Soon after Sonali Bendre had announced her high-grade metastatic cancer creating a hue and cry among masses and the media, a cryptic tweet from the legendary actor, Rishi Kapoor had made everyone worried and hence, began prayers for his sound health. It was on September 29, 2018, when Rishi Kapoor had tweeted about his short absence from work and had requested his well-wishers to not unnecessarily speculate. But speculations did mount over Rishi ji’s health and multiple conjectures about him suffering from the Big C. (Also Read: Deepika Padukone Wishes Two Very Important Survival Needs For Katrina Kaif On Her 36th Birthday)
Then a New Year post from Rishi Kapoor’s wife, Neetu Kapoor, had provided a subtle hint about her husband’s ailment. Giving a glimpse from their New Year celebrations with a family picture, the star wife had written, “Happy 2019 no resolutions only wishes this year!!! Less pollution traffic!! Hope in future cancer is only a zodiac sign!!! No hatred less poverty loads of love togetherness happiness and most important. Good health.”
For the first time, Rishi Kapoor has opened up about battling the devastating disease and the struggles he had to go through in the past year. In an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, when asked to comment on the plenty of speculations about his health, Rishi Kapoor spilt some beans on how he has been doing and said, “On the subject of my health, thanks to the prayers and good wishes of my family, friends and fans, I am perfect now. The cancer is in remission, but I am still under treatment. I have a crucial meeting with the doctors today at 10.45 am, there’s one treatment still left to be done.”
Further stating that the problem was not the treatment, but the reaction time, Rishi Kapoor continued, "The problem is not the treatment but the reaction time. There is a six-week gap between one treatment and the next when all you can do is eat, shop, watch movies, live a normal life, which I would rather do at home than here in New York. It has been nine months and 16 days. I know, since I have been counting the days that I have been away. I really miss home."
Answering the most-awaited question of his fans, “When do we expect to see him back?”, Rishi Kapoor remarked, "I have to be here for 11 months, so will not be back before the end of August. It has been a very difficult and taxing time, but Neetu and my children (Ranbir and Riddhima) have been very supportive. I am grateful to everyone. I am waiting to come back and raring to get going. I plan my return five-six weeks after my last treatment. It is called consolidation or pushback, where I have to undergo chemotherapy to ensure that the ailment does not return. This is the second time I'm going through the treatment. I am hoping that I can plan an end-August return but all this talk that I will be back in early September for my birthday, is again nothing but speculation." (Also Read: Radhika Merchant Flaunts A Formal Look Post Her Salon Session, We Can't Get Over Her Beautiful Smile)
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Despite the difficult times, in all the pictures that his wife, Neetu Kapoor has been posting over the months from their New York diaries, we have always seen Rishi Kapoor with a smile and a look of serenity on his face. When asked if battling the Big C has changed his perspective towards life, Rishi Kapoor replied, “Not really, it’s because of the love of those who have dropped by to visit me here. I feel so overjoyed, so wanted, that people have come all the way to New York to show their warmth and express concern over my health. I can now reassure everyone that the cancer is in remission, I just need a few more weeks before I return home. Once in a year or a year and-a-half I have to come back for check-ups.”
Speaking about getting diagnosed with cancer and the consequences of the treatment, Rishi Kapoor elaborated, “When I first came here, everyone was worried for me. The problem was detected when I was shooting in Delhi and was required to dye my hair white. I was told to immediately rush to the Sloan Kettering Hospital. I came here with my hair still dyed white. When word got around that Rishi Kapoor had gone to New York for some kind of medical examination, the rumour spread that I was so unwell that my hair had turned white overnight. To counter this, whenever friends of mine came to see me, they posted pictures so people could see what Rishi Kapoor really looked like. Thankfully, my health started improving, week after week, month after month. I had lost 26 kg as I had no appetite for the first four months. Now, I’ve gained seven-eight kg. I don’t want to look too lean, but I haven’t gone back to my original self either. Thank God for that.”
When probed to reveal what type of cancer he is battling, Rishi Kapoor dodged the question and said, “We will talk about the disease later, let’s not get into that now. Let’s talk about my films now.” Once in Mumbai, the ecstatic Rishi Kapoor is eagerly waiting to hit the film sets and return on the silver screens. He said, “I am raring to get back to work. I have a film commitment which I will resume. Then, I have another film a director and producer came to meet me for. I can’t get into details right now as we still have to sort out a few things but verbally I have given them a “yes”. The moment I get back, I will take 15 days off to connect with my roots, get over the jet lag, get into IST and hopefully, by the end of September I will start shooting.”
Acknowledging the immense support from his family including wife, Neetu Kapoor and children, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor revealed how this tough phase brought the family together. He stated, “Yes, all my siblings, my children and Neetu in particular, who has been like a solid rock, have been around me, supporting me through all this. Right now, my daughter and grand-daughter are with me. Ranbir keeps coming every five-six weeks. I am overjoyed by all the love and concern, the solidarity of my family. Here I have to make a special mention of my niece Natasha and my elder sister Ritu Nanda who is also here for the same reason. They were our anchors who kept Neetu and me going. When your anxiety is so high you need this kind of support and such motivational people around.” (Also Read: Sonam Kapoor Ahuja Is Planning To Sell Her Mumbai Flat And Shift To London Full-Time With Anand?)
Can’t wait to see Rishi Kapoor back in Mumbai all hale and hearty!
