Rishi Kapoor: The Forever Romantic of Bollywood

It is difficult to accept that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is longer with us. After a two-year-long battle with leukemia, the actor has departed for his heavenly abode. It is difficult to not be overwhelmed with a wave of nostalgia thinking of all those films where Rishi Kapoor melted our hearts with his cute chocolate boy charms and honest acting. Of course, one can argue that the star was born in the family of the showman himself, yet there is no refuting the fact that he carved a niche of his own, a place that no star has been able to stand up to.

Here's a throwback to all the on-screen moments, Rishi Kapoor made us go aww with his lover boy antics and subtle nuances.

Mera Naam Joker

In his debut film, the actor stole every heart there was to steal with his innocent charm and incredibly sweet smile. Despite his brief appearance as the young Raju, he declared himself as the ultimate chocolate boy and remained true to that image throughout his career. Although he ventured into unconventional and negative roles, his lover boy image is the one that is immortalized in our hearts.

Bobby

With Bobby, Rishi became an overnight sensation challenging the macho hero image. An era of mushy lover boy had started. He became everything a woman could dream of in a man. Sweet, charming, and witty with a trendsetting sense of style. The audience could not wait to see more of the intense onscreen chemistry of Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia.

Saagar

The onscreen pair returned together for another superhit film Saagar, and everyone skipped a heartbeat when Rishi Kapoor romanced a sheer saree clad Dimple Kapadia in the sensational song Jaane Do Na. The actor was nothing short of dashing as the wealthy scion Ravi. Despite the ensemble of big names, he stood his grounds as an actor and melted hearts with his chocolate boy charms.

Khel Khel Mein

This movie is one of the best of the quintessential pair, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor. Neetu Kapoor had become the love of his life. The audience had little choice but to lose their hearts as this electric duo tapped their feet to groovy songs and engaged in cute romance. Rishi Kapoor also charmed the audience with his debonair dancing and guitar skills, an image several of his successors attempted to mould into.

Chandni

This movie has to be a crowning gem in Rishi Kapoor's career. This epic romance saw the best of Rishi Kapoor, as a charming actor who delivers nothing short of the best. His transformation from the confident, groovy, and stylish Rohit to the wheelchair-bound, insecure Rohit melted hearts. The audience felt his longings with him and loved every shade of him.

Kabhie Kabhie

Although the star of this film was the Amitabh Bachchan-Rakhee-Sashi Kapoor trio, Rishi Kapoor won hearts with his confident acting skills and effortless charms as the college boy in love.

Hum Tum

It is difficult to forget the charming entry of Rishi Kapoor's Arjun Kapoor while singing his epic song Main Shayar Toh Nahi. Throughout the film, he kept reminding the audience of his cute and charming appeal that he did not lose with age. Only Rishi Kapoor can pull off a movie with the same effect on the audience as his younger self!

Love Aaj Kal

A heady dose of nostalgia and old school romance that surrounded Rishi Kapoor in this movie made everyone want to relive the old world charm. Despite the hint of seriousness, the mischievious lover boy shined brightly as he narrated his love story. The brief  with his wife in the last scene definitely melted hearts.

Kapoor and Sons

Kapoor played the adorable grandfather every grandchild wishes to have. From his love for Mandakini to smoking pot with his grandsons, he appeared adorable and filled with life, despite the wheelchair. It broke everyone's heart when his heartfelt last wish of clicking a picture with his entire family does not get fulfilled. Although we will not see any more of this amazing actor onscreen, his work continues to live in our hearts. Every time, a boy sings main shayar toh nahi for his girl, every time a person in love screams kya tumne kabhi kisi se pyaar kiya and every time a dafli sounds, we will fondly remember him.