On September 5 when Rishi Kapoor would have turned 69 had he lived, his close friend writer-director Rumi Jaffrey threw a birthday party for his departed pal, where some of Rishi’s close friends and family joined in.
Says Rumi, “We celebrated Chintuji’s 69th Birthday at our home with Neetuji ,Shatrughan Sinha, Hanan Jafry, Anu Ranjan, Lali Dhawan, Shashi Ranjan, Mohini Chabria, David Dhawan, Pammi Gautam and Randhir Kapoor … the sweetest cake my wife made with a dafli , a guitar, nagchampa agarbatti, Twitter symbol, his book, paya and a bottle of Black Label. Things that were close to his heart!… he shall live forever in our hearts .”
Recalling his long association with Rishi, Rumi said, “I first met him when I was only 19.A mere child! I told him I wanted to be a writer . He laughed and said, ‘First experience life, love, pain , heartbreak suffering. Only then can you be a writer.’ Nonetheless I was determined. When Chintuji did Shriman Ashique (a remake of Shagird) the writer Kamlesh Pandey was too busy to do the dialogues. So Chintuji got me the job.We became friends for life. He gave an interview to Screen’s Ali Peter John where he said,’I’ve met a very talented director called Raj Kumar Santoshi and a very talented writer called Rumi Jafry.’ Coming from him meant a lot. The entire industry sat up and took notice of me. There was no looking back.Rishi and Randhirji were both like my brothers. Krishnaji their mother treated me like a son. When my daughter got married last month in Hyderabad, Neetuji and Randhirji flew to Hyderabad for the occasion. Although Randhirji is in poor health.There can never be another Rishi Kapoor. He was unique, unstoppable, yaaron ka yaar.”