With actor Rishi Kapoor’s passing, Bollywood lost an acting legend who has delivered a string of hits. While he essayed character roles, including the ageing father in 2018’s hard-hitting film Mulk, Kapoor will be remembered as Bollywood’s evergreen heartthrob who aced romantic roles in iconic hits ranging from Bobby, Laila Majnu, Amar Akbar Antony, Saagar, Karz and so on.
He leaves behind a legacy of featuring in some of Bollywood’s most-remembered songs which he perfected with his charm and dance moves. Here’s a look at some of his songs, as we mourn the loss of the acting stalwart.
1. Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho
A song number that is loved and sung across the country, despite language barriers, this features a charming Rishi in his 1973 film Bobby where he played a teenage lover. The song is sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shailendra Singh.
2. Mein shayar toh nahin
Yet another classic number from Bobby, this one is sung by Shailendra Singh. The romance film saw young Kapoor in his first lead role, and Dimple Kapadia making her acting debut. The film went on to become a blockbuster hit, and was one of India’s highest grossing films of 1973.
3. Bachna ee haseeno
This dance number from the 1977 Hum Kisise Kum Nahin saw Kapoor deliver some great dance moves and captured hearts for ever. Kapoor's entry playing a trumpet is an image that will remain etched in our hearts forever. The song, sung by Kishore Kumar, created such a huge sensation that it later went on to become the title of the debut film of Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor in 2007.
4. Ek mein aur ek tu
This romantic number, sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle in Khel Khel Mein, features Kapoor along with his real-life love and future wife Neetu Singh. The suspense thriller featured Kapoor as a college student who plays a prank with his friends and gets caught up in a notorious crime.
5. Chehra hein ya chaand khila
Another show of great chemistry between Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, the number by Kishore Kumar is from the 1985 film Saagar. The romantic drama received critical acclaim and was India’s official entry for the Academy Awards that year.
