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A trip down the memory lane: 'The King of Romance' Rishi Kapoor and his 50 leading ladies!

Much before Shah Rukh Khan came and swept the ladies off their feet by flaring his arms, it was Rishi Kapoor who took up the mantle of the romantic hero from Rajesh Khanna. Rishi was the cherubic youngster who went on to serenade his leading ladies wearing colourful sweaters and showing prowess with different musical instruments in soulful, melodious songs that are still popular today.

Rishi, who breathed his last today morning, holds a unique distinction of being paired opposite almost all heroines belonging to varied age groups. Starting from senior actresses like Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini, Raakhee and Rekha to Madhuri, Sridevi, Tina Ambani and Raveena Tandon to the young Divya Bharti, he has romanced all of them. In fact, there are several actresses who made their debut opposite the late actor. In fact, he was paired opposite a staggering fifty lead actresses including debutantes Dimple Kapadia, Ranjeeta, Padmini Kolhapure and Shoma Anand.

Here’s a list of his leading ladies with whom he shared screen space in films.

1.Dimple Kapadia

Rishi made his Bollywood debut opposite Dimple Kapadia in Bobby. The film was directed by his director-producer father Raj Kapoor and went on to catapult the two young actors to the zenith of stardom. They also reunited in Saagar, Pyar Mein Twist and Patiala House.

2.Neetu Singh

Rishi starred in many films with Neetu and eventually after a whirlwind romance married her in 1980. They starred in films like Zehreela Inssan, Khel Khel Mein, Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony and others.

3.Simi Garewal

Rishi first shared screen space with Simi Garewal in his father Raj Kapoor’s ambitious film Mera Naam Joker that earned him a National Award for Best Child Actor. He later reunited with her in Karz that saw her play the negative role.

4.Meenakshi Seshadri

Rishi shared screen space with Meenakshi Seshadri in Damini. The film was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and also had Sunny Deol in a pivotal role.

RECOMMENDED READ: Remembering Rishi Kapoor through his iconic and best roles, from ‘Bobby’ to ‘Karz’ and ‘Agneepath’ to 'Kapoor & Sons'

5.Tina Munim

Rishi teamed up with Tina Munim in Karz, Bade Dil Wala, Yeh Vaada Raha and others. Their pairing in films was loved by the audiences.

6.Shoma Anand

Shoma Anand and Rishi Kapoor shared screen space in the film Coolie and Barood.

7.Hema Malini

Rishi and Hema starred together in Ek Chadar Maili Si. It was based on Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Urdu novella of the same name.

8.Moushumi Chatterjee

Rishi and Moushumi came together in Zehreela Insaan that also starred Neetu Kapoor.

9.Reena Roy

Rishi and Reena Roy wee cast opposite Badaltey Rishtey.

10.Kajal Kiran

Kajal Kiran made her debut opposite Rishi in the film Hum Kisise Kum Nahin.

11.Bhavana Bhatt

 

Bhavana Bhatt starred opposite Rishi in the film Naya Daur. The film was directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

12.Jaya Prada

Jaya Prada and Rishi lit the screen on fire with their crackling chemistry in Sargam and several other films as well. The film was Jaya’s first Hindi film.

13.Madhuri Dixit

Rishi and Madhuri Dixit shared screen space in several films like Sahibaan, Prem Granth, Yaarana and others.

14.Zeenat Aman

Rishi paired up opposite Zeenat Aman in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin.

15.Parveen Babi

With Parveen Babi, Rishi worked in the film Rangila Ratan.

16.Shabana Azmi

Rishi was paired romantically opposite Shabana Azmi in Raahi Badal Gaye.

17.Sridevi

Rishi and Sridevi did a lot of films together and most of them were hits and became iconic in their own ways. They were paired opposite each other in Nagina, Chandni and others.

18.Kim Yashpal

Kim Yashpal was paired opposite Rishi in the film Naseeb that also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Reena Roy, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and others.

19.Ranjeeta

Rishi went on to star opposite Ranjeeta in Laila Majnu. The film was based on the popular love story of the ill-fated love struck couple.

20.Poonam Dhillon

Rishi and Poonam Dhillon had a sizzling chemistry in several films. They starred in films like Yeh Vaada Raha, Sitamgar, Ek Chadar Maili Si and several others.

21.Rati Agnihotri

Rishi starred opposite Rati Agnihotri in Tawaif. The film was a love triangle and also featured Poonam Dhillon.

22.Varsha Usgaonkar

Varsha Usgaonkar and Rishi featured in the film Honeymoon.

23.Ashwini Bhave

Ashwini Bhave starred opposite Rishi in Raj Kapoor’s Henna. The film was a roaring success with its melodious songs.

24.Zeba Bakhtiyar

Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiyar starred opposite Rishi in Henna. The film was well-known for its cinematography as it was shot in picturesque locales and was a hit because of its soulful songs.

25.Radhika

Radhika played Rishi’s unwanted wife in Naseeb Apna Apna where she is shunned by him for her dark colour and village upbringing.

26.Farha

Farha shared screen space with Rishi in Naseeb Apna Apna, Naqab and others.

27.Vineeta

Vineeta played the lead actress in Janam Janam alongside Rishi.

28.Sangeeta Bijlani

Rishi worked with Sangeeta Bijlani in Hathyar.

29.Rekha

Rishi and Rekha teamed up in Azad Desh Ke Ghulam, Amiri Garibi, Sheshnaag, Khazana and others.

30.Juhi Chawla

Rishi and Juhi Chawla worked in several films together like Bol Radha Bol, Ghar Ki Izzat, Saajan Ka Ghar, Daraar, Eena Meena Deeka and others. Rishi was supposed to make his comeback to films with Sharmaji Namkeen opposite Juhi after his cancer treatment.

31.Divya Bharti

Divya Bharti and Rishi shared screen space in Deewana that also starred Shah Rukh Khan in a supporting role.

32.Raakhee

Raakhee and Rishi starred in the film Doosra Aadmi that also starred Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Deven Verma and Parikshit Sahni.

32.Neelam Kothari

Neelam Kothari and Rishi paired up opposite each other in Ranbhoomi. They also starred in Kasak and several other films.
 

33.Kimi Katkar

Kimi Katkar and Rishi shared the screen in the film Khoj that also starred Naseeruddin Shah and was directed by Keshu Ramsay.

34.Amrita Singh

Amrita Singh and Rishi were cast opposite each other in the film Duniya.

35.Naseem

Naseem made her debut in 1976 with Kabhi Kabhie opposite Rishi Kapoor.

36.Tabu

Tabu starred with Rishi in Pehla Pehla Pyar. It was loosely inspired by the Hollywood film Roman Holiday.

37.Yogita Bali

Yogita Bali and Rishi starred together in Yeh Ishq Nahi Aasan. The film also starred Padmini Kolhapure.

38.Padmini Kolhapure

Padmini Kolhapure and Rishi did many films together. Prem Rog is probably their best known film.

39.Mandakini

Mandakini and Rishi worked together in Hawaalat.

40.Rukhsaar

Rukhsaar was paired opposite Rishi in the film Inteha Pyar Ki.

41.Urmila Matondkar

Urmila worked with Rishi in the comedy film Shreeman Aashique.

42.Sonam

Sonam and Rishi were romantically paired in the film Vijay.

43.Raveena Tandon

Raveena Tandon and Rishi were romantically cast in the film Saajan Ki Baahon Mein.

44.Pooja Bhatt

Pooja Bhatt shared screen space with Rishi in the film Hum Dono.

45.Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala and Rishi worked in the film Anmol.

46.Sulakshana Pandit

Rishi and Sulakshana Pandit featured in the film Raja.

47.Madhu

Madhu and Rishi worked together in the film Prem Yog.

48.Deepti Naval

Deepti Naval starred with Rishi in the film Yeh Ishq Nahi Aasan.

49.Gautami

Gautami had made her debut in Rishi’s film Naqab. She had expressed her condolences for the late veteran actor as well.

50.Lillette Dubey

Lillette Dubey and Rishi shared screen space in Chashme Buddoor. The film also starred Ali Zafar, Taapsee Pannu, Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma. 

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