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.
Kamal Hassan also took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the death of the iconic Bollywood actor.
Lata Mangeshkar also mourned the death of the legendary actor.
Actress Hema Malini also expressed her grief.
Javed Akhtar also took to Twitter to mourn the death of the legendary actor.
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.
Actor Aamir Khan also shared his condolence on Twitter.
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.
Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu also mourned on the death of Rishi Kapoor.
Saddened on the news, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda took to Twitter to express his sorrow.
Rahul Gandhi also expressed his downheartedness on Twitter on the sudden demise of the legendary actor.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik deeply saddened on Rishi's death expressed his condolence to the Kapoor family.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to express his condolence.
Sachin Tendulkar also mourned the death of Rishi Kapoor.
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