In an interview, the late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor revealed a “disillusioned dislike” for his senior, Rajesh Khanna, a sentiment stemming from personal history rather than professional rivalry. Rishi Kapoor admitted these feelings were linked to Rajesh Khanna’s marriage to Dimple Kapadia, Rishi Kapoor’s first co-star, at a pivotal moment in his budding career. While he clarified there was never a romantic inclination toward Dimple, Rishi admitted to feeling a sense of possessiveness over her, which fueled a unique rivalry between him and Rajesh Khanna.
During the interview, the interviewer recounted a pivotal incident involving a ring gifted to Rishi Kapoor by his then-girlfriend, Yasmin. Dimple, in a playful moment, had taken the ring from Rishi, unaware that it would spark a minor controversy. The story goes that Rajesh Khanna, having recently proposed to Dimple, was irked upon noticing the ring on her finger. In a burst of jealousy, he threw the ring, a move that may have unintentionally intensified Rishi’s resentment.
Reflecting on this episode, Rishi confessed, “I probably disliked him because he took away my heroine. He married her when I was just starting out. But there was no real ill will. We worked together in several films, and I even directed him later on.” He went on to emphasize the sentimental value of the ring, despite its modest worth, saying, “It wasn’t an expensive ring, but that doesn’t matter—the love matters.” When questioned on why he let Dimple keep the ring, Rishi laughed, recalling, “Dimple flicked it from me.” His humor, however, didn’t hide the underlying tensions that this incident left behind.
Both Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia made their acting debuts in Bobby in 1973, a film that not only propelled them to stardom but also marked the start of their intertwined journeys in Bollywood. That same year, Dimple’s marriage to Rajesh Khanna, despite their significant age gap, drew substantial media attention and set off a stir within the industry. Although they separated later, the two never divorced, with each maintaining iconic status in Indian cinema.
