Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and 'Chandni': Bollywood's adored love story
Chiffon sarees, Swiss Alps, and melodious songs: A combination of these three went on to define romance for Bollywood. Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Yash Chopra's Chandni taught a whole generation what love is. Sadly, the actors of this memorable movie are no more. Chopra isn't around either. Rishi will be remembered for many of his legendary movies, but Chandni will always remain special.
As Rohit, the man born in a rich family, who fell in love with someone his family forbade, Rishi won hearts. His boyish charm as he caught glimpses of Chandni in a busy household won't be forgotten. And the effervescent smile of Chandni vindicated she loved all his antics. It was those moments that made her realize she had been waiting for him since forever.
One hour into the movie is all actor Rishi took to show he was more than the chocolaty-boy vibes he exuded. Left paralyzed after an accident, Rohit knew his family won't respect Chandni. With a straight face, and tears in heart, he left her. The heartbreak helped Chandni find herself, and as it happens in Bollywood movies, they were united in the end.
There is immense beauty in Chandni, beyond the obvious ones. It's Rishi and Sridevi's sparkling chemistry that lights up the screen. One can only imagine how comfortable they must have been around each other before Chopra said "action". The song Tere Mere Hothon Pe and Rohit and Chandni's honeymoon was filmed as a dream sequence, and that's exactly what it was — dreamy.
The team behind Chandni put their souls in the movie. In an interview, Rishi had revealed Sridevi, he, and Chopra improvised one of the iconic scenes. "The complete 'Cognac sharaab nahi hoti' sequence was improvised by Sridevi, Yashi ji and me; it was never a part of the script," he had revealed to HT. Their chemistry made the scene fly.
Besides Chandni, Rishi and Sridevi signed up for movies like Nagina, Gurudev, Garjana, Banjaran among others. Nagina, in which Sridevi played the role of a snake-woman saving her husband from evil forces, went on to become the biggest blockbuster of 1986 when it released.
With his expressive eyes and smile that warmed hearts, Rishi created memories for cine-lovers. He will always be remembered as the man who wore bright-colored sweaters and walked effortlessly into our hearts. In his final hours, Rishi kept doctors and medical staff entertained, and that's precisely how he will be remembered — one of the greatest entertainers India produced.
