Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was one of the few Bollywood actors known for leaving a lasting impact with every role he played. Even after his passing, his performances continue to be cherished by fans. And one of Rishi Kapoor ‘s memorable roles was in Hum Tum, where he played a supportive father to Saif Ali Khan’s character. While he wasn’t the lead, his presence added emotional depth to the film. However, did you know that he initially refused to do the role, calling it “Bakwaas hai”? Director Kunal Kohli recently revealed this surprising detail in an interview with Aleena Dissect.
Rishi Kapoor ’s First Reaction to his ‘Hum Tum’ Role
Kunal Kohli recalled Rishi Kapoor’s blunt reaction when he first heard the script. The director approached him for a guest appearance, but the actor outright rejected it. “I am not doing this,” Rishi Kapoor had told him. When Kohli asked why, he replied, “Guest appearance hai, mujhe nahi karna, kya hai? Bakwas hai. Saat toh scene diye tune mereko, nahi karna mujhe (It’s just a guest appearance. I don’t want to do this. Nonsense. You gave me just seven scenes, I don’t want to).”
Then How Kunal Kohli Convinced Him?
Despite his initial refusal, Kunal Kohli didn’t give up and convinced the veteran actor to come on board. Explaining the process, he said, “Then he went, ‘This is nice, this is also nice.’ He said, ‘Give me some more scenes. Why should I do a guest appearance?’ I said, ‘Sir, I can have you in more scenes, you will just be hanging around. Here, every time you come, there is an impact.’ I said, ‘Every scene of yours… there is an impact, every dialogue has an impact. I said I can add ten more scenes but they won’t have an impact. Then he said ‘Haan theek hai chalo karte hain (Let’s do it).’”
The Success of Hum Tum
Despite the initial hesitation, Rishi Kapoor’s role in Hum Tum was well-received and this rom-com film turned out to be a blockbuster, resonating with audiences and marking a significant moment in Bollywood. It was a career-defining film for Saif Ali Khan, as it was his first solo lead project, earning him a National Award for Best Actor. On the other hand Kunal Kohli also won his first Filmfare Award for Best Director. Rani Mukerji, the film’s leading lady also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, making it a massive success.
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