Mumbai: The Mumbai civic corporation’s H-West ward on Tuesday sealed four buildings in Bandra including those of actor Kareena Kapoor and filmmaker Karan Johar after Kapoor tested positive for Coronavirus.

Johar’s building in Union Park at Bandra was sealed as a precautionary measure, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, as a party is believed to have been held in Johar’s home on December 8 where one of the guests was carrying the infection. Some of the others present at the party, in turn, caught the infection.

The civic ward also sealed actor Amrita Arora’s building on Kane Road in Bandra and star wife Seema Khan’s home in Pali Hill. Seema Khan is actor Sohail Khan’s wife. Along with her, two more persons from her residence including her son have tested positive for the virus. Another star wife who tested positive on Tuesday was Maheep Kapoor, the wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor. Maheep Kapoor is currently in home isolation.

Vinayak Vispute, BMC assistant municipal commissioner for the H-West, said four buildings have been sealed in the area which are private residences of these celebrities.

“We held an RT-PCR testing camp on Tuesday at each of these buildings all through the day where, apart from residents, the staff including drivers and maids were also tested. We don’t want to take any chances, so till the time the results of the tests are out we will continue to keep the building sealed,” said Vispute.

While BMC guidelines require over five persons to test positive for a building to be sealed, officials said they were sealing the buildings in this case as a precautionary measure.

K-West ward assistant municipal commissioner Prithviraj Chavan confirmed to TOI that Maheep Kapoor had tested positive in the Covid list on Tuesday morning and that the BMC will following further course of action by getting names of her close contacts to get them tracked and tested to contain the spread.

Madhu Poplai, a resident of the area and member of the Pali Hill Association (PHRA) said that in order to avoid any panic among residents of the area where the buildings were located, a message was sent out by PHRA.

The message read, “Dear members, just to keep everyone updated that Kiran Towers on Pali Hill has been completely sealed. This is due to 3 cases of Covid 19. All members, service staff are currently going through RTPCR to be doubly sure that there are no cases. There is no need of any panic as BMC medical staff are just doing their duty.”

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Family, friends and several Bollywood personalities bid adieu to actor-director Rajiv Kapoor, son of celebrated filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, as he was cremated yesterday. Rajiv, the youngest among five siblings died after suffering a heart attack. He was 58.

Randhir Kapoor and nephew, actor Ranbir Kapoor led the funeral procession. Actor Neetu Kapoor arrived with son Ranbir at the late actor’s residence. Aadar Jain, son of Rajiv’s sister Rima Jain, along with Tara Sutaria, and Alia Bhatt were spotted. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, actors Sanjay Kapoor, Chunky Pandey, Sonali Bendre, and Neil Nitin Mukesh were also in attendance at Rajiv Kapoor’s residence.

Rajiv made his acting debut with 1983 film Ek Jaan Hain Hum, but made first appearance as a leading man in blockbuster Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), which was Raj Kapoor’s last directorial venture. He went on to feature in films like Aasmaan, Lover Boy, Zabardast and Hum To Chale Pardes.

Rajiv’s last film as a hero was 1990’s Zimmedaar. He then made a switch to production and direction with films like Henna, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, and Prem Granth respectively.

He was set to make a comeback to the screen with the sports drama Toolsidas Junior, starring Sanjay Dutt.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 13, 2020)

On Tuesday, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, confirmed that they are all set to welcome baby no 2. After the actress took to the social media to wish Saif’s first born, daughter Sara Ali Khan, on her 25th birthday, with a throwback pic, urging her to “eat loads of pizza”, the couple conveyed the good news. “We are very pleased to announce that we are expecting an addition to our family!! Thank you to all our well-wishers for all their love and support,” read the simply worded statement, appended with a heart emoji.

In October 2016 too, Saif had confirmed rumours that Kareena was in the family way with a statement. “My wife and I would like to announce that we are expecting our first child in December. We would like to thank our well-wishers for their blessings and support and also the press for their discretion and patience.” Taimur was born on December 20. Four years later, he is prepping up to welcome a sibling.

In an interview to Mirror last year (December 17, 2019) Kareena had shared that her actor-husband and she wanted to do good films and roles and “eventually settle somewhere with our children, be like a family-family”. Seems like the couple is closer to living that dream now.

Kareena’s father, Randhir Kapoor, who is delighted to be a grandfather, again, exulted, “I am absolutely delighted, I have been telling Kareena for so long that Taimur needs a brother or sister to play with. We are all very happy and we pray, it’s a healthy, happy child.”

Sonil Dedhia (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 20, 2020)

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on April 30, leaving many of his fans, well-wishers, and loved ones in utter grief. His death came as a huge shock for everyone in the Bollywood film industry who were still trying to recuperate from the loss of another actor, Irrfan Khan, who had passed away just a day earlier. Twenty days since, his brother, Randhir Kapoor, says that the family is trying to cope up with the loss, “God has been kind and the family is holding up well. We are taking one day at a time but we all miss him every day. We shared a common bond over friends, family, food and films,” he says.

Kapoor wants to thank the fans who have stood by the family, “People across the world showered their love on him. We have been flooded with condolence messages and some have even shared their memories or their personal experiences with my brother. It is impossible to reply to all of them but I’d like to thank everyone and just want to tell his fans to remember him for his movies, for his smile and undying spirit,” he says.

The Pakistani actress, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Rishi Kapoor in Henna,recalls her fondest memories of the actor and the days of the shoot
Richa Shukla (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2020)

Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiar made her film debut in 1991 with the movie Henna, opposite Rishi Kapoor. Sharing her fond memories of the time spent with the late actor, Zeba says the news of Rishi’s demise is yet to sink in.

“It was an unfortunate day when I woke up to this news. I got a call from a journalist, who informed me about Rishi’s death. It was heartbreaking. All the good old memories came flooding back. I’m yet to believe that my dear friend is gone. He will always remain a mentor to me,” she says. The actress had been in regular touch with Rishi through phone calls and messages. She tells us, “Whenever Ranbir’s film released, Rishi would ask me to watch it. The last I met him was almost a decade ago, in 2010, in India. He was as charming and jovial as ever.”

Recalling her debut with Rishi, Zeba shares, “Henna will always hold a special place in my life. It was a dream come true for me. The title role demanded a girl from Pakistan and for authenticity, Raj sahab and Randhir, too, wanted an actress from Pakistan. In 1989, I was in London when I got a call from Randhir, who asked me to come to Mumbai for a screen-test.” She adds, “I didn’t know much about Bollywood then, but I had seen Rishi’s films and loved Bobby. I was literally in awe of him! At the screen-test, Randhir introduced me to him and our bond grew stronger with time.”

Praising the actor and his family for making her feel at home during the shoot, Zeba says, “From day one, the Kapoors became my extended family. Away from his stardom, Rishi was a very kind-hearted and warm person. I remember we went to Austria to shoot a few songs there, Rishi’s family, too, accompanied us. It became like a family holiday for all of us.”
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Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 8, 2020)

Pakistani actor Zeba Bakhtiar remembers being intimidated by her immensely popular co-star Rishi Kapoor on the sets of her debut film, Henna. In this 1991 drama, helmed by Randhir Kapoor, Bakhtiar played the titular role. While working on the project, the Pakistani actor came close to the Kapoor family and found friends in both the Kapoor brothers.

The news of Rishi Kapoor’s demise came as a shock to her. Kapoor, 67, died in Mumbai on April 30. “I spoke to Randhir two days before this happened. He said, ‘Chintu is getting better’…Nobody saw this coming. After his treatment (in the US), he was so happy to be back home,” says Bakhtiar.

It was Kapoor’s “honesty and strong demeanour” that made Bakhtiar “respect” him all the more. “He was straightforward yet funny. He had a very active mind, knew about all kinds of films being made, newer technologies and techniques that were being used. He was knowledgeable,” says the actor who worked with Kapoor again in Mohabbat Ki Aarzoo (1994).

Reminiscing the days of making Henna, Bakhtiar, 57, shares, “While Randhir was collected and chill, Rishi was electrifying and full of energy. I was new then and he would help me with my performance.”

The last time they spoke this year, they had plans of catching up, she reveals. Bakhtiar shares that Kapoor is hugely popular in Pakistan and they were “devastated with the news as he was the ultimate romantic hero who everybody would miss”.

Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 2, 2020)

Poonam Dhillon breaks into tears as she talks about her dear friend Rishi Kapoor’s demise, and wishes “the news wasn’t true”. Kapoor, 67, breathed his last after a two-year-long battle with cancer on April 30. “This is such a terrible time to have to go through this. Everybody is feeling so helpless... I can’t believe Chintu (his nickname) is not among us,” she says.

Dhillon met him two months earlier. “Chintu had recovered and was so grateful to have beaten such a horrible disease. It’s going to be very difficult to accept that he is gone. I knew him since I was 18. We have been friends and I was close to his family. I had worked with him, Dabboo (Randhir Kapoor), Shammi Kapoor uncle, Shashi ji (Shashi Kapoor),” she adds.

Dhillon and Kapoor had collaborated in films such as Yeh Vaada Raha (1982), Tawaif (1985), Zamana (1985), Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), Dosti Dushmani (1986), Amiri Garibi (1990), Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002), among others. And they wanted to work together again. “The other day I joked saying, ‘Aaj kal baat toh karte ho par kaam kab karenge?’ and he said, ‘Haan yaar, chal ek saath ek film karte hai’,” she says.

The actor says Kapoor “looked fit” when she last met him. “He was an unassuming, effortless actor. He never needed any prep. His performance wasn’t theatrical or dramatic, he was a natural actor. That’s what I loved about him,” she adds. Dhillon shared a “fun and warm” relationship with Kapoor and they would often joke with each other. “I learnt a lot from him. He was a good man. He would never misbehave with anyone. He expressed what he felt, which at times would sound wrong, but that’s that,” she recalls.

Calling him one of the “finest actors of our times”, she says it’s a “huge loss” for everyone. “It’s sad that on his last day, there was a restriction to pay our last tribute to this true gentleman,” she concludes.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 1, 2020)

My first directorial venture Andaz [1971] was with Shammi Kapoor. A decade later, I made Shaan [1981] with Shashi Kapoor. Babita was introduced by my father [G P Sippy] opposite Rajesh Khanna in Raaz [1967]. I made Saagar [1985] with Rishi Kapoor, so my association with the Kapoors goes back a long way.

My daughter, Sheena, was married to Shashi Kapoor's son, Kunal. We are related as well. How much closer can we get?

I was in touch with Rishi but not as much as I should have been. I remember catching a play at the Royal Opera House with his brother Randhir Kapoor. After the show, we sat down to chat and Randhir called Rishi who was at that time seeking treatment in the US. Rishi was sounding fine and kept a positive front. We were happy to know that all was going well until this sudden turn of events. I was shocked to hear of his demise. We had heard that he had been hospitalised. The awful part is that because of Coronavirus and social distancing, we could not go to pay our last respects. I feel miserable about it.

I thought of making Saagar after Dimple Kapadia expressed her desire to make a comeback after marriage and motherhood. I sat with Javed Akhtar saab and discussed the script and spoke to Rishi.

We decided to make it a love triangle and got Kamal Haasan on board. It was a lovely experience working with the three talented actors. Unfortunately, it wasn't a success when it released, but over time it lingered on and developed a cult following. Its songs are still a big draw.

One didn't need to direct Rishi. He was such a consummate actor. Once the scenes were narrated to him, he understood it perfectly. He just needed to be ready and come on the set and perform the scene. I didn't have to say much to him about what to do and what not to do. We will miss presence but he will always be with us through his movies.