Four years ago, the world bid farewell to the legendary Rishi Kapoor, a beloved actor whose boyish charm in Mera Naam Joker and enduring role as a romantic hero left an indelible mark on generations. While his legacy continues to shine, intriguing and lesser-known moments from his life, such as his unexpected encounters with India’s most-wanted criminal, Dawood Ibrahim, have resurfaced, adding another layer to his remarkable story.
A resurfaced video on Instagram shows the legendary actor Rishi Kapoor recounting his surprising encounters with the notorious gangster Dawood Ibrahim.
Rishi Kapoor said, "Airport pr mujhe kisi ne ek phone thamma dia, kaha ki bhai aapse baat krenge, maine naa samajh kr phone lelia, samjha koi fan hoga, baat ki toh voh Dawood sahab ka phone tha, unhone kaha ki main tumse milna chahta hu, chai par aasakoge tum? [At the airport, someone handed me a phone and said, 'Bhai wants to talk to you.' I, not understanding much, took the phone, assuming it was a fan. When I spoke, it turned out to be Dawood Sahab on the line. He said, 'I want to meet you. Can you come over for tea?']
When the reported asked him whether he was already aware about who Dawood was? Rishi Kapoor replied, "jee, uss waqt main unka voh Mumbai waala kaand hua nhi tha, uss waqt tak unko ek gangster aadmi unko kaha gya tha [Yes, at that time, that Mumbai incident hadn't happened yet. Back then, he was simply referred to as a gangster."]
Rishi went on to say, "Jab maine ek film tawaif ki thi, aur voh picture basically women empowerment pr thi, jo heroine thi voh ek tawaif banne ko hoti hai aur hero jo hota hai usko bachata hai aur usko waapas society main leaata hai, toh mera uss film main naam Dawood tha, toh voh yeh baat se bade khush huye tumne mera naam ek sahi tareeke se roshan kia, ki mera naam voh hai jo ek ladki ko bachata hai ["When I did a film called Tawaif, which was basically about women empowerment, the heroine was about to become a courtesan, and the hero saves her and brings her back into society. In that film, my character's name was Dawood. He was very happy about this and said, 'You have portrayed my name in a positive light, as someone who saves a woman.'"]
The conversation further revealed that Dawood Ibrahim had a particular liking for Rishi Kapoor, stemming from the actor's portrayal of a character named Dawood in the film Tawaif. The gangster reportedly admired how his name was depicted in a positive light, associating it with heroic and noble actions.
During their meeting, Rishi Kapoor was escorted in a luxurious Rolls Royce to Dawood's residence. Before bidding farewell, Dawood extended a remarkable gesture, telling Rishi, "If you need anything at all, any money, anything, just feel free to ask me," showcasing an unusual mix of warmth and generosity.
Rishi Kapoor recalled this incident in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Uncensored, revealing that he met Dawood Ibrahim twice. The first meeting took place in 1988, long before Dawood became a fugitive in India. The second encounter occurred a year later in 1989, with both meetings happening in Dubai. Rishi's accounts provide a rare glimpse into the actor’s unexpected interactions with one of India’s most notorious criminals.
In 1989, while Rishi Kapoor and his wife Neetu were shopping for shoes at a Lebanese store in Dubai, they ran into Dawood Ibrahim once again. This time, Dawood was accompanied by "eight or ten bodyguards" and carrying a mobile phone, a rare sight in those days.
As before, Dawood offered to buy something for Rishi, but the actor politely declined. During their brief interaction, Dawood gave Rishi his mobile number, but Rishi could not return the gesture, as mobile phones were not available in India at the time.
In his autobiography, Rishi Kapoor recalled Dawood Ibrahim's demeanor, describing him as "always extremely nice to me" and "showing a lot of warmth." However, Rishi expressed his confusion over Dawood’s subsequent shift in attitude toward India. He wrote, "Everything changed soon after. I don’t know what made him go after my country the way he did. I have had no interaction with him at all after that chance meeting at the shoe shop."
Rishi Kapoor's encounters with Dawood Ibrahim stand as a fascinating yet unsettling chapter in his life, offering a rare glimpse into the complex and unexpected intersections between Bollywood and the underworld during that time.
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