Meena Iyer (DNA; March 12, 2018)

A while ago, Rishi Kapoor, who is usually averse to photo shoots, surprised lensman Vickky Idnaani by accompanying him to one of Mumbai’s busiest streets and posing for him in a bright red car. The photographer, who hadn’t seen this facet of the actor, was delighted to capture the senior star in a different light!

Cut to the present...
RK is all set to leave for London to perform his one-act play Khullam Khulla. After finalising the details of his trip with his team, he takes a short break from his packing for an informal chat about his late uncle, Shashi Kapoor, who would have turned 80 on March 18, working with Amitabh Bachchan after a gap of 27 years and why he is indebted to Paresh Rawal.

I didn’t wish Shashi uncle personally last year…
Rishi exclaims, “I do not recall wishing Shashi uncle personally on his birthday last year. I must have put up something on my social media, I’m not sure. However, in our earlier years, I would usually wish him over the phone because he was travelling across the globe, shooting for one film or the other. He was a superstar and a very busy one at that. This birthday would have been an extra special one for him because he would have turned 80. It would have been a big moment for the family.

In the last three years, he was suffering a lot. He had to go for dialysis thrice a week. And, I hated seeing him suffer. We visited him during Christmas, but that was a family tradition. The entire khandaan was there. So, it wasn’t as if he and I had any especially-allocated time together. I cannot remember too many of Shashi uncle’s birthdays, except his 50th. My father threw a huge bash on March 18, 1988. Papa passed away the same year on June 2, and the party was perhaps one of the most momentous things he did before he fell ill.

My dad loved Shashi uncle a lot and was very protective about him. He loved Shammi uncle and Umi aunty, his two other siblings, as well. There was a 14-year age gap between Shashi uncle and my dad. So, papa almost thought of him as another son. He also played the young Raj Kapoor in Awara (1951) and went on to do movies with him later in life. Shashi uncle distributed Bobby (1973) for us because my father was in dire straits after Mera Naam Joker (1970). We needed someone to bail us out. In that sense, Shashi uncle played an important role in my life. Besides working with him in Kabhi Kabhie (1976), I acted in his directorial debut Ajooba (1991). So, there are many milestones with him. I may not be able to recall everything. Cheers to him on his 80th. I will raise a toast to him. I am sure he is up there with Jennifer aunty, his other siblings (Raj and Shammi) and my grandparents. Shashi uncle’s death brought the curtains down on an entire generation. And, his passing away has left us ‘poorer’ in that sense.

Teaming up with Big B after more than two decades
Amitabh Bachchan is senior to me in terms of age as well as star status. But both of us attained superstardom in the same year, 1973 — he with Zanjeer and me with Bobby. Of course, our first film together was Kabhi Kabhie and thereafter, we acted in three movies for Manmohan Desai — Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Naseeb (1981) and Coolie (1983). Then we did Ajooba for Shashi uncle.

Now, 102 Not Out is our sixth film after a gap of 27 years. In those days, I have played Amitji’s younger brother, his friend and he has even essayed the role of my stepfather-in-law in Kabhi Kabhie. Now again, we are playing father and son where he is 102 and I am 75 years of age.102 Not Out is super special. Our bonding wasn’t exactly about fun and games as it’s a highly emotional movie. The story is extraordinarily touching. I can’t give away too much, but the subject deals with some important facets of the relationship between an aged father and his son.

Speaking of which, it is said once you have ridden a cycle, even if you haven’t attempted it for a while, the moment you get back on it, you find the balance. It’s the same for my equation with Amitji.

The moment Amitji and I connected after 27 years, we had found the rhythm following the first shot. It was as if we just left the other day and got connected in a jiffy. It was as easy as that. Amitji is so perfect. He is very well-rehearsed and knows his lines. I am very weak at this. Sometimes, I don’t bother to learn my dialogues because I fear that I might stagnate. But I feel it is important to know your lines.

Amitji knows how to switch from one role to the other. I haven’t worked with him for long, but I observed how he understands the rhythm and slowly gets into the skin of his character. Between takes, we spoke only when it was needed as Amitji is a man of few words and so am I. We shot the entire film at one place in a single long schedule. The set was close to his house.

Paresh gave me the go-ahead for the film
I’m indebted to Paresh Rawal for letting me play this role. Initially, this film was offered to him, but Amitji and his dates weren’t matching. He was in Ali Abbas Zafar's Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and was filming Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic. Amitji gave his dates all of a sudden because one of his films got deferred. The producers assumed they wouldn’t be able to get Paresh, so they approached me. I told them, ‘I will do it only on one condition. I need a clearance (NOC) from Paresh.’

Paresh gave me the go ahead. But I feel if the producers had worked around things a bit, then they might have been able to get Amitabh and him together.

Both characters have the same amount of footage in the film, so it was imperative to match their dates. I told Paresh that he was the best choice for the role. However, he didn’t want to do the film as he was hurt by what the producers had done. I won’t say that he gifted me the role, but circumstances willed it in such a way that I got the opportunity to work with Amitji after 27 years.

I have sung for the first time
Incidentally, I have sung a song for 102 Not Out, for the first time. Imagine, I have made my singing debut with Mr Amitabh Bachchan. I must have some guts (laughs). The track will be used for our promotional activity but won’t feature in the film. Amitji has sung, composed and even arranged the number. He’s incredible!

One-act play
I’m performing my one-act play Khullam Khulla at Leicester and in London. We will also be touring America in July.

I want to take three weeks off
I have been working my butt off. There are four films that are ready for release — Mulk, Rajma Chawal, 102 Not Out and Jhootha Kahin Ka. Most of the work on these films is done, except some dubbing and patchwork. And, I feel I’ve earned a vacation. My wife Neetu will be with me on the trip and I’m happy for it.

No one has offered Neetu and me a film lately
I would love to work with Neetu. However, after Love Aaj Kal (2009), Do Dooni Chaar (2010), a guest appearance in Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) and Besharam (2013), there hasn’t been a concrete offer. Let’s see what the future holds.