Neetu Kapoor Talks Life with Rishi Kapoor on Koffee With Karan 8
Veteran actresses Neetu Kapoor and Zeenat Aman recently appeared on the much-talked-about show, ‘Koffee With Karan 8’. The duo, who shined together in the glitz and glamour of Bollywood during the ’70s and ’80s, revisited their heyday as they chatted with host Karan Johar. Through the engaging discussion, Neetu Kapoor laid bare the dynamics of her relationship with late husband Rishi Kapoor, sharing insights into her personal journey and the surprising tenderness shown by Rishi during his last days.
Cherished Memories Amidst Tough Times
The candid conversation on the show took a turn towards the poignant last months Neetu Kapoor spent alongside Rishi Kapoor in New York City, where he underwent cancer treatment. Neetu chose to focus on the brighter side of events as she recounted, “So Karan, for me, I don’t like to remember the sad part. I like to remember the good part of our relationship and our time in New York. So New York was really sad, but we had the best year, I had the best year of my life.”
The Transformation of a Stern Patriarch
Further delving into her personal narrative, Neetu Kapoor revealed the evolution in Rishi’s demeanor towards herself and their children, Ranbir and Riddhima, during his treatment in America. The man known for maintaining an emotional distance suddenly became more expressive. “Chintu Ji (Rishi Kapoor) is a very loving person. He had a lot of love in him. But there was something—he never really showed his love. He always kept his distance and bullying people, not showing his love. Especially with me and my children, he was like a big thing. Respect, and all, and with that, he lost out on a lot with his children. He was never a friend to them.”
To Neetu’s surprise, those trying times brought out an unexpected softness in Rishi: “But that year, he opened up. He showed love, went towards me also, he was so lovely. We had the best time.”
Past Glories and the Decision to Step Away from Cinema
During the deep dive with Karan Johar, Neetu Kapoor also touched upon her impressive oeuvre of around 70-80 films, all completed before she made the significant decision to leave acting at the young age of 21 following her marriage to Rishi Kapoor. The conversation segued into the reminiscence of the rambunctious parties of the ’70s and ’80s. Neetu Kapoor, however, saw a different side to those days as she remembered, “But I had this Rishi Kapoor as my boyfriend. So I never partied-partied because he was always like ‘Don’t do this, Don’t do that. Come home’. I’ve never seen the wild side of partying in those days. I had a very strict mother and a very strict boyfriend.”
A Walk Down Memory Lane
With Karan Johar paving the path, the episode turned into a walk down memory lane, where Neetu and Zeenat Aman revisited old times, reflecting not only on their professional lives but the personal ones too. Neetu Kapoor’s reflections brought to light a softer, more personal aspect of Rishi Kapoor—a side seldom seen by the public, casting shadows and warmth over the memories of the stalwart of Indian cinema. The intimate sharing by Neetu Kapoor served as a powerful reminder of the complexity of public figures and the enduring strength of familial bonds forged in the crucible of adversity.
The episode of ‘Koffee With Karan’ thus stood out not simply as a gathering of stars reminiscing on past glories but also as a touching narrative intertwining the public spectacle with the most intimate threads of human experience. As viewers tuned in, they got more than just gossip; they received a glimpse into the tender, vulnerable moments that define relationships and, ultimately, life itself.
