New Delhi: Two in two days is too many. Just a day after the country was shocked by the sudden demise of actor Irrfan Khan, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away Thursday morning of leukemia.
Reactions poured in on social media as fellow actors, politicians, sportsmen and others paid tribute to the prolific actor.
Perhaps the first person to break the news of Kapoor’s death was fellow veteran actor and co-star in many films, Amitabh Bachchan, who appears completely shattered in this tweet.
An equally inconsolable Simi Garewal who starred in Kapoor’s debut film Mera Naam Joker (1970), shares her grief…
#RishiKapoor My Chintu darling has gone.. My dearest friend..my costar..my playmate. The one who used to make me laugh till I cried!
Now there are only tears..
No last goodbye. No funeral. No consoling embraces. Silence. Emptiness. Grief.
— Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) April 30, 2020
Lata Mangeshkar holds on to cherished memories as she expresses grief and shock.
Kuch samay pehle Rishi ji ne mujhe unki aur meri ye tasveer bheji thi.wo sab din,sab baatein yaad aarahi hain. Main shabdheen hogayi hun. pic.twitter.com/IpwCKMqUBq
— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) April 30, 2020
Filmmaker Karan Johar, who directed the veteran actor in Student of The Year (2012), perfectly captures the feeling of an entire generation in a mere four words.
He was my childhood….. ?
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) April 30, 2020
Superstar Rajinikanth worked with Kapoor in Dosti Dushmani (1986) – he mourns a dear friend.
Heartbroken … Rest In Peace … my dearest friend #RishiKapoor
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020
Lyricist Javed Akhtar shares the heartwarming tale of how he met Rishi Kapoor for the first time.
Today I have lost a dear friend Rishi kapoor. We had first met in Banglore in 1973 .He had come for a charity show of Bobby n I was there for Sholay’s shooting We met in the evening n kept talking till the wee hours to begin a friendship for 47 yrs. Good bye dear friend !!
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 30, 2020
And TV anchor Pallavi Ghosh shares a priceless photograph of the actor outside his ‘Bobby hut’ in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg.
Bobby hut as it was called when tourists would go there https://t.co/CrF7q4VjWe
— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) April 30, 2020
Actors Urmila Matondkar and Manisha Koirala, not normally active Twitter users, fondly remember the star – they have both acted with Kapoor in films like Shreemaan Aashique and Anmol .
With tears in my eyes I bid this adieu..to an actor who played my brother,father n also my hero eventually..whose songs I grew up loving n dancing to..my most favourite n versatile actor..what a pity never got to meet him after his return n now never will
RIP Rishi kapoor ??
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) April 30, 2020
Unbelivable..shocked!! It's really difficult to accept..another dark day for all of us.
It was such a blessing to have worked with you and known you sir.
My heartfelt condolence to the family, may all mighty give stregthn through this difficult time..#RishiKapoor sir #RIP ???— Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) April 30, 2020
Filmfare, India’s leading film magazine, posts a photograph of the two late actors with the perfect caption. Actor Anushka Sharma had a similar idea.
On their way to heaven!
We mourn the loss of two of the biggest actors of our country, #RishiKapoor and #IrrfanKhan. pic.twitter.com/yK7F6U4Kpw
— Filmfare (@filmfare) April 30, 2020
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) April 30, 2020
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap says what’s on all our minds.
बस करो यार….
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) April 30, 2020
Like yesterday after Irrfan Khan’s death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi take the lead amongst politicians in remembering Rishi Kapoor.
Multifaceted, endearing and lively…this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India’s progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020
This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020
Home Minister Amit Shah comes out with condolences too.
Pained to know about the passing away of legendary actor Rishi Kapoor ji. He was an institution in himself. Rishi ji’s demise is an irreparable loss for Indian cinema. He will always be remembered for his exceptional acting skills. Condolences to his family & followers. Om Shanti
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 30, 2020
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is an unusual name on the list of mourners but she has a personalised message for both Khan and Kapoor.
Not a big film buff, but saddened by the loss of 2 iconic actors within a day of each other.Irrfan Khan’s understated brilliance in Piku was moving & Rishi Kapoor’s youthful Bobby notwithstanding, his role as a fun,physically distant, supportive father in Hum Tum remains etched.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 30, 2020
Meanwhile, remembrances and tributes continue for Irrfan Khan.
The Jurassic World franchise says a last goodbye to its family member. Khan had acted in the fourth installment of the Jurassic Park film series 2015.
The #JurassicWorld family honors the incredible @irrfank ? pic.twitter.com/JAYILbTdeL
— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) April 29, 2020
Writer and actor Mindy Kaling of The Mindy Project and The Office fame shares what actor Tom Hanks had said about Irrfan Khan. Hanks acted with him in 2016’s smash-hit Inferno.
I love this @tomhanks quote about #IrrfanKhan. I read it in an interview and never forgot it. It’s TOM HANKS. pic.twitter.com/NBSX4UFLA7
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) April 29, 2020
And lastly, more reactions Kapoor’s passing away:
It seems like we’re in the midst of a nightmare…just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, it’s heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family ??
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020
We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema.
Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives.
Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were.
You will be badly missed Rishiji.
Love.
a.
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) April 30, 2020
Rest in peace chintu sirrr, kaha suna maaf , strength , peace n light to family n friends…
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) April 30, 2020
Such an honour. Such a privilege. pic.twitter.com/gGrt5mEFpD
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) April 30, 2020
Heartbreaking to hear about #RishiKapoor sir. Yet another irreplaceable loss in our world of cinema… A complete entertainer and an incredibly talented actor… A true legend. My deepest condolences and strength to Ranbir and his family. May his soul rest in peace. ????
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) April 30, 2020
One life .. live to the fullest and happiest .. nothing else matters .. just a reminder . Will miss u both pic.twitter.com/BgpruQOy02
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) April 30, 2020