Rishi Kapoor was known for his on-screen lover boy roles.
In his memoir, Rishi Kapoor recalled a terrifying moment in Kashmir when a mob attacked his hotel, forcing the military to evacuate him to safety.
In the golden days of Bollywood, Kashmir was the ultimate location for filming romantic songs. Its snow-covered mountains made for the perfect backdrop, with films like Kabhi Kabhie capturing its scenic beauty. However, the situation dramatically changed in the 1980s due to political turmoil in the region. During one such turbulent time, Rishi Kapoor faced a life-threatening incident while shooting in Kashmir, as he revealed in his memoir Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored.
Rishi, along with the crew of Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie, was shooting in Pahalgam when things took a dangerous turn. Yash Chopra had thrown a party to celebrate Rishi’s birthday after wrapping up a song shoot. The festivities inside the hotel were in full swing, with Rishi’s wife Neetu Kapoor and co-star Naseem also present. However, unknown to the guests, a violent situation was brewing outside.
Rishi recalled that a dispute between local horse owners and taxi drivers escalated after a driver, intoxicated, picked a fight. Yash Chopra’s assistant, Deepak Sareen, went to check on the situation, but chaos erupted. A mob of thousands gathered, flinging stones and fireballs at the hotel. The situation grew so intense that the crowd began targeting Deepak and Rishi. “There was chaos with a thousand-strong mob flinging stones and fireballs at the hotel. The crowds were baying for Deepak Sareen’s blood and mine too,” he said.
As the violence escalated, Rishi and the others were ordered to hide in their rooms. They were told to lie under their beds for safety as the mob began smashing windows. “The windows were soon smashed to smithereens, and the hotel was gutted,” Rishi described, calling it the “scariest moment” of his life. He recounted how the then-Chief Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, had to intervene, ultimately sending the military to evacuate them to safety.
Despite this terrifying experience, Rishi shared that most of his memories of shooting in Kashmir remained pleasant. The actor went on to cherish his connection with the region throughout his career.
Rishi Kapoor passed away in 2020 after a prolonged battle with cancer, but his memoirs continue to offer fascinating glimpses into his life and the challenges he faced on and off-screen.
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