Rishi Kapoor and Juhi Chawla created a memorable on-screen pairing in popular films like Bol Radha Bol and Saajan Ka Ghar. Their chemistry was widely appreciated by audiences, which led to rumours suggesting that something more than friendship existed between them. Speculation even suggested that Rishi was romantically involved with Juhi Chawla despite being married to Neetu Kapoor.
However, in a candid 1997 interview with Movie Magazine, Rishi Kapoor dismissed the rumours as nothing more than a media stunt. He said, “Juhi’s was a publicity gimmick. I was brain-washed into going along with it because I was told that I had this great romantic image on screen, so I should have a romantic link-up with Juhi.” His statement highlighted how such fabrications were often orchestrated by the industry itself to boost visibility.
Juhi Chawla wasn’t the only actress linked to the actor during that time. Rishi’s name was also associated with Amrita Singh, another claim he firmly denied. He remarked, “Juhi and Amrita Singh? Bull. Amrita was not my type.”
During the same interview, Rishi Kapoor was asked about his reputation and the numerous rumours involving young actresses. He strongly rejected the narrative, defending his conduct and clarifying his stance on professional relationships. “I’m the hero who introduced the maximum number of new girls. If I didn’t proposition them, why would I chase bloody tarts, yaar? Ask Kajal, Kiron, or Padmini Kolhapure. I treated them like kids, yaar. Ask Neetu! Ya, I teased her a lot, but did I ever proposition her, did I ever say I’ll get you thrown out of a film if you don’t go to bed with me? We didn’t have a s*xual relationship going. If I didn’t pounce on her all those years when she was new and we were doing God knows how many films together, and I knew she had a soft corner for me, why would I try stunts with those horrible names you’ve taken?”
Neetu Singh, who accompanied Rishi Kapoor during the interview, shared her own thoughts on the subject. She believed that several younger actresses were using Rishi’s name to gain publicity, lending further weight to his perspective.
This interview served as a rare and honest glimpse into Rishi Kapoor’s personal thoughts on fame, relationships, and the complexities of navigating public image in the film industry.
