Rishi Kapoor Wanted Enough People to Carry His Arthi, says Nikkhil Advani

Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday. The news of his unfortunate demise left all his friends, family and fans in shock. Rishi was admitted to Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai after complaints of breathing problems, and passed away after battling with cancer for two long years.

His last rites were held at the Chandanwadi crematorium in Marine Lines, Mumbai. Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt, only close family members and friends like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, were present during the rituals.

Three days after his demise, Rishi Kapoor’s ashes were immersed in the Banganga tank, in Malabar Hill area of Mumbai, in the presence of wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor, and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Alia Bhatt and Brahmastra director Ayan Mukerji were also present for the final rites.

Reacting to the same, Nikkhil Advani director reveals that Rishi Kapoor would have wanted people fighting over giving a shoulder to his bier at the funeral. Owing to the Coronavirus lockdown, only about 20 people were allowed to attend Kapoor's funeral, and not all his loved ones could be there to bid the final goodbye. 

Nikkhil regrets that he could not attend Rishi Kapoor’s last rites and in interaction with Rajeev Masand, he said:

 “It just broke my heart. They come from a generation where people believed that no matter what happens, they would have done enough good in life that people would fight to carry their coffin. It is very difficult to see those photographs because he would have wanted people fighting for it.”

Nikkhil also recalled actor Vinod Khanna's demise and said, “I went to Vinod Khanna’s funeral with Rishi Kapoor. He was very, very upset that not a single youngster from the film industry was there. He even tweeted about it, ‘I wish when I die there will be enough people to carry my arthi’.”

After Vinod Khanna’s funeral back in 2007, Rishi Kapoor had tweeted: “Shameful, Not one actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna’s funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. “Why this? Including mine and thereafter. When I die, I must be prepared. None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today’s so-called stars.”

It is unfortunate that not all the loved ones, family, friends and fans could see Rishi Kapoor for the last time and bid their final goodbyes...