“Shattered, heartbroken”: Bollywood mourns the demise of Rishi Kapoor

Indian cinema is bereft. Just yesterday, film icon Irrfan Khan passed away. Now, Rishi Kapoor is no more.

Rishi was admitted to the HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai by his family on Wednesday morning. The actor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and had sought treatment in the USA for almost a year. Following his return to India, Rishi was hospitalised twice in February this year due to health problems.

Rishi’s passing was mourned by Indian film industry and beyond. His family issued a statement saying:

“Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am 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.

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way."

Close friend and frequent collaborator Amitabh Bachchan was among the first to tweet about his demise. “He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed !” he wrote.

Sharing a picture with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra tweeted,

Aamir Khan shared a message remembering the actor.

Vicky Kaushal wrote he was shattered and heartbroken by the news. “The last time when I met him in NY, he was fighting the battle like a boss, with a smile on his face. This is utterly tragic and incomprehensible,” he tweeted.

Salman Khan had essayed Rishi Kapoor’s son in Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002). The actors were reportedly not on good terms over the years. Apologising for everything, Salman wrote,

Farhan Akhtar tweeted,

Akshay Kumar tweeted, 

Taapsee Pannu remembered her co-star from Mulk and Chashme Baddoor.

Ajay Devgn wrote,

Parineeti Chopra shared a picture from the sets of Shuddh Desi Romance and wrote, 

Raveena Tandon tweeted, 

Diana Penty shared,