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Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored
Son of a famous father. Father of a famous son. I am the hyphen between them.
Only, Rishi Kapoor was and is so much more. Few actors in Hindi cinema have had this sort of a career from the gawky adolescent pining for his schoolteacher (Mera Naam Joker, 1970) to the naughty ninety-year-old (Kapoor & Sons, 2016), Rishi Kapoor has regaled audiences for close to fifty years. He won a National Award for his debut, became an overnight sensation with his first film as a leading man (Bobby, 1973), and carved a niche for himself with a string of romantic musical blockbusters in an era known for its angst-ridden films. He was the youth icon that is still the toast of the satellite TV circuit. The songs he lip-synced are the bread and butter of all radio stations even today. Then there was the second coming after a brief hiatus in the 1990s - as one of the finest actors in mainstream Hindi cinema with powerhouse performances in films like Do Dooni Chaar, D-Day, Agneepath and others.
Characteristically candid, Rishi Kapoor brings Punjabi brio to the writing of Khullam Khulla. This is as up close and personal a biography as any fan could have hoped for. He writes about growing up in the shadow of a legendary father, skipping school to act in Mera Naam Joker, the workings of the musical hits of the era, an encounter with Dawood Ibrahim, his heroines (their working relationship, the gossip and the frisson that was sometimes real), his approach to his craft, his tryst with clinical depression, and more. A foreword by Ranbir Kapoor and a stirring afterword by Neetu Singh bookend the warmest, most dil se biography an Indian star has ever penned.
Only, Rishi Kapoor was and is so much more. Few actors in Hindi cinema have had this sort of a career from the gawky adolescent pining for his schoolteacher (Mera Naam Joker, 1970) to the naughty ninety-year-old (Kapoor & Sons, 2016), Rishi Kapoor has regaled audiences for close to fifty years. He won a National Award for his debut, became an overnight sensation with his first film as a leading man (Bobby, 1973), and carved a niche for himself with a string of romantic musical blockbusters in an era known for its angst-ridden films. He was the youth icon that is still the toast of the satellite TV circuit. The songs he lip-synced are the bread and butter of all radio stations even today. Then there was the second coming after a brief hiatus in the 1990s - as one of the finest actors in mainstream Hindi cinema with powerhouse performances in films like Do Dooni Chaar, D-Day, Agneepath and others.
Characteristically candid, Rishi Kapoor brings Punjabi brio to the writing of Khullam Khulla. This is as up close and personal a biography as any fan could have hoped for. He writes about growing up in the shadow of a legendary father, skipping school to act in Mera Naam Joker, the workings of the musical hits of the era, an encounter with Dawood Ibrahim, his heroines (their working relationship, the gossip and the frisson that was sometimes real), his approach to his craft, his tryst with clinical depression, and more. A foreword by Ranbir Kapoor and a stirring afterword by Neetu Singh bookend the warmest, most dil se biography an Indian star has ever penned.
271 pages, Hardcover
Published January 15, 2017
378 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
About the author
Rishi Kapoor
24 books14 followersRishi Kapoor was one of India's most popular film stars, known for his work in Hindi cinema.
Born into the Kapoor family, he made his debut, as an adolescent, in his father Raj Kapoor's film Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. As an adult, his first lead role was opposite Dimple Kapadia in the teen romance Bobby (1973), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Kapoor is one of the most successful actors in the history of Bollywood. Between 1973 and 2000, Kapoor starred as the romantic lead in 92 films. Some of his notable films during this period include Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), and Chandni (1989). Since the 2000s, he played character roles to critical acclaim in such films as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Agneepath (2012), and Mulk (2018).
For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), he won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, and for his role in Kapoor & Sons (2016), he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His final film appearance was in The Body (2019).
Kapoor was married to actress Neetu Singh, with whom he has two children. He died of leukemia on 30 April 2020, aged 67.
Born into the Kapoor family, he made his debut, as an adolescent, in his father Raj Kapoor's film Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. As an adult, his first lead role was opposite Dimple Kapadia in the teen romance Bobby (1973), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Kapoor is one of the most successful actors in the history of Bollywood. Between 1973 and 2000, Kapoor starred as the romantic lead in 92 films. Some of his notable films during this period include Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), and Chandni (1989). Since the 2000s, he played character roles to critical acclaim in such films as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Agneepath (2012), and Mulk (2018).
For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), he won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, and for his role in Kapoor & Sons (2016), he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His final film appearance was in The Body (2019).
Kapoor was married to actress Neetu Singh, with whom he has two children. He died of leukemia on 30 April 2020, aged 67.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
August 26, 2018
Khullam Khulla is the story of Rishi Kapoor. And it is fairly frank as the title suggests.
Rishi Kapoor admits he had an advantage – being from a film family, and the great Raj Kapoor’s son. There are warm accounts of the family and their relations making for very good reading.
After a role as a teenager in Mera Naam Joker, which did not do too well, Rishi was launched as a lover boy hero in Bobby. Bobby was a major hit – thanks to impressive performances by both Rishi and Dimple. Rishi then recounts the ups and downs, including a period shortly after his marriage when his films were not doing well, and he goes into depression suffering a crisis of confidence.
He makes his mark in love stories over time, and now in the second phase of his acting career has a wider variety of roles to choose from (such as in Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons and others). There is a bold revelation that he paid money to influence an award for Bobby, which quite possibly also played a role in his early frosty relation with Amitabh Bachchan.
While there is a lot of interesting material, the book is not that well organized – shuffling from this to that with a context. There are a lot of references to drinking – almost as if that is the primary bonding factor among family and friends! Neetu Singh’s afterword is actually pretty well written.
My rating: 3.25 / 5
Rishi Kapoor admits he had an advantage – being from a film family, and the great Raj Kapoor’s son. There are warm accounts of the family and their relations making for very good reading.
After a role as a teenager in Mera Naam Joker, which did not do too well, Rishi was launched as a lover boy hero in Bobby. Bobby was a major hit – thanks to impressive performances by both Rishi and Dimple. Rishi then recounts the ups and downs, including a period shortly after his marriage when his films were not doing well, and he goes into depression suffering a crisis of confidence.
He makes his mark in love stories over time, and now in the second phase of his acting career has a wider variety of roles to choose from (such as in Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons and others). There is a bold revelation that he paid money to influence an award for Bobby, which quite possibly also played a role in his early frosty relation with Amitabh Bachchan.
While there is a lot of interesting material, the book is not that well organized – shuffling from this to that with a context. There are a lot of references to drinking – almost as if that is the primary bonding factor among family and friends! Neetu Singh’s afterword is actually pretty well written.
My rating: 3.25 / 5
February 6, 2017
I bought this book for my dad, and unwittingly ended up reading it because it's a page-turner. Rishi Kapoor is a jaunty man. He is a rare combination of pride and camaraderie. He presents his experiences with a matter-of-factness that brooks no false values that one might associate with his more discreet contemporary peers.
Until I read this book, the only early Rishi Kapoor movies I had watched were Kabhi Kabhie and Doosra Aadmi. I remember being in the vicinity of the TV playing his other movies such as Bobby, Henna, Saagar, Chandni, and Amar Akbar Anthony when I was a kid. Some scenes from Damini were shot in my school, but I wasn't allowed to watch the movie. So it seems, I remember his charming personality in these movies, but I don't remember the stories. From what I understand, the stories were peripheral or templated anyway. I can however sing many of the songs picturized on him.
I am more familiar with the movies he did in the second innings of his career, such as Kapoor and Sons, Luck By Chance, and Shuddh Desi Romance. And it's apparent that he has a natural flair and is versatile. I like that he makes all his characters, including the quirky ones, personable. After reading this book, I also watched Karz, because he seemed to talk a lot about it. It was...interesting! I loved that the movie was about Rishi Kapoor pretending to be in love with an elderly woman who was pretending to be young, to exact revenge from her for what she did to him in his previous birth. That's just whack (in a good way)! I might pick up Rafoo Chakkar as well, because that's another movie he talks a lot about.
So, not being an authority on his work, I find, he's enjoyable to watch. But, more than that, I've come to appreciate the person he comes across as in this book, which is a straight arrow! His family thinks he's a bit of a grouch, albeit an endearing grouch, and I can see why.
I also learnt a lot about his uncle Shashi Kapoor and his work in theatre (with Shakespeareana and Prithvi Theatre), and offbeat cinema, that I found intriguing. I knew he was a popular mainstream actor, but this other aspect of his career was something I only learnt from this book. I had heard about Shakespeareana before (Perhaps from Naseeruddin Shah's biography, which too is worth reading, by the way). I could easily have read another 300 pages about his family's accomplishments.
Until I read this book, the only early Rishi Kapoor movies I had watched were Kabhi Kabhie and Doosra Aadmi. I remember being in the vicinity of the TV playing his other movies such as Bobby, Henna, Saagar, Chandni, and Amar Akbar Anthony when I was a kid. Some scenes from Damini were shot in my school, but I wasn't allowed to watch the movie. So it seems, I remember his charming personality in these movies, but I don't remember the stories. From what I understand, the stories were peripheral or templated anyway. I can however sing many of the songs picturized on him.
I am more familiar with the movies he did in the second innings of his career, such as Kapoor and Sons, Luck By Chance, and Shuddh Desi Romance. And it's apparent that he has a natural flair and is versatile. I like that he makes all his characters, including the quirky ones, personable. After reading this book, I also watched Karz, because he seemed to talk a lot about it. It was...interesting! I loved that the movie was about Rishi Kapoor pretending to be in love with an elderly woman who was pretending to be young, to exact revenge from her for what she did to him in his previous birth. That's just whack (in a good way)! I might pick up Rafoo Chakkar as well, because that's another movie he talks a lot about.
So, not being an authority on his work, I find, he's enjoyable to watch. But, more than that, I've come to appreciate the person he comes across as in this book, which is a straight arrow! His family thinks he's a bit of a grouch, albeit an endearing grouch, and I can see why.
I also learnt a lot about his uncle Shashi Kapoor and his work in theatre (with Shakespeareana and Prithvi Theatre), and offbeat cinema, that I found intriguing. I knew he was a popular mainstream actor, but this other aspect of his career was something I only learnt from this book. I had heard about Shakespeareana before (Perhaps from Naseeruddin Shah's biography, which too is worth reading, by the way). I could easily have read another 300 pages about his family's accomplishments.
February 4, 2017
One of the best autobiographies to come from bollywood actors , the chapter on raj kapoor is very interesting and salute to rishi kapoor for having the guts to write that .
i finished the book in one sitting it was very engaging , even though his life is not having much turn and twists but he compensates it with his honest revelations
i finished the book in one sitting it was very engaging , even though his life is not having much turn and twists but he compensates it with his honest revelations
May 13, 2017
From buying awards, to being a spoilt brat, his uneasy relationships with co-actors, Rishi Kapoor has penned a frank account of his life. Was bored a little in the middle when Rishi Kapoor was reminiscing his films, but in the end this turned out to be a good light read.
This book was recommended by my favourite columnist Jay Vasavada as one of 12 recommended reads for summer. I am not a fan but some of his tweets got me interested and I loved his TV interview by journalist Shekhar Gupta. While it was not a bad experience reading this, I think I will avoid picking auto-biographies of ppl I do not love/respect.
Rishiji repeatedly defends his type of cinema, I think 1980s was Bollywood's worst decade in terms of quality of films and he was at the helm. Secondly, being a dynast he got his breaks very easily. To his credit, he never refrains from admitting that he was lucky.
In a nutshell, if u r a fan, its a must-read ; If not, maybe not.
PS:- His wife Neetu Singh's dedication to him at the end is one to die for !
This book was recommended by my favourite columnist Jay Vasavada as one of 12 recommended reads for summer. I am not a fan but some of his tweets got me interested and I loved his TV interview by journalist Shekhar Gupta. While it was not a bad experience reading this, I think I will avoid picking auto-biographies of ppl I do not love/respect.
Rishiji repeatedly defends his type of cinema, I think 1980s was Bollywood's worst decade in terms of quality of films and he was at the helm. Secondly, being a dynast he got his breaks very easily. To his credit, he never refrains from admitting that he was lucky.
In a nutshell, if u r a fan, its a must-read ; If not, maybe not.
PS:- His wife Neetu Singh's dedication to him at the end is one to die for !
February 5, 2017
As an actor in the 70s and 80s, Rishi Kapoor was always reliable, competent and at times charismatic though with a friendly, boy next door presence. He was incapable of putting in a bad performance and some of his performances (even in otherwise over the top movies) seem natural, understated and hold up even now. (unlike other 70s and 80s stars). With age and better roles, he has expanded in range (and tbh, his waistline. I was shocked to know that he was only in his 40s in his movies in the 90s. He looked much more older) with characters ranging from the cuddly, middle class father in Do Dhooni Char to the sophisticated dad in Hum Tum to the friendly love guru, father figure in Shudh desi romance/love aaj Kal to the loveable grandad with an overactive libido in Kapoor and sons to the scenery chewing villains in Agneepath/D day. At times he has been even better than that other active star from the 70s, Amitabh Bachchan. Which is why this biography is a bit disappointing. Sorely in need of a good editor to cut the repetitive bits, it has some interesting stories but almost all the good bits have been published in excerpts. And even those have little impact beyond the story. Even the stories are quite bland ones it goes beyond his illustrious father and grandfather and I'm sure they could have snuck in a few more interesting incidents if they had cut a few of the "so and so is also in my family now" sections. And why do these damn books never have any good photographs? The Kindle version of this had nothing. A few well selected, hard to find photographs would still have made this a worthy buy. What this does have going for it is a frankness, something which very few others would likely indulge in, especially in the India of today. And there is always the nice "these stars are just like us" feeling that some of these stories give especially because Rishi Kapoor does seem to be pretty middle class in his outlook towards everything including spending money. I would've liked it if he had devoted more space to his father's movies because he was a real auteur, a rarity in mainstream cinema or even more to some of his own movies (especially the later ones) outside of the various stories. Should you get this book? If you haven't read the excerpts in various magazines and newspapers and you like stories of stars from the 70s, I'd say it's still a fairly fun, racy read.
May 4, 2020
Well, uncensored was the promise and it's been delivered, I, of course, had the book for about a year but the death of Rishi Kapoor led me to read his autobiography on a priority and it didn't disappoint. I love autobiographies and biographies and if they are written well then it's super easy barely an inconvenience to flow through them and the same was the case here too so I must give credit where the credit is due, Meena Iyer did a wonderful job.
And RK told his life story in mostly full details and didn't mince his words and it's clear that he himself wasn't such a good person but then again if you come to know about them through their own words do you dislike the book or applaud their courage for daring to tell all. It was a nice one and like all the biographies it also had multiple pictures from the RK family and it must be said that it's one illustrious family.
Well then what else might be the proof of that it's a page-turner that I read it in two days in more or less continuous sittings. I liked the book and kept of reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
And RK told his life story in mostly full details and didn't mince his words and it's clear that he himself wasn't such a good person but then again if you come to know about them through their own words do you dislike the book or applaud their courage for daring to tell all. It was a nice one and like all the biographies it also had multiple pictures from the RK family and it must be said that it's one illustrious family.
Well then what else might be the proof of that it's a page-turner that I read it in two days in more or less continuous sittings. I liked the book and kept of reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
March 20, 2017
Good but not great.
Very easy and quick read.
There are a few good anecdotes but nothing sensational.
A one-time read
Very easy and quick read.
There are a few good anecdotes but nothing sensational.
A one-time read
February 7, 2017
Disappointing at so many levels, Rishi Kapoor's autobiography is an insipid account of some random events which are mostly inconsequential. Disappointing, more so because it comes from a man who is known to speak his mind, rules social media and is a patriarch of the first family of Hindi film industry who has reinvented himself as an actor with his performances and choices of roles in the second innings of his career.
The thoughts and his personal accounts are incoherent and the narrative lacks any flavour. Admittedly, he doesn't have a story to tell, but he never lets you invest in his character either because he doesn't settle for a consistent theme. He abandons his thoughts mid way and is mostly unrevealing. Between what is said, most remains unsaid. You rarely get a glimpse of his psyche, apprehensions, fears and vulnerabilities though he remains a difficult man. It remains just a filmography with a few comments on his peers and some random events which don't add to his story or character without offering any more insights than a wikipedia page.
This is Rishi Kapoor without his charming eccentricity and is certainly not amusing.
The thoughts and his personal accounts are incoherent and the narrative lacks any flavour. Admittedly, he doesn't have a story to tell, but he never lets you invest in his character either because he doesn't settle for a consistent theme. He abandons his thoughts mid way and is mostly unrevealing. Between what is said, most remains unsaid. You rarely get a glimpse of his psyche, apprehensions, fears and vulnerabilities though he remains a difficult man. It remains just a filmography with a few comments on his peers and some random events which don't add to his story or character without offering any more insights than a wikipedia page.
This is Rishi Kapoor without his charming eccentricity and is certainly not amusing.
June 7, 2020
This book was with me for almost 2 years, and finally after the actors passing, did I manage to read it. If you love watching movies and remember the old eras, you will love reading this book. He tells you about the Kapoor family and how it all began. I remember watching some of the pictures while growing up, the famous being Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb etc and it was nice to read about them. He has described his family, his few friends and numerous colleagues in the film industry.
I did like his performance in Agneepath, absolutely never imagined him in that villan role, but he pulled it out well. His second innings were quite good and would have loved to see him in a couple more but alas he is no more.I loved reading the afterword by his wife, nice to know her point of view . it was a good chapter on him being a husband, and a father to their kids.
This will be one of those books which we wont be giving away anytime soon
July 3, 2024
Detailed Review - https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/khullam...
May 30, 2017
Originally published on
Hina Loves To Read
Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor are my all time favourite Kapoors. Shashi at number 1 and Rishi following close behind. Therefore I was excited at reading Shashi’s biography and now was ecstatic to Rishi’s autobiography.
In this one let me just talk about Rishi Kapoor.
Since I was a kid I have watched Rishi Kapoor’s movie and I loved him best with Neetu Singh. Even before I knew they were married in real life. I was so happy as if I had met my dream man myself.
One fine day as I was going through my twitter timeline, I saw him mentioning his book (yes, I follow him on twitter).
I was excited to read the biography of the man I had liked for so long. The began the long wait.
Finally, I got my hands on the book and started reading it… and it was disappointment personified.
To begin with, Ranbir Kapoor says that Rishi Kapoor is a very reserved father and not much open to his children and I am like, what? Who am I reading about? Have I just made a personality for him based on all his movie characters?
Moving on, for the most part Rishi Kapoor goes on and on about his father. And that is something I do not want to read. I don’t mind him mentioning his father because his father is part of his life but I do not want to read about Raj Kapoor. If that would have been the case, why would I pick up a book on Rishi Kapoor?
From all the movies, I figure him to be quick witted but humble man. A very personable man. But the tone of the book verges on arrogant. So much so that no one else matters or is good enough in the entire Bollywood in the past, present or future!
And then there is so much repetition. I guess I have learnt the names of his movies by heart now. I can always look that up on Google! I don’t want to know who produced which of his movies and who sang what songs! That is all publicly available!
I want to know what makes Rishi Kapoor the man he is. But that was nowhere to be found.
Gave up after a hundred pages. Thoroughly disappointed.
Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor are my all time favourite Kapoors. Shashi at number 1 and Rishi following close behind. Therefore I was excited at reading Shashi’s biography and now was ecstatic to Rishi’s autobiography.
In this one let me just talk about Rishi Kapoor.
Since I was a kid I have watched Rishi Kapoor’s movie and I loved him best with Neetu Singh. Even before I knew they were married in real life. I was so happy as if I had met my dream man myself.
One fine day as I was going through my twitter timeline, I saw him mentioning his book (yes, I follow him on twitter).
I was excited to read the biography of the man I had liked for so long. The began the long wait.
Finally, I got my hands on the book and started reading it… and it was disappointment personified.
To begin with, Ranbir Kapoor says that Rishi Kapoor is a very reserved father and not much open to his children and I am like, what? Who am I reading about? Have I just made a personality for him based on all his movie characters?
Moving on, for the most part Rishi Kapoor goes on and on about his father. And that is something I do not want to read. I don’t mind him mentioning his father because his father is part of his life but I do not want to read about Raj Kapoor. If that would have been the case, why would I pick up a book on Rishi Kapoor?
From all the movies, I figure him to be quick witted but humble man. A very personable man. But the tone of the book verges on arrogant. So much so that no one else matters or is good enough in the entire Bollywood in the past, present or future!
And then there is so much repetition. I guess I have learnt the names of his movies by heart now. I can always look that up on Google! I don’t want to know who produced which of his movies and who sang what songs! That is all publicly available!
I want to know what makes Rishi Kapoor the man he is. But that was nowhere to be found.
Gave up after a hundred pages. Thoroughly disappointed.
July 18, 2017
a very good book to read I totally enjoyed this book I have now realized that how big stars of hindi cinema are so insecure by reading this book I knew a lot about 70' and 80' hindi cinema there are lot of funny stuff in this book I enjoyed my time while reading this book
May 12, 2020
Honestly, a bit of a let-down.
March 2, 2017
This is a difficult one to rate. While the quality of the writing is mediocre at best, the things Rishi Kapoor writes about are the stuff of our childhood and growing years. He writes of the actors, the music and musicians, incidents I'd read about but had no way of verifying. It's like being a fly on the wall during such an interesting period. Of course, all of it is his interpretation of incidents, but I love it.
February 5, 2017
This was a book I wanted to love, given Rishi Kapoor's career as a lovable film star and his social media persona as a humorously outspoken uncle.
Strangely, the book doesn't disappoint on either of these counts but is not a great read overall. There is a lot of rambling on various things and disjointed incidents pop up here and there, hampering the flow.
Rishi Kapoor is unabashedly outspoken but comes across rather fixedly old-fashioned in his views about cinema, family and life though his candour in recounting his poor decisions and actions is quite refreshing. The best parts of the book are about the legendary Raj Kapoor, his studio, his films, his family and how they come together. Surprisingly, the book falters when Rishi Kapoor is describing the present day film industry, the period which gave him some of his best acting roles.
In summary, a fast paced read but falls well short of the expectations from Chintu-ji.
Strangely, the book doesn't disappoint on either of these counts but is not a great read overall. There is a lot of rambling on various things and disjointed incidents pop up here and there, hampering the flow.
Rishi Kapoor is unabashedly outspoken but comes across rather fixedly old-fashioned in his views about cinema, family and life though his candour in recounting his poor decisions and actions is quite refreshing. The best parts of the book are about the legendary Raj Kapoor, his studio, his films, his family and how they come together. Surprisingly, the book falters when Rishi Kapoor is describing the present day film industry, the period which gave him some of his best acting roles.
In summary, a fast paced read but falls well short of the expectations from Chintu-ji.
March 6, 2017
Incoherent. Rambling. Those are the first two words that come to mind when you read the book. The so-called autobiography reads more like a resume and a whole bunch of needless name-dropping.
"The book won't be complete if I don't mention this person"
"I also worked with this person" and so on...
If you are looking for a view of how Bollywood worked before it came 'Bollywood' or even a peek into the journey of a man who was well-established as a romantic hero in the movies, this is not the book for you. Much of it is like a Wikipedia page, mentioning the movies and the numerous people he acted with and how he had a great relationship with them. That they went out and had a drink. Or had a fight.
The latter half of the book gets a little bit of heart, with mentions of his son and other journeys but overall, the book gives a picture of an insecure man who felt shortchanged in the industry.
"The book won't be complete if I don't mention this person"
"I also worked with this person" and so on...
If you are looking for a view of how Bollywood worked before it came 'Bollywood' or even a peek into the journey of a man who was well-established as a romantic hero in the movies, this is not the book for you. Much of it is like a Wikipedia page, mentioning the movies and the numerous people he acted with and how he had a great relationship with them. That they went out and had a drink. Or had a fight.
The latter half of the book gets a little bit of heart, with mentions of his son and other journeys but overall, the book gives a picture of an insecure man who felt shortchanged in the industry.
May 14, 2018
The biggest blunder I did was to buy this book. A complete crap. Felt as if Mr. Rishi Kapoor has narrated/written the book in a completely inebriated state.
After every second line, i felt as if Mr. Kapoor thinks that is the only greatest artist in this industry and everyone else is just average. I could just read 40% of the book and that too with very great of difficulty. I was, again and again, trying to convince myself that the book will improve in a while, but it never did. Mr. Kapoor was randomly jumping from one event to another.
Will strongly recommend everyone not to waste your time with this book.
After every second line, i felt as if Mr. Kapoor thinks that is the only greatest artist in this industry and everyone else is just average. I could just read 40% of the book and that too with very great of difficulty. I was, again and again, trying to convince myself that the book will improve in a while, but it never did. Mr. Kapoor was randomly jumping from one event to another.
Will strongly recommend everyone not to waste your time with this book.
September 22, 2020
The book itself is fragmented & sometimes tends to lose direction & flow. But if you are a Bollywood fan, it is an extremely entertaining read.
Rishi Kapoor was one of Bollywood's most loved actors. He led a colourful and intriguing life, documented wonderfully in this memoir.
The book is indeed Khullam Khulla or unfiltered, just like the actor himself. He didn't spare a single detail and told the story of his life, just like it was.
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Rishi Kapoor was one of Bollywood's most loved actors. He led a colourful and intriguing life, documented wonderfully in this memoir.
The book is indeed Khullam Khulla or unfiltered, just like the actor himself. He didn't spare a single detail and told the story of his life, just like it was.
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March 11, 2017
Much more honest than Karan Johar's unsuitable boy that I finished recently. Rishi Kapoor has stood his ground during the cinema trend of 'angry young man' and managed to deliver super hits. The foreword by Ranbir and the Afterword by Neetu are themselves worth buying the book for.
February 6, 2017
A superficial book by a superficial person.
May 10, 2020
With son Ranbir Kapoor's foreword, and wife Neetu Kapoor's afterword, the book is essentially how Rishi Kapoor & family(sans daughter Riddhima Kapoor, who is not a popular/public figure) came together to talk about one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinematic history - Rishi Kapoor. Mr. Kapoor also happened to have recently passed away due to an incurable ailment he had from some time.
In a country which has as many film stars as religious deities(some of the former are worshipped as some of the latter), very few stick out. Rishi Kapoor, born into the legacy of two Indian Cinema stalwarts, won a national award as a child actor in his father's ambitious production Mera Naam Joker(one of my favourites), and then landed a massive debut hit in Bobby, which swarmed and charmed the whole nation at that time.
He managed to hold his own in the era of giant action stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Feroze Khan and Shatrughan Sinha. He got married and let a pretty non-controversial life, in an industry that to some extent feeds and thrives on them. Later, he gave some memorable performances in his second innings as a character actor. He is also quite popular on social media for his no nonsense approach and witty retorts.
The book is quite okay. The writing style pretty much mimics the way he speaks, as I listened to him in some of his interviews. There are repetitions and in some places, paragraphs are poorly structured. He is self-critical and doesn't shy away from accepting the mistakes he committed, professionally and personally. However, I sensed a subtle attempt to justify himself as well, but that's expected from any reasonable being and is totally alright. I observed that often, he ended up contradicting himself.
We also got to know a lot about how 'Bollywood' works as an industry - the work ethics, filmmaking methodologies and approaches, interpersonal relationships, competition and rivalry. I was especially amused to realize(again) that behind the veneer of stardom and an apparent invincibility, even the biggest stars are essentially human - insecure, fragile and fallible.
For me, the real treat came at the end. The afterword by Neetu Kapoor was quite different in tonality and subtext, from that of Rishi Kapoor's main text. A lot of the image that I had formed of the individual and the family, stood subverted as I read through Mrs. Kapoor's words. I am not going to reveal what she wrote, nor my assessment of what it could mean. But let me suffice it by saying that I won't hesitate to get myself a copy is she comes out with a book of her own.
In a country which has as many film stars as religious deities(some of the former are worshipped as some of the latter), very few stick out. Rishi Kapoor, born into the legacy of two Indian Cinema stalwarts, won a national award as a child actor in his father's ambitious production Mera Naam Joker(one of my favourites), and then landed a massive debut hit in Bobby, which swarmed and charmed the whole nation at that time.
He managed to hold his own in the era of giant action stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Feroze Khan and Shatrughan Sinha. He got married and let a pretty non-controversial life, in an industry that to some extent feeds and thrives on them. Later, he gave some memorable performances in his second innings as a character actor. He is also quite popular on social media for his no nonsense approach and witty retorts.
The book is quite okay. The writing style pretty much mimics the way he speaks, as I listened to him in some of his interviews. There are repetitions and in some places, paragraphs are poorly structured. He is self-critical and doesn't shy away from accepting the mistakes he committed, professionally and personally. However, I sensed a subtle attempt to justify himself as well, but that's expected from any reasonable being and is totally alright. I observed that often, he ended up contradicting himself.
We also got to know a lot about how 'Bollywood' works as an industry - the work ethics, filmmaking methodologies and approaches, interpersonal relationships, competition and rivalry. I was especially amused to realize(again) that behind the veneer of stardom and an apparent invincibility, even the biggest stars are essentially human - insecure, fragile and fallible.
For me, the real treat came at the end. The afterword by Neetu Kapoor was quite different in tonality and subtext, from that of Rishi Kapoor's main text. A lot of the image that I had formed of the individual and the family, stood subverted as I read through Mrs. Kapoor's words. I am not going to reveal what she wrote, nor my assessment of what it could mean. But let me suffice it by saying that I won't hesitate to get myself a copy is she comes out with a book of her own.
October 10, 2025
This is more of a ramble than a proper book, like a series of podcasts made on muggy afternoons.
In the book's favor is Rishi Kapoor's candor, although it is tinged throughout with an undertone of bitterness.
Is it because he felt (as he states in the book) he was just a hyphen, between his showman dad and superstar son? If so, it is sad.
But that seems to be how he rated himself. As it doesn't seem likely that he was acting modest, he was surely misguided. He was a hyphen, yes, but between two acting traditions: the theatrical flourishes of his father and the methodical madness of his son. His acting was neither self conscious nor disorderly. His acting had an intelligence, and his presence had a charm that is often underrated.
Perhaps his bitterness has more to do with not being taken seriously, or respected enough -- as is evident from his interactions with Akhtar, Roshan, Jeetendra; and the throwaway comments of his uncles as recorded in the book.
Whatever may be the reason, the book suffers due to this. There is a constant desire to justify, to explain, to apologize.
If only it was as well organized as the afterword written by his wife! If only he was at more peace with himself!
In the book's favor is Rishi Kapoor's candor, although it is tinged throughout with an undertone of bitterness.
Is it because he felt (as he states in the book) he was just a hyphen, between his showman dad and superstar son? If so, it is sad.
But that seems to be how he rated himself. As it doesn't seem likely that he was acting modest, he was surely misguided. He was a hyphen, yes, but between two acting traditions: the theatrical flourishes of his father and the methodical madness of his son. His acting was neither self conscious nor disorderly. His acting had an intelligence, and his presence had a charm that is often underrated.
Perhaps his bitterness has more to do with not being taken seriously, or respected enough -- as is evident from his interactions with Akhtar, Roshan, Jeetendra; and the throwaway comments of his uncles as recorded in the book.
Whatever may be the reason, the book suffers due to this. There is a constant desire to justify, to explain, to apologize.
If only it was as well organized as the afterword written by his wife! If only he was at more peace with himself!
June 24, 2022
As the immortal song of the Papa’s film goes - ‘Jaane kaha gaye wo din’
What an honest rendition of feelings and thoughts! Who agrees to have paid for getting an award! Who so cleanly talks about the tiffs you have with friend! Who is so honest about his feelings for his kids! Reading this autobiography, I fell in love with the person Rishi Kapoor was! I had huge crush on Monty, I loved movie Karz and I didn’t even knew it was a flop. For me it was a phenomenal movie! There are lot of things you discover about Kapoor family and little about movie industry too.
What touched me was how simple Rishi Kapoor was as a person, unable to come in terms with how Bollywood industry has changed and how he loved the old times!
Extra star for the afterward by Neetu Kapoor. How authentic reading that felt!
What an honest rendition of feelings and thoughts! Who agrees to have paid for getting an award! Who so cleanly talks about the tiffs you have with friend! Who is so honest about his feelings for his kids! Reading this autobiography, I fell in love with the person Rishi Kapoor was! I had huge crush on Monty, I loved movie Karz and I didn’t even knew it was a flop. For me it was a phenomenal movie! There are lot of things you discover about Kapoor family and little about movie industry too.
What touched me was how simple Rishi Kapoor was as a person, unable to come in terms with how Bollywood industry has changed and how he loved the old times!
Extra star for the afterward by Neetu Kapoor. How authentic reading that felt!
June 18, 2017
I'm a quite generous while giving ratings to books and this memoir of yesteryears' heartthrob Rishi Kapoor gets 2 stars. The good thing about this book (also the bad thing) is that it does not strain the brain; one can read it with the brain almost asleep... There are a few candid things written here, as can be expected from the title. But almost none of these things provide any insight into anything except for his dislike of many people and things; perhaps there is nothing there that's worth any insight. I just wonder how it would have been had he written this book himself instead of getting it done by a veteran journalist...
October 12, 2017
aah, the man himself... in his own words has agreed to being Arrogant. Arrogance personified is what I too found him in his writings. I have loved this actor since childhood and more so his pairing with Neetu Singh, always so so cute. But, this actor born with silver spoon and whoa, what a luck indeed has taken digs at his best friends for not doing the way he would have wanted them to do.
I did not expect more than this.. in any case. Kapoor Dynasty was writ large in every chapter of his book(read life as well).
A fun filled book to read in case you lay your hands on. You wouldn't loose much if you are not a filmi buff like I am though, if you do not read it.
A book by Neetu Singh would sure be a treat to the soul..me thinks.
I did not expect more than this.. in any case. Kapoor Dynasty was writ large in every chapter of his book(read life as well).
A fun filled book to read in case you lay your hands on. You wouldn't loose much if you are not a filmi buff like I am though, if you do not read it.
A book by Neetu Singh would sure be a treat to the soul..me thinks.
April 25, 2017
For people, the cinema actors are larger than life. They are demigods who adorn the wall of every cinema lover. The craze of fans for stars is hysterical. Legendary star Raj Kapoor was one star who took nation by storm with movies like Awaara, Boot Polish, Mera Naam Joker, Aag etc. The legacy started by Prithviraj Kapoor was continued by his next generation kids – Raj, Shammi and Shashi. Among the crowd of these star studded family, a small kid made his work noticed in Mera Naam Joker. Though Mera Naam Joker flopped, the kid aspired to make it big on silver screen one day.
In the 70’s a chocolate boy debuted on the silver screen with his romantic venture – Bobby. Rest was history. He was Rishi Kapoor, son of the legendary Raj Kapoor. Bobby’s success made him an overnight romantic hero and heartthrob of generation. His debut in movie was a fairy tale story, but his struggle-some journey to maintain his success in Bollywood was not a bed of roses. Every Friday, a new movie releases and a new star is born. Rishi Kapoor’s debut movie – Bobby made him a talk of town. But his second movie ‘Zehreela Insaan’ was a disaster.
Here his real journey began to sustain his image in the unpredictable Bollywood. In his official biography ‘Khullam Khula’ Rishi Kapoor recounts his early years, his rise to stardom, break up, cold vibes with Amitabh & Rajesh Khanna and his second innings as character actor in Agneepath, Kapoor and Sons, Student of the year etc.
What intrigued me to read was the prologue written by his son Ranbir Kapoor, the current heartthrob of today’s generation. In the prologue, Ranbir reveals his strained relationship with his father but still respects him as one of the great actors of the Indian cinema.
The prologue conveys a lot about Rishi Kapoor as a human, caring husband and a doting father. What makes this biography worth reading is its friendly tone that breaks the ice between the star and the reader. Here Rishi Kapoor is more of a human and less of a star who recounts his childhood days, his first movie as a toddler in Shree 420 and second movie as a teenager in Mera Naam Joker. Through this biography, we learn a lot about the legendary Raj Kapoor and his passion for cinema through the eyes of Rishi Kapoor. It is a treat to know about Raj Kapoor’s fondness for movie making and his fascination for leading ladies of his movies. Post the success of Bobby and his fairy tale wedding with actress Neetu Singh, Rishi’s career witnessed a dark phase when his ambitious movie – Karz didn’t fare up to his expectations. He literally went into depression and was unable to face camera. It took him a plenty of time to come out of his dark phase and re-emerge as an actor. This biography is not just about Rishi Kapoor, it is also the story of his family, his co-stars, music directors, choreographers and the big movie banners that supported him through his journey. Apart from talking about his successful journey in Bollywood, he also spills the untold stories about his breakup with his girlfriend Yasmin Mehta, his cold arguments with his close buddies - Jeetendra and Rakesh Roshan. He even admits about the rejecting the negative role in Darr which eventually went to Shahrukh Khan.
What left me tear eyed was the story of R.D.Burman whose music was getting unnoticed due to the entry of new generation music directors in 90’s. He once requested Rishi Kapoor to get him some work. Though R.D.Burman was financially stable, it was the idleness that was bothering him. Sadly R.D.Burman couldn’t make a second innings and died a quiet death in 90’s. What a sad phase for this legendary R.D.Burman. Rishi Kapoor was miserably written off every time a generation of actors arrived in movies. Despite the stiff competition, Rishi Kapoor survived in the race. The epilogue is written by his wife Neetu Kapoor about her journey with her husband. It is very heart touching to read that epilogue. To the world, he is a star, but for the family, he is a difficult man to handle who lives by his own terms. We knew Rishi Kapoor as a star, but now we know him personally as a human who is eccentric, outspoken and a reserved gentleman.
His second coming in Do Dooni Chaar, Agneepath, Student of the year, D-Day, Kapoor and Sons fetched him lots of praises. Among all the movies, Karz and Yeh Vaada Raha are my favorites which were based on English Novels. Karz was based on Reincarnation of Peter Proud while Yeh Vaada Raha was based on Danielle Steels’ novel – The Promise.
The biography ‘Khullam Khula’ is an honest effort by Rishi Kapoor to write down about his journey as an actor. It is really worth the read to know about the 70’s star whose legacy is been continued by his son Ranbir Kapoor.
In the 70’s a chocolate boy debuted on the silver screen with his romantic venture – Bobby. Rest was history. He was Rishi Kapoor, son of the legendary Raj Kapoor. Bobby’s success made him an overnight romantic hero and heartthrob of generation. His debut in movie was a fairy tale story, but his struggle-some journey to maintain his success in Bollywood was not a bed of roses. Every Friday, a new movie releases and a new star is born. Rishi Kapoor’s debut movie – Bobby made him a talk of town. But his second movie ‘Zehreela Insaan’ was a disaster.
Here his real journey began to sustain his image in the unpredictable Bollywood. In his official biography ‘Khullam Khula’ Rishi Kapoor recounts his early years, his rise to stardom, break up, cold vibes with Amitabh & Rajesh Khanna and his second innings as character actor in Agneepath, Kapoor and Sons, Student of the year etc.
What intrigued me to read was the prologue written by his son Ranbir Kapoor, the current heartthrob of today’s generation. In the prologue, Ranbir reveals his strained relationship with his father but still respects him as one of the great actors of the Indian cinema.
The prologue conveys a lot about Rishi Kapoor as a human, caring husband and a doting father. What makes this biography worth reading is its friendly tone that breaks the ice between the star and the reader. Here Rishi Kapoor is more of a human and less of a star who recounts his childhood days, his first movie as a toddler in Shree 420 and second movie as a teenager in Mera Naam Joker. Through this biography, we learn a lot about the legendary Raj Kapoor and his passion for cinema through the eyes of Rishi Kapoor. It is a treat to know about Raj Kapoor’s fondness for movie making and his fascination for leading ladies of his movies. Post the success of Bobby and his fairy tale wedding with actress Neetu Singh, Rishi’s career witnessed a dark phase when his ambitious movie – Karz didn’t fare up to his expectations. He literally went into depression and was unable to face camera. It took him a plenty of time to come out of his dark phase and re-emerge as an actor. This biography is not just about Rishi Kapoor, it is also the story of his family, his co-stars, music directors, choreographers and the big movie banners that supported him through his journey. Apart from talking about his successful journey in Bollywood, he also spills the untold stories about his breakup with his girlfriend Yasmin Mehta, his cold arguments with his close buddies - Jeetendra and Rakesh Roshan. He even admits about the rejecting the negative role in Darr which eventually went to Shahrukh Khan.
What left me tear eyed was the story of R.D.Burman whose music was getting unnoticed due to the entry of new generation music directors in 90’s. He once requested Rishi Kapoor to get him some work. Though R.D.Burman was financially stable, it was the idleness that was bothering him. Sadly R.D.Burman couldn’t make a second innings and died a quiet death in 90’s. What a sad phase for this legendary R.D.Burman. Rishi Kapoor was miserably written off every time a generation of actors arrived in movies. Despite the stiff competition, Rishi Kapoor survived in the race. The epilogue is written by his wife Neetu Kapoor about her journey with her husband. It is very heart touching to read that epilogue. To the world, he is a star, but for the family, he is a difficult man to handle who lives by his own terms. We knew Rishi Kapoor as a star, but now we know him personally as a human who is eccentric, outspoken and a reserved gentleman.
His second coming in Do Dooni Chaar, Agneepath, Student of the year, D-Day, Kapoor and Sons fetched him lots of praises. Among all the movies, Karz and Yeh Vaada Raha are my favorites which were based on English Novels. Karz was based on Reincarnation of Peter Proud while Yeh Vaada Raha was based on Danielle Steels’ novel – The Promise.
The biography ‘Khullam Khula’ is an honest effort by Rishi Kapoor to write down about his journey as an actor. It is really worth the read to know about the 70’s star whose legacy is been continued by his son Ranbir Kapoor.
July 12, 2017
Good read especially for those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 80s, when Rishi Kapoor was a bonafide film star. Very candid, full of anecdotes and insights into the lives and personalities of the Kapoor clan.
June 11, 2017
Not that I expected much from this book from a literary angle, the book is still nothing more than a very long CV of Rishi Kapoor. The detailed accounts (with dates and names) of films and people from film industry he has worked with, which is almost everyone in that era, become quite a drag after a point.
Glimpses into his relationship with his father as well as son are the only consolation in the book.
Glimpses into his relationship with his father as well as son are the only consolation in the book.
May 27, 2017
I decided to read this on a flight. I have to say it has a tilt toward the negative. Am sure Rishi Kapoor Saab had an adventurous life and he could've shared a lot of why Rishi Kapoor is a whole and hearty person. Instead the book focussed on the controversial; the fall-outs, the fights, and some random work facts. I wanted to know more about Rishi Sir as a person but the book was more about Rishi Sir as an actor. And since I am not from that generation I found myself a little lost, couldn't relate much. Maybe someone who's grown up watching Rishi Kapoor would enjoy reading this more than I did.
September 24, 2017
Not sure if this was intended but while the autobiography makes for an interesting read, the protagonist comes across as conservative, patriarchal, petty, insecure, and as someone you won't want to be around. His wife's Afterword at the end of the book was almost like a passage from a horror noel outlining the terror of being with this man for close to four decades, even though she has said time and again that there's no one else she'd rather be with.
Don't get me wrong, this book is a must read for fans of Bollywood, more so those who are interested in the personalities of Bollywood and there's enough material that is new and unbeknownst to us not from the inside. Rishi Kapoor had the vantage position of being bang in the middle of the first family of India's national obsession. He doesn't shy away from saying things as they are. Very little pretense. But that just helps in peeling off the aura even further.
With all the talk of nepotism in Bollywood through this year, Khullam Khulla makes it clear how Bollywood is nepotism and vice versa. But he does make some valid points about how being the son of Raj Kapoor, grandson on Prithviraj Kapoor, nephew of Shammi and Shashi Kapoor etc had its practical benefits but also added pressure of living up to those names.
One result of this book was I unfollowed Rishi Kapoor on Twitter. I will still watch his new movies, as he's doing a really good job there, but not much interested anymore in the person behind the persona.
Don't get me wrong, this book is a must read for fans of Bollywood, more so those who are interested in the personalities of Bollywood and there's enough material that is new and unbeknownst to us not from the inside. Rishi Kapoor had the vantage position of being bang in the middle of the first family of India's national obsession. He doesn't shy away from saying things as they are. Very little pretense. But that just helps in peeling off the aura even further.
With all the talk of nepotism in Bollywood through this year, Khullam Khulla makes it clear how Bollywood is nepotism and vice versa. But he does make some valid points about how being the son of Raj Kapoor, grandson on Prithviraj Kapoor, nephew of Shammi and Shashi Kapoor etc had its practical benefits but also added pressure of living up to those names.
One result of this book was I unfollowed Rishi Kapoor on Twitter. I will still watch his new movies, as he's doing a really good job there, but not much interested anymore in the person behind the persona.
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