Indian movie-goers love Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor for different reasons; however, the two actors have much in common. Kapoor came from Bollywood royalty, Khan came from royalty of a kind (born into a Zamindaar family from Rajasthan). Both were terrific actors; who over the decades have left behind a truly memorable body of work. And both were snatched away all too soon. Both died at a time of national lockdown; when neither would receive the kind of final tributes that the nation would want to pay them.
While Rishi Kapoor started out as a child actor, memorably playing his father's son in the iconic song pyaar hua ikraar hua, Irrfan Khan started out on Doordarshan TV. Kapoor went on to play legendary roles as a heart-throb and then some of the most iconic characters in Bollywood. Khan became known for his impactful performances before truly grabbing international attention with his Maqbool.
Irrfan Khan passed away from a colon infection on 29 April 2020 after a neuroendocrine tumour diagnosis in 2018. Less than 24 hours later, his co-star in D-Day, Rishi Kapoor passed away after battling leukaemia.
According to news reports, Irrfan Khan's last words were something to the effect of 'Amma has come to take me'. His mother had passed away in Jaipur just a few days before Khan himself breathed his last in Mumbai.
A young man – a ward boy called Dheeraj, is seen singing Tere Dard Se Dil Abaad Raha from the Rishi Kapoor film Deewana. This went viral as Rishi Kapoor’s last video, however, this video dates back to February when Kapoor was in Delhi for treatment.
Khan was known for his portrayal of complex, layered characters. After the initial era of romantic dramas which he did so effervescently and effortlessly, Kapoor also played some truly nuanced characters quite brilliantly, later in his professional career.
Khan was one of the best known Indian actors in West. He’s roles in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, Mira Nair’s The Namesake, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited, Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man have been of particular note.
Indian as well as foreign filmmakers have paid their tributes.
Some of the songs of Rishi Kapoor and the characters he played in films like Bobby, Karz, Khel Khel Mein, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Saagar, Chandni are unforgettable. Later his menacing role in Agneepath, his lovable characters in Love Aaj Kal and Kapoor & Sons, and his brilliant performance in Mulk are what will keep him alive in our hearts long after now.
Irrfan Khan had played some truly iconic roles in films like Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunchbox, Piku, Hindi Medium. For many, his loss feels personal.
Rishi Kapoor worked with the best during his film career; a Bollywood mainstay over the decades. As such he is mourned by the film world as well as audiences.
Both actors and the roles they played have been inspiring to millions in different ways for various reasons.
The two actors had very different styles but were both were the beloved of audiences. People have paid tribute in their own different ways.
Rishi Kapoor was 67 when he passed away. Irrfan Khan was just 53. Now during the coronavirus lockdown, neither of these gifted actors gets even a fraction of the kind of sendoff they deserve; which their fandoms would wish to give them. For so many of us, it is only the beginning of May and we've already had enough of 2020. Rishi and Irrfan are two of the reasons why we've already had enough.
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