November 6, 2024: In his autobiography Khullam Khulla, Rishi Kapoor openly addressed his complicated relationship with Amitabh Bachchan. Despite starring together in iconic films like Amar Akbar Anthony and Naseeb, Rishi admitted that there was an “undercurrent of tension” between them.
The tension, according to Rishi, stemmed from the fact that roles were often tailored to Amitabh’s strengths, particularly in the action genre, while actors in romantic roles, like himself, had to settle for whatever roles were left.
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In the book, Rishi candidly expressed, “I must admit that in those days, there was an unspoken tension between Amitabh Bachchan and me. We never sat down to discuss it, and luckily the strain faded on its own. It was after working on Amar Akbar Anthony that we started to become friendly with each other.”
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Rishi highlighted the impact of Bollywood’s preference for action films, which naturally favored Amitabh as an action star. He shared, “Directors and writers consistently reserved the strongest, pivotal roles for Amitabh Bachchan. And it wasn’t just me; stars like Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Dharmendra, and Vinod Khanna also faced this.”
While Rishi acknowledged Amitabh’s immense talent, he also felt that co-stars like himself contributed significantly to Amitabh’s successes but rarely received due credit. He noted, “Amitabh is undeniably a superb actor, immensely talented, and the leading box-office star of that era. However, he has never admitted the contributions of his co-stars, such as Shashi Kapoor in Deewaar, myself in Amar Akbar Anthony and Coolie, or Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, and Dharmendra. This was something we accepted because it was simply the way things were back then.”
Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan last appeared together in the 2018 dramedy 102 Not Out, showcasing their enduring legacy in Bollywood despite the competitive undertones of their early careers.