Khullam Khulla
Rating: 3.9/5
Author: Rishi Kapoor, Meena Iyer
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publishing Date: 2017
Language: English
Genre: Biography
ISBN-10: 935264302X
ISBN-13: 978-9352643028
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 284
Cost: Rs. 227 (Kindle edition)
Plot:
Characteristically candid, Rishi Kapoor brings Punjabi taste to the writing of Khullam Khulla. This is as up close and personal biography as any fan could have hoped for.
He writes about growing up in the shadow of a legendary father, skipping school to act in ‘Mera Naam Joker’, the workings of the musical hits of the era, an encounter with Dawood Ibrahim, his heroines (their working relationship, the gossip and the frisson that was sometimes real), his approach to his craft, his tryst with clinical depression, and more.
A foreword by Ranbir Kapoor and a stirring afterword by Neetu Singh, this biography is the most honest confessions that an Indian star has ever penned.
Review:
Late veteran Bollywood actor, Rishi Kapoor had penned his first book, which was his memoir titled 'Khullam Khulla' in 2017. The memoir is written in a very honest way. The actor didn’t shy away from discussing all the honest truths of his life whether it’s about his Dad's affairs or his own temptations, his crushes on Bollywood actresses or his equation with Amitabh Bachchan or his love story with Neetu Kapoor.
He talks about different accounts of his life, his early career, his mistakes. At one instance he admits being a male chauvinist in the past:
“But to be honest, I didn’t try to convince her to keep working either. There was a chauvinist in me that didn’t want his wife to go out to work.”
He also admitted having blamed his wife for his failures during his phase of depression:
“Neetu was pregnant with Riddhima and had to endure my breakdown in that fragile condition.”
Stating one instance, he even admitted having bought an award: “I am ashamed to say it, but I actually ‘bought’ that award for ‘Bobby’. I was so naïve.”
Towards the end you get to learn Rishi Kapoor as a family man. The readers will get to know the actor through Neetu Kapoor's closing comments. Rishi Kapoor can be seen expressing his views or aspirations for Ranbir Kapoor. Neetu Kapoor's closing chapter was more about a woman who had discontinued her career for upbringing of her family.
With all the perfections and imperfections, Rishi Kapoor has come out as a raw, rustic and ‘nothing to hide’ personality. It gives you a lot of perspective towards life and a realisation that human beings are not perfect, and they are not supposed to be!
About the Author:
Rishi Kapoor was one of India's most popular film stars. He debuted as a child artiste in Mera Naam Joker, winning a National Award for his performance. His first role in the lead came with the blockbuster Bobby. In the 1970s, Rishi Kapoor delivered a series of musical hits like Khel Khel Mein, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen and Karz.
Over the last decade, Rishi Kapoor delivered some of the finest performances of his career in a diverse array of roles.
