I am never a big fan of movie personalities. Normally, I find them as great performers but never individuals from whose lives I will gain something spectacular. They have their idiosyncrasies and non-issues of ego trips that affect their lives and career. Why was this any different? Rishi Kapoor was actor the cusp era. When the old actors had left their mark and new generation was yet to pick up. Here is an actor who comes from the old school upbringing (belonging to the first family of hindi cinema) yet had to work with every new generation or actor of his time. There was a few hits he had but had more collaborative multi-starrers to his name. He had great singers, new comer actresses working with him. If I look back that period, I will not remember Rishi Kapoor as a high impact star of his time. So if his story had to be told it can only be told by he himself and he has done than very tactfully. In fact, Randhir Kapoor, again an actor of same era with a similar line of acting didn't have a great career to speak for himself. But I will consider him a more accomplished actor in some sense.
The book is very well written. More importantly has pointed out how an actor with all his limitations had to manage through the changing times working with hundreds of fellow artists who were unique in their own ways. For a person of such mindset still have strong view points is hard to believe. But he has left his traces in many places. I will give him all the credit for surviving the industry and now prospering as a character artist in some of finest cinema like say Do Dooni Char. In general, he has shown respect to almost every co-star he worked with. Save a few tiffs with say Javed Akhtar most of the book is about a non-controversial professional approach to building a long career. He has shown reverence for even for the most competitive actors he had interacted with. I was also surprised to see mention of Nassiruddin Shah and Irfan Khan who completely belonged to a different generation of movies. I am not sure how much the presentation was due to Rishi Kapoor or his illustrious co-author who has seen the industry closely and knows how to bring in moderation to view points.
Towards the end you get to learn Rishi Kapoor as a family man. You don't find anything formidable there. Neetu Kapoor's closing comments were not exactly needed. Same with Rishi Kapoor's views or aspirations on Ranbir Kapoor. I am sure Ranbir has shown enough maturity as an actor to not have such a significant mention as part of the books. I found that a family overdose which could have been avoided. But as every Indian loves to find more about a celebrity personal life some such sort was needed. Neetu Singh's closing chapter was more of a housewife's explanation of her period. A woman who had illustrated career and leaves it for upbringing of her family ensures the family remains as one as she moved along. Interestingly, her stardom was even before she could realize it. She got married at the age of 21.
Overall, a well thought out writing. The actor has told his mind. The co-author has done a fantastic job of moderating it and presenting in a succinct manner. A great read.
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