Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Rishi Kapoor began their career in 1979 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 47 years. With over 120 credits to their name, Rishi Kapoor remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Rishi Kapoor's influence on Tamil cinema is generational — their work continues to define the standard for the industry.
- Born
- Age
- 73
Biography
Rishi Raj Kapoor was a Hindi cinema actor from Mumbai, born into the legendary Kapoor film dynasty as the son of filmmaker Raj Kapoor, who established himself as Bollywood's dominant romantic lead for three decades before successfully transitioning to character roles. He won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Mera Naam Joker (1970) and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his breakthrough adult role in Bobby (1973) opposite Dimple Kapadia, later earning the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) for Do Dooni Chaar (2010) and Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor & Sons (2016). In his later career, he took on morally complex supporting roles in films like Agneepath (2012), D Day (2013), and Aurangzeb (2013), demonstrating a striking departure from his earlier romantic-hero image through villainous and grey-shaded characters. He passed away on April 30, 2020, after a battle with leukemia, leaving behind a five-decade legacy that his son Ranbir Kapoor continues in contemporary Hindi cinema.
Career Milestones
Child artist debut in father Raj Kapoor's film, won National Film Award for Best Child Artist
Adult lead debut and breakthrough; won Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Transition to acclaimed character roles, won Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics)
View film →Villainous role in blockbuster remake, widely praised for against-type performance
Won Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
Iconic Roles
Bobby
His debut lead role in a teen romance that made him a star overnight and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Karz
A reincarnation thriller role in Subhash Ghai's cult classic where he played a rock star haunted by memories of a past life.
Agneepath
A chilling underworld don, marking his shift to grey antagonist roles and earning widespread critical acclaim.
Kapoor & Sons
A scene-stealing 90-year-old patriarch in heavy prosthetic makeup who became the emotional heart of the film.
D Day
A wily fugitive underworld don modeled loosely on Dawood Ibrahim, praised for his menacing and layered performance.
Defining Moments
Debut as Bobby — romantic lead opposite Dimple Kapadia, including the iconic 'Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho' sequence
His first lead role launched him as Bollywood's definitive romantic hero, winning the Filmfare Best Actor Award and making the film the biggest hit of 1973. Established the template for his 25-year run as a leading man.
Silver-suited performance of 'Om Shanti Om' as pop star Monty in the film's climactic reincarnation reveal
Widely regarded as one of Bollywood's most memorable musical-performance sequences; Kapoor's energy and screen presence in this moment became a cultural touchstone referenced for decades.
Mr. Duggal's quiet, dignified struggle as a middle-class schoolteacher trying to buy a car for his family
A naturalistic, ego-free performance that critics cited as proof of his range beyond stardom. The film's warmth rested entirely on his shoulders and is frequently listed among the best performances of his later career.
View film →Rauf Lala's introduction scene — threatening, predatory, and utterly cold — establishing him as a credible villain against Hrithik Roshan
His most celebrated reinvention moment. Critics noted his villainy overshadowed the lead cast; it proved he could transcend the romantic-hero image entirely and ignited his acclaimed second innings as a character actor.
Goldman/Iqbal Seth's flamboyant Karachi sequences — a Dawood Ibrahim-inspired gangster played with dark comic menace
Widely praised as one of his finest late-career turns; the role required him to be simultaneously threatening and theatrical, and cinema communities regularly cite it as evidence of his underrated dramatic depth.
View film →Rishi Kapoor by the Numbers
If you watched every Rishi Kapoor film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 10 days and 21h. Most-paired with Juhi Chawla — 7 films together.
Filmography
See all 120 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Rishi Kapoor.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Rishi Kapoor has worked most frequently with David Dhawan (3 films), Kunal Kohli (3 films), Nikhil Advani (2 films), Juhi Chawla (7 films), and Kader Khan (7 films).
Did You Know?
Rishi Kapoor made his debut as a child actor in his father Raj Kapoor's film 'Mera Naam Joker' (1970), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
He was the first recipient of the Filmfare Best Actor Award for a debut performance, winning it for 'Bobby' (1973).
He was part of the famous Kapoor film family, the son of actor-director Raj Kapoor and grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor.
He married actress Neetu Singh in 1980, and their son Ranbir Kapoor is also a leading Bollywood actor.
He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Signature Dialogues
Khaali Fees Bharne Se Papa Ki Duty Khatam Nahi Hoti, Papa Ki Duty Hoti Hain Bachchon Ki Khushiyaan
Santosh Duggal·Do Dooni Chaar
Zinda laane ki zaroorat nahi … murde bhi chalenge
Iqbal Seth Aka Goldman·D Day
Sabhi insaan ek jaise hi toh hote hai ... wahi do haath, do paun, aankhen, kaan, chehra...
Devdhar·Prem Rog
Hum sainkadon janam lete hai … kabhi pati patni bankar, kabhi premi bankar
Unknown·Sanam Re
Photos
See all →
Family
Father
Raj Kapoor
Spouse
Neetu Singh
Child
Ranbir Kapoor
News & Stories
Rishi Kapoor roped in for a crucial role in Nandita Das’s ‘Manto’
21/4/2017
Rishi Kapoor to play as a Sardaar in Hrithik Roshan’s next
28/3/2017
Legacy & Influence
Rishi Kapoor was a pivotal figure in Indian cinema, whose career spanned over four decades and bridged the classic and contemporary eras of Bollywood. He entered the industry as a child artist in his father Raj Kapoor's film 'Mera Naam Joker' (1970), for which he won the National Film Award. His official debut as a leading man in 'Bobby' (1973) was a cultural phenomenon, cementing the teenage romance genre and making him an instant superstar. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Kapoor became the quintessential romantic hero, starring in a string of successful musical love stories like 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Rafoo Chakkar', and 'Sargam'. His on-screen charm, coupled with his natural acting style, defined a generation's idea of romance. In the latter part of his career, he showcased remarkable versatility, transitioning into character roles with immense depth. He delivered powerful performances in films like 'Do Dooni Chaar', 'Agneepath' (2012), 'Kapoor & Sons', and 'Mulk', proving his mettle as a serious actor. His contribution lies in his unique trajectory—from a beloved chocolate-box hero to a respected character actor—demonstrating adaptability and longevity. He was also part of the influential Kapoor film dynasty, further shaping the industry's legacy. His work ethic and passion for cinema left an indelible mark, influencing actors and endearing him to multiple generations of audiences.