Sharmaji Namkeen: Ranbir Kapoor reveals several SECRETS about dad Rishi Kapoor – driving everyone mad, continuing work during cancer and more

Prior to the release of Sharmaji Namakeen, the last movie of Rishi Kapoor, his son, Ranbir Kapoor, sat down for a hear-to-heart, where he revealed several secrets about his legendary superstar father

By: Russel D'Silva | Published: March 31 2022, 01:27 PM IST

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor opens up on how Rishi Kapoor would drive his family “mad”

Ranbir said that his father Rishi would merely sit at home doing nothing during the 3-4 years before he transitioned from leading man to character actor, which was also when he drove the family “mad”. According to Ranbir, Neetu Kapoor would get frustrated as she had never seen her husband at home for so long and he would drive her mad, after which he turned his attention toward his children – Ranbir and sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni – which also drove them up the wall since his father demands a lot of attention. They were all very happy that they were getting to spend more time with him, but wished it could be balanced out as it was getting way too much after a point.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor discloses that Rishi Kapoor had taken up interior designing

In the same interview, Ranbir Kapoor revealed that also taken up interior designing as a hobby during the aforementioned transition period, where he also started changing different spaces at home, constantly shopping for modifications to be applied in the house.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor lavishes praise on Rishi Kapoor’s second innings

When Rishi Kapoor finally made the switch from lead star to avant-garde supporting actor, he gave us some of his most indelible performances, and Ranbir couldn’t not weigh in on them. Underlining what a tremendous actor Chintuji is besides being a huge star, his son lavished praise on the second innings he had, the kind of characters he picked, and the satisfaction it gave him to sign a good film sans worrying about whether it would do well or not the box office.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor reveals why he didn’t step in to complete Rishi Kapoor’s last film

Elaborating why he abandoned the idea of stepping into his father’s shoes in and as Sharmaji Namkeen, Ranbir Kapoor admitted that it was too daunting a task to play a 65-year old, given his current age. While he understood that being his son, the move would’ve worked well as a public statement, he confessed that the movie couldn’t have hoped for a better substitute than Paresh Rawal and that he’d never have been able to bring the same authenticity.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor reveals that Rishi Kapoor wanted to resume the film immediately after recovering from cancer

Highlighting Rishi Kapoor’s professionalism and commitment even at his age, Ranbir Kapoor said that his father didn’t care if he survived or not as all was wondering was if he’d get work after being discharged from the hospital. Furthermore, also held producer Ritesh Sidhwani in in high esteem as the latter made it appoint to let the star know that the team was waiting for him to get back on set. Ranbir added that resuming Sharmaji Namkeen after recovering from cancer was his dad’s top priority.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Rishi Kapoor was guilty that Ranbir Kapoor was by his side

Ranbir even spoke about the human side of his dad that he got to experience for the first time. As he spent so many months in New York, walking with Rishi from the apartment to the hospital was something they’d regularly do, just father and son. It was during these time that his father would feel guilty and ask him to return to Mumbai and get back to work.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Rishi Kapoor tricked the doctor into believing that he needed two drinks at night

Early on in his cancer treatment in New York, the foremost thing on Rishi Kapoor’s mind, as per Ranbir, was whether he could continue his nightly routine of two drinks. So he went as far as convincing the doctor, with a spurious claim, that he wouldn’t get sleep at night, so instead of two sleeping pills, he could down two drinks. Then, he would tell wife Neetu Singh that the doctor advised him to have three drinks.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor wishes to have some traces of Rishi Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor also shed light on how he hopes to have inherited or follows some traces of his father because he sees him as a great person and not just as a great artiste, highlighting how Rishi Kapoor had the correct value system, perpetually speaking his mind, never being a hypocrite, loving anything he loved to the fullest.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Ranbir Kapoor remains enmoured by Rishi Kapoor’s passion

In another interview with NDTV, Ranbir admitted to wanting to emulate Rishi Kapoor, to be like him as his father was so extremely passionate about a wide array of topics from films, food and whiskey to politics and the country.

bollywoodlife.com photo — Rishi Kapoor’s last movie hits all the right chords

Sharmaji Namkeen has been hailed as a sweet, simple film by the industry, media and audience alike, where you don't mind getting swayed by sentiment because of how it touches your heart. There are issues no doubt, but not once do they trump the fitting swansong this turns out to be for Rishi Kapoor. It truly is the cutest tribute to Rishi Kapoor saab that’s pleasing his diehard fans no end, wholly encompassing his entire range as a legendary superstar plus brilliant actor. And it's a treat watching him and Juhi Chawla rekindle their hit romantic pairing one last time on screen. Paresh Rawal, too, is receiving accolades for stepping in and giving it his all in the scenes that Chintuji couldn’t complete.

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