Indian cinema lost two of the most loved actors within 24 hours. They were as separate from chalk & cheese, but much appreciated for their work & will be remembered forever due to the films which remain behind. I shall start with Rishi Kapoor first. He was the heart throb of all the collegians then. His pairing with Neetu Singh in films & then in life is dreamlike. Every body loved them, if they were cast which means the film was a hit. “Amar, Akbar, Anthony” was one such movie. Inspite of a solid star cast the song, ‘Parda hai parda…’ had Amitabh dancing & garlanding him!
He debuted in “Mera naam joker” which I saw much later, but all his films that were released had him dancing & enjoying himself. “Karz” one of the films on reincarnation had him play the son of Durga Khote. Tina Munim as his love interest. We had a video cassette which my father saw everyday. So the scene where Simi Garewal drives the jeep & kills Rajkiran must have played for several times with its signature tune,’Ek hasina thi, ek divana tha…’
If you see the song, “Bachna ae haseeno lo mein aa gaya..” go for Rishi Kapoor ! It is hundred times better than Ranbir. (Even he will agree to this.) When he danced on the song,’Om shanti om….’ is was scandalous. Today it looks sober! He made the dance steps look so simple but only he could do it.
In “Deewana” he looked a bit jaded as he had to compete with Shahrukh Khan. His song also looked old, ‘Sochenge tumhe pyaar kare ke nahi’ with the other songs but he held himself up with ‘Bol Radha bol’. His pair with Juhi Chawla was accepted & even rumoured to have an affair. His charisma never faded. Even when he was the father to Kajol in ‘Fanaa’ he was there to care for his blind daughter & her kid. In recent movies like ‘Mulk’,’102 not out’, ‘The body’ he has tried different genre.
His pairing with Amitabh was also repeated in many films. First he had a special relation in ‘Amar, Akbar, Anthony’ then in “Naseeb” when they are refused the tumtum on the streets.’Chal mere bhai…’ If the elder brother was Amitabh, Rishi Kapoor was his younger brother. In ‘102 Not out’ the optimistic elder brother has this sad younger brother, Rishi. One of the most loved of the Kapoor brothers he has been loved for years like no other. His role in ‘Kapoor & sons’ required make up (as in 102 not out) to look older which he did with finesse. He was to be cast opposite Deepika Padukone in “The Intern”. It will be interesting to see who takes up that role now.
Irfan Khan has worked in British & American movies along with a select few Hindi films. I had seen ‘Salaam Bombay’ but with so many stars around I wonder if I realised it. But as I kept watching his characteristic feature was his eyes. he does everything with his eyes. In ‘Lunch Box’ as the story goes & he is to meet the one who makes his tiffin, I wished hard to let him have the courage once to confront her. He doesn’t & simply watches from a distance.
In “Jazbaa” again he lets her go. Finally when he meets her & shows her out there was again a flicker of hope, ‘to phir jaane kyun diya??? pyar nahi karta tha???” His answer, ‘Karta tha isi liye toh jane diya! ‘ I mean who writes such dialogues & where do you find such people? Who will do such portrayal now???
In “Maqbul” he is smitten by her. Tabu doesn’t need anything to do to make people love her. He knows what he is doing is wrong & yet… it is game over when it begins. Everything goes spiralling down. Similarly in “Haider” when the sins are done, only remains the end!
In “Namesake’ he lives the character. He is that agony, that name personified. He is ably supported by Tabu again but you are more concerned about what happens to him. In “Piku” as an arrogant owner of the car rental he comes in as the third wheel with Amitabh & his daughter, Deepika. He takes over simply by his unassuming manner. The best scene is when both of them are sitting on the banks of the river & just being together with very little dialogues.( Are words necessary when he could talk volumes with just a look!)
In “Quarib quarib single” their relationship comes as a whiff of fresh air. In the late 30s & no stable relationship ie marriage. When they have so many experiences while travelling together, that journey looks as if we have embarked on a India tour! As I had read about it by a critic, if we let go that a single woman is travelling with an unknown man, then everything is okay. As per our notions it is highly improbable but if really it does happen then it can open your eyes to the world.
Many more films later if I think of these two both have given us films that can last for our lifetimes & more.Films will be made good actors will come but the void in our lives made is going to be forever. Their films are the testimony of the good times they shared with us. Their being part of our lives lives shows how important they were to us. All good things come to an end. So be it. We live for a better future & better films to watch. A hearty goodbye to both of you! Adieu !!
Asian Entertainment 