Explorer

Those Unforgettable Songs That Defined Rishi Kapoor's Stardom

Rishi's launch as a hero happened with Raj Kapoor's "Bobby" in 1973. Till date, the film is synonymous with Laxmikant-Pyarelal's unforgettable score. Rishi Kapoor in fact had a strong connection with songs since childhood

Mumbai: A big reason Rishi Kapoor will live on forever are the songs filmed on him. The actor's stardom was to a big extent about his loverboy image and, in Bollywood of the seventies and the eighties when he reigned, such an image came with a ceaseless flow of great and superhit songs. Rishi's launch as a hero happened with Raj Kapoor's "Bobby" in 1973. Till date, the film is synonymous with Laxmikant-Pyarelal's unforgettable score. Songs like "Tu maike mat jaiyo" and Main Shayar toh nahin" define the arrival of a young loverboy hero who would redefine romance on the Hindi screen forever. Rishi Kapoor in fact had a strong connection with songs since childhood. Even before starting his acting journey with "Mera Naam Joker", Rishi had featured in the song, "Pyaar Hua, Iqraar Hua" in "Shree 420". Over the years, Rishi has been the dafli-wielding dafliwaale of "Sargam" and the affable qawwal Akbar in "Amar Akbar Anthony". His versatile image that could swing from being the traditional romantic hero the playful campus hunk suited Mohammad Rafi's sonorous voice as much as Kishore Kumar's rich vocal texture. Youngsters who were growing up in the 70s era have shaken their legs to the iconic actor's several songs -- especially "Dafli wale dafli baja" in "Sargam". Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi, the song, which featured actress-politician Jaya Prada opposite Rishi Kapoor, was a massive hit back then. Till date, people try to recreate that 'dafli' hook step of Rishi Kapoor. Last month, Rishi Kapoor had re-tweeted a video of middle aged couple of dancing to the tunes of his song 'Dafliwaale dafli baja'. Reacting to the video, Rishi Kapoor shared that he found the clip "cute". Among Rishi's most iconic musical hits is Subhash Ghai's "Karz". Be it "Ek hsina thi", "Om Shanti Om", "Dard-e-Dil" or "Main solah baras ki", almost every song of the film went on to be a blockbuster, cementing Rishi Kapoor'sapiring with Tina Munim. There are many anecdotes about Rishi and his songs. For instance, the funny thing is Rishi wasn't too fond of "Om Shanti Om", which continues to be considered one of his greatest dance numbers till date. In his memoir "Khullam Khulla", he had written: "However, I must admit that I was often hopelessly wrong in my initial reactions to some of these chartbusters. I remember Boney Kapoor coming to meet me, brimming with excitement, with a recording of 'Om shanti om' in Karz. The composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal and director Subhash Ghai, obviously ecstatic with the results, had sent him to Panchgani where I was shooting. I gave Boney an earful, saying what a lousy number it was and wondering how Laxmikant-Pyarelal could come up with such a number for me." On the other hand, he had a fondness for the soulful "Main Shayar Toh Nahin" from his debut film "Bobby". The song, which was sung by Shailendra Singh, also featured actress Aruna Irani, who used to be dancing sensation in yesteryears. Rishi Kapoor had used to consider the particular track as his anthem. While undergoing treatment for leukemia in New York last year, Rishi once had a musical encounter with one of his fans during his salon visit, as the Russian fan recognised him and played the famous song "Main Shayar Toh Nahin". Rishi even shared a video of the encounter on his Twitter, thanking the fan for singing his "anthem". Romantic pairings back then depended to a large extent on hit songs. The success of his pairing with Neetu Singh -- who would eventually become his wife Neetu Kapoor -- in films like "Kabhi Kabhie", "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Doosra Aadmi", and "Khel Khel Mein", depended to a large extent on the songs of these films. The couple's number "Khullam khulla pyaar karenge" from "Khel Khel Mein", composed by RD Burman and sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle" continues to be a lovers' anthem. While on romantic pairings, one cannot miss Rishi Kapoor teaming up with Dimple Kapadia. If "Hum tum ek kamre me band ho" in "Bobby" represented innocent love, "Sagar kinare" and "Jaane do na" in "Saagar" was all about scorching chemistry. His spate of hit songs continues in the eighties, with Sridevi in "Chandni", and in the nineties with Madhuri Dixit ("Yaarana", "Prem Granth") and Juhi Chawla ("Bol Radha Bol). Decades later, people still talk of these songs. Among numerous new-gen stars who have recreated his songs is son Ranbir Kapoor, who reprised his dad's popular track "Bachna ae haseeno" in his own 2008 film "Bachna Ae Haseeon" It is impossible to list or rank the songs of Rishi Kapoor. IANS lists here some songs that we love to hum:
  • Hum tum ek kamre me band ho (Bobby, 1973)
  • Om shanti om (Karz, 1980)
  • Khullam khulla pyaar karenge (Khel Khel Mein, 1975)
  • Dard-e-dil (Karz, 1980)
  • Chandni o meri Chandni (Chandni, 1989)
  • Bachna ae haseeno (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, 1977)
  • Main shayar toh nahin (Bobby, 1973)
  • Tere mere hoton pe (Chandni, 1989)
  • Chehra hai ya chaand khila hai (Sagar, 1985)
  • Dafliwale dafli bajaa ( Sargam, 1979)
 
View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Rajat Patidar
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.50 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.50 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Sambhal Violence: Mosque Committee Head Zafar Ali Arrested, Akhilesh Meets Speaker Over FIR On SP MP Barq
Sambhal Violence: Mosque Committee Head Zafar Ali Arrested, Akhilesh Meets Speaker Over FIR On SP MP Barq
Supreme Court Directs CAQM To Consider Re-Opening Schools, GRAP-IV To Continue In Delhi
SC Directs CAQM To Consider Re-Opening Schools, GRAP-IV To Continue In Delhi
DUSU Elections: NSUI Wins President, Joint Secretary Posts; ABVP Secures VP, Secretary Roles In Tight Contest
DUSU Elections: NSUI Wins President, Joint Secretary Posts; ABVP Secures VP, Secretary Roles In Tight Contest
Bangladesh: Hindu Seer Spearheading Minority Rights Campaign Taken Into Custody By Dhaka Police
Bangladesh: Hindu Seer Spearheading Minority Rights Campaign Taken Into Custody By Dhaka Police
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

FIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman, Statement Released Amidst ControversyFIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman and Local MLA's Son in Controversial CaseSambhal Violence Sparks Political Firestorm, Congress MP Imran Masood's Strong Remarks | ABP NewsBreaking News: SP Leader Ram Gopal Yadav Reacts to Sambhal Violence | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget