Chintuji’s scolding was always funny: Juhi Chawla
Iam shocked and devastated,” says Juhi Chawla on the demise of late actor Rishi Kapoor, who she worked with in many films during the past three decades. The two were shooting for a film, Sharmaji Namkeen before the star passed away. Recalling their last day of work, she says, “The last scene that I shot with him was at a table in a dhaba in Delhi. I was noticing the ease with which he plays a character. When he converses in a scene, it seems like he’s actually talking to you. He’s so natural. I told myself that’s what I should be doing without bothering how I’m looking in a particular scene (laughs). He taught me something valuable even on the last day. We have finished a major portion but I don’t know how we can finish the film without him.”
Having worked together on seven films, Chawla says that she always enjoyed working with Kapoor, “Chintuji was an effortless actor. He was so easy with his craft. Whenever he’d be around, he’d make sure that work looked really simple. At the same time, he had a certain cynicism. He was always scolding us in a grumpy way which was really funny. I would be rolling with laughter, and there was never a dull moment with him around. Working with him was never stressful.”
Recalling her last meeting with the actor, she says, “It happened in early March. He told me that he had to go to the hospital for a routine blood transfusion and he asked me to join him and Neetuji [Kapoor]. We had a long chat, he got his treatment and went home. Just a few days back, I thought I should call and check on him. But I didn’t, and then I received the news.”