‘Yeh Dukh Kahen Khatam Nahi Hota’ this is exactly what we all have been feeling ever since the start of the year 2020. The year 2020 is breaking all records and making sure that it makes into history to be the worst year of all. While the entire nation is already dealing with the pandemic, god is making sure to take away all the finest of actors, Indian cinema has seen. Yesterday, it was Irrfan Khan, and today it is, veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor, who started his journey towards heaven. (Also Read: Remembering Rishi Kapoor And Neetu Kapoor's Love Story, He Invited His Mom-In-Law To Live With Them)
On April 30, 2020, the nation woke up to the news of veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor passing away at the age of 67 as his cancer relapsed. Rishi ji took his last breath in the presence of his wife, Neetu Kapoor and son, Ranbir Kapoor. The official statement from the family can be read as “Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am 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.”
As we all know, actor, Ranbir Kapoor never had a very close bond with his late father, Rishi Kapoor. In 2017, when Rishi ji had launched his biography, Khullam Khulla, it was his son, Ranbir, who had expressed his desire to be friendlier with his dad. He had written, “I am closer to my mother. I feel that Dad modeled his relationship with me on the one he shared with his own father. And it is true that I have never crossed a certain line with him. But there is no sense of loss or vacuum here. I do wish sometimes that I could be friendlier with him or even spend more time with him."
Ranbir had also talked about sharing a formal relationship with his father and had mentioned not to have the same relationship when he has his own kids. "I wish I could just pick up the phone and ask him, 'Dad, how are you doing?' But we do not have that. We do not have a phone relationship. When I get married and have children, I would want to change that dynamic with them. I don't want my relationship with my children to be as formal as the one I have with my father. I want to be friendlier, be more connected, spend more time with them than he did with me." (Recommended Read: Throwback Music Video Of Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, And Tiger Shroff With Their Dads)
Ranbir had also expressed his love for his father. He had written, “I love my father dearly and have immense respect for him. I'm inspired by him and never want to let him down. I know he has only my best interests at heart. He also takes care of the financial side of my work. So we are more connected now. His confidence in me and my work makes me take pride in it. I persevere that much harder because of this. His belief and his encouragement are important to me."
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For the uninitiated, it was on September 29, 2018, when Rishi Kapoor had tweeted about his diagnosis. In a 2019 interview, Neetu Kapoor had revealed that when they got to know about Rishi Kapoor’s cancer, Ranbir Kapoor was travelling. When he came back, Neetu ji had made him sit and had explained the situation, which had left him teary-eyed. For an hour or so, Ranbir was in a denial state, but later, he had composed himself and got down to deal with the situation. It would indeed be hard for any child to see their parents in such a state. (Don't Miss: Throwback Thursday: When Rishi Kapoor Had Lost His Calm And Slapped A 12-Year-Old Ranbir Kapoor)
It is a huge loss to the family! Rest in peace, Rishi sir!
