Farah Khan recalls when Rishi Kapoor tried to bully her; reveals his response when she cried hearing his cancer diagnosis: ‘Chup baith yaar’

Farah Khan also recalled how she gave it back to Rishi Kapoor on the sets of Hum Dono, one of her first films as a choreographer, after he tried to bully her.

By: Entertainment Desk

Mumbai | September 23, 2025 12:10 PM IST

3 min read

Farah Khan recalled crying to Rishi Kapoor after his cancer diagnosis.

Farah Khan’s earliest films as a choreographer included Mansoor Khan’s Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kundan Shah’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1942: A Love Story (1994). But a lesser known film was Shafi Inamdar’s directorial debut, 1995 action thriller Hum Dono, starring Pooja Bhatt, Nana Patekar, and the late Rishi Kapoor.

“The last movie that Chintu (Rishi’s nickname) did as a hero was a movie called Hum Dono. It was one of my first films as a choreographer. And he tried to bully me. I had to give it back to him! Once you give it back to him, he’s fine,” recalled Farah, in a conversation with Rishi’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor on her YouTube channel.

“Plus, he’s worked with my dad in Rafoo Chakkar (1975). My dad was the main villain with the cat, Mr. Pilani. So, he and Chintu used to get along really well. He used to tell me, ‘Tu Kamran ki beti hai? (You’re Kamran’s daughter),” added Farah. Riddhima confessed Rafoo Chakkar is one of her favourite films. It also starred her mother Neetu Kapoor. Farah’s father, Kamran Khan, was a supporting actor in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a filmmaker, who went bankrupt making lesser known films.

Farah also complimented Riddhima for starting her career as a leading lady at the age of 45 in an upcoming family comedy opposite Kapil Sharma. “Hats off! At this age, it takes guts,” said Farah. Riddhima responded, “It wasn’t even planned. I was just getting ready when I got a call asking if I’d like to do this film. I think it was Kapil who suggested my name,” revealed Riddhima.

The film, tentatively titled Daadi ki Shaadi, also stars Neetu. “Then I called up my mom. She asked me, ‘Did you get this call?’ I said, ‘Yes, I did. What do I do?’ So she said, ‘Talk to Bharat (Shah, husband) and your in-laws,” recalled Riddhima. She spent 45 days shooting in the hills away from her family, including daughter Samara.

“I never left Samara for three years! The first time I ever left Sam was when dad fell sick just before Covid, when he was diagnosed in 2019,” said Riddhima. Rishi was diagnosed with leukaemia and sought treatment in New York for a year. Months after his return, the Covid lockdown was enforced, and he passed away a month after that in April 2020.

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“I remember when I got the news, I called up Chintu. I started crying on the phone,” recalled Farah, adding, “And he was so positive! He said, ‘Chup baith yaar! Kuchh nahi hai. Hota rehta hai. Theek ho jaunga abhi, ja ke aa jaunga.’ (Keep quiet! It’s nothing. This keeps happening. I’ll be fine after I return).”

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