year-old actor was taken to H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday morning after he complained of breathing problem.

"He is no more. He has passed away," brother Randhir Kapoor confirmed Rishi's untimely demise.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

"He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

"In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way," went the statement from Kapoor's family.

Rishi Kapoor belongs to the illustrious Kapoor family of Bollywood, widely known as first family of Hindi films. Son of late iconic actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, his uncles Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor were stars, too, as have been his brothers Randhir and Rajeev Kapoor in their time.

In 2018, Rishi was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.

In February, he was hospitalised twice.

Meanwhile, people from all walks of life condoled the demise of the veteran actor.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has shared screen space with Rishi Kapoor in several movies and is one of his close friends took to Twitter and penned down a few emotional words.

South superstar Rajinikanth expressed his sorrow on social media.

Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020

Kamal Hassan also took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the death of the iconic Bollywood actor.

Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr.Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family.

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 30, 2020

Devastated to know Rishi Ji is no more. A great friend , A great artiste, heartthrob of millions. Carrier of a Great legacy. Feel so heartbroken at this loss. Farewell my friend #RishiKapoor. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gBcdrIXvhO

— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) April 30, 2020

I will miss you Chintu sir. pic.twitter.com/ioWvKiJZxr

— Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) April 30, 2020

Lata Mangeshkar also mourned the death of the legendary actor.

Kya kahun? Kya likhu kuch samajh mein nahi aaraha hai.Rishi ji ke nidhan se mujhe bahut dukh ho raha hai.Unke jaane se film industry ki bahut haani hui hai. Ye dukh sehena mere liye bahut mushkil hai.Bhagwan unki aatma ko shanti pradan karein.

— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) April 30, 2020

Kuch samay pehle Rishi ji ne mujhe unki aur meri ye tasveer bheji thi.wo sab din,sab baatein yaad aarahi hain. Main shabdheen hogayi hun. pic.twitter.com/IpwCKMqUBq

— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) April 30, 2020

Actress Hema Malini also expressed her grief.

Unbelievable that such a warm human being-Rishi Kapoor is no more!Recall all my movies with him Ek Chadar Maili si, Naseeb etc &under my direction,Tell me oh Khuda. Such a lively interaction with him always!My heart goes out to dear Neetu, Ranbir & all his family. God be with thm

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 30, 2020

Javed Akhtar also took to Twitter to mourn the death of the legendary actor.

Today I have lost a dear friend Rishi kapoor. We had first met in Banglore in 1973 .He had come for a charity show of Bobby n I was there for Sholay’s shooting We met in the evening n kept talking till the wee hours to begin a friendship for 47 yrs. Good bye dear friend !!

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 30, 2020

Actor Anupam Kher shared a throwback video with Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh and mourned his untimely demise.

https://twitter.com/AnupamPKher/status/1255736333672148993

Akshay Kumar also got emotional on Rishi's untimely demise.

It seems like we’re in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, it’s heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family ??

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020

Actor Aamir Khan also shared his condolence on Twitter.

We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema.
Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives.
Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were.
You will be badly missed Rishiji.
Love.
a.

— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) April 30, 2020

Couldn’t even finish writing an obituary of our IRRFAN (RIP friend) and the news of RISHI KAPOOR ji passing away has completely crushed me!! No...this is not happening...it’s too much to https://t.co/4xV3Fqw304 RISHIJI ?

— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) April 30, 2020

https://twitter.com/UrmilaMatondkar/status/1255738939266269184

https://twitter.com/sidharth_shukla/status/1255743536579796993

https://twitter.com/RedChilliesEnt/status/1255741629631258624

https://twitter.com/KapilSharmaK9/status/1255768466960728065

President of India expressed his grief on social media.

https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1255741218870292482

PM Narendra Modi expressed grief and shared his condolence.

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India’s progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu also mourned on the death of Rishi Kapoor.

Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of veteran Hindi film actor, Shri Rishi Kapoor. The talented actor essayed many roles with aplomb & was popular for his romantic films. In his passing away, the nation lost a beloved son and film industry lost a gem. pic.twitter.com/vpXvfLO29Q

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) April 30, 2020

Saddened on the news, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda took to Twitter to express his sorrow.

Just heard the terribly sad news of the passing of #RishiKapoor

He was a part of the growing up years of so many millions of us, & had brought so many movie characters to life that live on forever

Do read his wonderful recent autobiography, “Khullam Khulla”

Om Shanti Om ???

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) April 30, 2020

Rahul Gandhi also expressed his downheartedness on Twitter on the sudden demise of the legendary actor.

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik deeply saddened on Rishi's death expressed his condolence to the Kapoor family.

Saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran actor #RishiKapoor. Indian cinema has lost one of the iconic actors who had left an imprint with many memorable movies. My condolences to family, friends and fans. #RIP

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 30, 2020

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to express his condolence.

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

Sachin Tendulkar also mourned the death of Rishi Kapoor.

Very very sad to hear about the passing away of Rishi ji. I grew up watching his movies and he was always very gracious when we met over the years. May his soul Rest in Peace.

My heartfelt condolences to Neetu ji, Ranbir and the whole Kapoor family. ? pic.twitter.com/MItdmmSnVz

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 30, 2020

This is unreal and unbelievable. Yesterday Irrfan Khan and today Rishi Kapoor ji. It's hard to accept this as a legend passes away today. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace ??

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 30, 2020

https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1255736816960929792

Ollywood actress Anu Choudhury expressed her grief on social media.

Odia actor Sabyasachi Mishra took to Twitter to express grief at the demise of legendary actor Rishi Kapoor.

Meanwhile, several admirers of Rishi Kapoor got disheartened and expressed their grief on different social media platforms.

https://twitter.com/ashveersingh06/status/1255741338009636865

https://twitter.com/MidnightReportr/status/1255742688147550209

https://twitter.com/hassn_saba/status/1255744812419936257