Khullam khulla: Rishi kapoor Uncensored by Meena Iyer [hardcover]

Book Summary

Son of a famous father. Father of a famous son. I am the hyphen between them.Only, Rishi Kapoor was and is so much more. Few actors in Hindi cinema have had this sort of a career arc: from the gawky adolescent pining for his schoolteacher (Mera Naam Joker, 1970) to the naughty ninety-year-old (Kapoor & Sons, 2016), Rishi Kapoor has regaled audiences for close to fifty years. He won a National Award for his debut, became an overnight sensation with his first film as a leading man (Bobby, 1973), and carved a niche for himself with a string of romantic musical blockbusters in an era known for its angst-ridden films. He was the youth icon that is still the toast of the satellite TV circuit. The songs he lip-synced are the bread and butter of all radio stations even today. Then there was the second coming after a brief hiatus in the 1990s - as one of the finest actors in mainstream Hindi cinema with powerhouse performances in films like Do Dooni Chaar, D-Day, Agneepath and others. Characteristically candid, Rishi Kapoor brings Punjabi brio to the writing of Khullam Khulla. This is as up close and personal a biography as any fan could have hoped for. He writes about growing up in the shadow of a legendary father, skipping school to act in Mera Naam Joker, the workings of the musical hits of the era, an encounter with Dawood Ibrahim, his heroines (their working relationship, the gossip and the frisson that was sometimes real), his approach to his craft, his tryst with clinical depression, and more. A foreword by Ranbir Kapoor and a stirring afterword by Neetu Singh bookend the warmest, most dil se biography an Indian star has ever penned.

About the Authors:

Rishi Kapoor (1952–2020), powerhouse actor of Hindi cinema, rose to fame as a romantic lead in the 1970s and 1980s, later transitioning to respected character roles. A National Film Award winner and member of the prestigious Kapoor dynasty, he sustained a five-decade career marked by charisma, candor, and unforgettable performances .

Meena Iyer, veteran Bollywood journalist and editor, forged a longtime friendship with Kapoor rooted in trust. As co-author, she brings journalistic integrity, capturing his voice authentically and with intimacy—this trust has been praised as key to the memoir’s raw sincerity .