MUMBAI: One of the most iconic onscreen and off screen pair, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s love story has touched many hearts.
The teenage romance which bloomed around 1975 stands rock solid even after 34 years. In an interview with Karan Johar, Neetu Singh and Rishi Kapoor bared their hearts out on their love life, teeange years, marriage and children.
On being asked what keeps them going strong Rishi Kapoor said, “It has always been Neetu who has made all the efforts, I have always been a difficult man.”
During their initial days, Neetu and Rishi got many opportunities to work together and while they used to spend most of their times together, they were never attracted to one another. Neetu Singh was more of his confidante. Rishi Kapoor had plenty of girlfriends and Neetu was the only person he used to share all the stories with. Neetu was his shoulder to cry on whenever he used to break up with someone.
Their moment of realisation came when Rishi Kapoor went abroad to shoot for Barood. Right before this film, Rishi and Neetu had shot for Kabhi Kabhi in Kashmir. When Rishi went to Paris for the shooting of Barood he suddenly started feeling lonely and abandoned. Within a matter of two to three days Rishi realised his love for Neetu and sent her a telegram.
The telegram read ‘ye Sikhni badi yaad aati hai’. Neetu who had so far acted as his confidante and was barely 14 then, could not hide her happiness anymore. Neetu took the telegram and showed it to Yash and Pam Chopra.
Though Rishi had expressed his love for Neetu, he remained commitment phobic. For him marriage was a liability he was not ready to take. During their intial days of courting Rishi had clearly told Neetu, “I’ll only date you, I’ll never get married to you”. Neetu who had just entered her teens was too much in love to lose him over this. They dated for five years before finally tying the knot.
Rishi Kapoor’s sister got them engaged in a sudden hush- hush ceremony. Rishi Kapoor had gone to Delhi to attend a friend’s wedding and his sister had secretly invited both the families for the event. Both the families knew about the budding response between the couple and it was decided then and there to get them engaged. Rishi Kapoor did not even have a ring to give to Neetu so he took his sister’s ring and gave it to Neetu. While the director of Rishi Kapoor’s film ‘Jhootha Kahin Ka’ who was also a part of this secret ceremony, gave his ring to Neetu to give it to Rishi Kapoor.
Soon after this Neetu gave up her career in the industry. Though the general perception is that Rishi asked Neetu to give up her career and be a part of his family, Neetu stresses on the fact that this was entirely her decision. Neetu had become a part of this industry when she was just 5, so by the time she got engaged and was 21 she decided to give it all up. According to Neetu, she had seen it all. She had become a superstar, she had seen success and she had worked a lot. So Neetu decided to move ahead in life and get married. Months before the wedding Neetu sent letters to all her directors and co- actors that soon she would not be a part of this fraternity.
Rishi and Neetu also spoke about a slight rough patch in their married life. Talking about that phase Rishi said, “Every relationship goes through such turmoils but eventually comes out of it, our relationship was no different.” He further added, “I was being very difficult then, but Neetu absorbed all the shocks I gave her really well. And held onto me.” In response to that Neetu said, “Rishi has always been a very good husband and a very good father, so no matter what happened I knew what I wanted from him and held onto him.”
Parents of heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi and Neetu are still madly in love. In today’s world where the institution of marriage is crumbling everywhere, Rishi and Neetu’s love story is an inspiration to all those who think marraiges and love doesn’t last too long.