RISHI KAPOOR’S DEATH IS A PERSONAL LOSS FOR ME: PADMINI KOLHAPURE

They had been frequent collaborators, having worked together in multiple films, such as Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981), Prem Rog (1982), Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan (1984), Pyar Ke Kabil (1987), among others. So the news of Rishi Kapoor’s death has been an absolute shocker for actor Padmini Kolhapure.

All I can say is that I’m shocked and numb. I can’t even believe that he is gone. He was a great actor, a great person, a great soul and a great contributor to the Indian film industry. He has left us, and it’s a very strong personal loss for me. I think of him every day, he’s on my mind every day of my life , he is part of my life. My growing up years were with him, so you can imagine how big this loss is for me. I was a huge Rishi Kapoor fan even before joining films. I used to bunk school and go watch Rishi KapoorNeetu Singh’s films. I was a fan first, and then the next thing I knew, I was doing a movie with him. I was sharing screen space with him. I used to love seeing him on the screen and admire his dancing, and then I was dancing with him. It was totally surreal for me.

I used to meet him socially. He was his usual bubbly self. It didn’t even seem like he had gone through such a terrible time. And that’s what Rishi Kapoor was. I last went to his house during Ganpati (Ganesh Chaturthi). He was in Delhi then, so we spoke over the phone. We couldn’t go and pay our last respects to him and take the blessing of this great soul. This is such a trying time for everyone.