Rishi Kapoor was very well-behaved and cultured child, Neetu Singh used to play in my lap, says A Krishnamurthi

Few could have vivid, early reminiscences of Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor – who handed away at the moment – because the outstanding Krishnamurthi household within the Indian movie trade. The pater-familias, A. Krishnamurthi, 91, remembers how a long time in the past, the younger Rishi — fondly generally known as ‘Chintu’ — would go to his father’s or uncles’ movie units and even performed with him joyfully there.

“He was always a very well-behaved, cultured child… Even his future wife, and the little child actor Neetu Singh used to play in my lap. Years later, when they got married our family relations became even stronger,” A. Krishnamurthi informed IANS.

The incidents he referred to had been across the movie Nazrana (1961) through which he was the manufacturing govt and interacted intently with the movie’s solid of huge names like Raj Kapoor, Vyjanthimala, Usha Kiran, Gemini Ganesan (father of the diva, Rekha Ganesan), when the 9-year previous Rishi would usually drop in on the units.

Neetu was a bubbly, lovable 5-year previous baby actress in Venus Pictures’ superhit musical movie, Suraj (1966) with Rajendra Kumar, Vyjanthimala, Mumtaz, Ajit and Johnny Walker.

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“Neetu started working as a child artiste. Years later, she and Rishi married and the entire industry was genuinely happy with their jodi’. Our long family relations with the ‘Kapoor khandan’ since the mid-1940s were further cemented,” reminisced A. Krishnamurthi.

At 18, when Rishi Kapoor was to make his Bollywood grand debut with Bobby, Raj Kapoor was trying to find an acceptable playback voice’ for his son, although there have been singing stalwarts like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh.

“Luckily, through some friends, I came to know of a young but very talented boy, Shailendra Singh, and recommended him to Laxmikant-Pyarelal. After he was approved by the music-director duo and the Kapoors, Rishi called up to express his gratitude for giving him voice’ and the film industry a new singer,” A. Krishnamurthi mentioned.

As Shailendra Singh sang many songs for Rishi Kapoor, the latter apparently repaid the debt to A. Krishnamurthi by readily agreeing to interrupt his rule and work in a key function for his son Okay. Ravi Shankar’s maiden directorial enterprise, Sindoor (1987), beneath the household’s banner, Tina Film International (TFI).

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“I was virtually scared of even approaching Rishi. Very hesitantly, I mentioned to my father that I needed him for that key role in the film which had his uncle Shashi Kapoor and Jeetendra, besides Jaya Prada, Govinda and Neelam Kothari. When my father reluctantly approached the topic with Rishi, he promptly agreed, but on one condition – he would not charge any fees! Such was his magnanimity and down-to-earth character, and he gave a memorable performance,” Okay. Ravi Shankar informed IANS.

Later, he broke one other rule for the director whom he admired lots.

“He enacted the lead in my second film Gharana (1989) and one day graciously came for an early 6 am shoot – coinciding with sunrise – probably the second time in his career, at Hyderabad, recalls K. Ravi Shankar of that morning.

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K. Ravi Shankar said coming from a big family of film-makers, Rishi Kapoor was always aware of producers’ problems and pressures of working on limited budgets, he never threw tantrums or indulged in ‘star nakhras’, avoided any exorbitant demands, remained punctual and professional.

“Once, during Gharana’ 3-week long schedule in Hyderabad, he called a production assistant and asked him to book a suite, arrange air tickets and pick his family from the airport to the five-star hotel. The worried production assistant informed me and I gave him the go ahead. That evening, Rishi came looking for me and I assured him that I had cleared it. But he said only on the condition that ‘he would pay entirely for his family trip’ without any arguments. That was his greatness,” mentioned Okay. Ravi Shankar.

In 1990, he made it a degree to specifically fly all the way down to Chennai for Okay. Ravi Shankar’s marriage ceremony with Jayashree and posed for household photos together with A. Krishnamurthi and his spouse Mathuram.

TFI Executive Producer Ramya Iyer recalled how from childhood the Krishnamurthis and Kapoors would bond at numerous festivals or household events.

“During the annual Ganeshotsav, celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Kapoors, Rishi would personally call up and invite my dad (A. Krishnamurthi), and when we went he was there to receive us at the gate without fail, and escort us inside. He was a highly cultured and humble person, respected elders, and on sets would interact with everyone right down to the spot-boys,” Ramya Iyer informed IANS.

TFI’s producer Okay. Ramji, who runs his personal firm Tina Films Enterprises (TFE), recalled how he was as soon as shocked to see the glittering singer-dancer costume from the mega-hit Subhash Ghai movie, Karz (1980), starring Rishi Kapoor, Tina Munim-Ambani, Simi Garewal and others, at Rishi Kapoor’s dwelling.

“He mentioned that he had liked it so much after the Om Shanti Om number that he decided to preserve it four decades after the film release, the costume hangs to this day at his home-office, though he is gone now,” mentioned Okay. Ramji softly.

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