Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at 67. The actor's family, in a statement, said he passed away at 8:45am after a two-year battle with leukaemia. A day before, his elder brother Randhir Kapoor had said the actor was taken to H.N. Reliance Hospital in Mumbai after some breathing difficulties. "He is in the hospital. He is suffering from cancer and he has some breathing problem, so he has been admitted to the hospital. He is stable now," Randhir had then said. Rishi Kapoor's death comes a day after actor Irrfan Khan's demise. Amitabh Bachchan tweeted his condolences.
The full statement by Rishi Kapoor's family: "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."
The actor returned to India last September after reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year. In February, Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.
He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, Rishi Kapoor had said that he was suffering from an "infection". After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.
Rishi Kapoor, who has been quite active on social media, hasn't posted anything on his Twitter account since April 2.
The actor recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film The Intern, also featuring Deepika Padukone.