This Movie Made Dawood Ibrahim A Fan Of Rishi Kapoor, All Because Of The Hero's Name

News18

07-05-2025

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Rishi Kapoor had been involved in the film industry since childhood, but did you know that one of his roles left such a strong impression that Dawood Ibrahim became a fan
Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, known for his charm and versatility, captivated the silver screen for decades, portraying roles ranging from romantic leads to emotionally complex characters. With a career spanning over 50 years, Kapoor became a beloved name not just in India but among cinema enthusiasts worldwide. While he delivered several iconic performances, one particular role in the mid-80s unexpectedly earned him a fan from an unlikely corner of society – the underworld.
Debut With 'Bobby'
The veteran actor made his debut with his father Raj Kapoor's film Bobby, opposite Dimple Kapadia, and became an overnight sensation and a beloved star in the industry. However, in 1985, he starred alongside Poonam Dhillon in a film that not only earned him critical acclaim but also sparked conversations about his popularity reaching into the underworld.
Throughout his career, Rishi Kapoor romanced nearly every leading actress of his time and delivered numerous memorable films to Hindi cinema. He later chronicled his life and career in a book, aptly titled after the lyrics of one of his hit songs ' Khullam Khulla '.
How Underworld Don Became a Fan
Coming from a film family, Rishi Kapoor had been involved in the film industry since childhood. But did you know that one of his roles left such an impression that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim became a fan?
Rishi Kapoor was not just a romantic icon from the 1970s through the 1990s—he also carved a space for himself among industry heavyweights like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Vinod Khanna. In 1989, he appeared alongside Vinod Khanna in the film Chandni, where he held his own and gave Khanna stiff competition.
Among Rishi Kapoor's many hit films, his performance in the 1985 film Tawaif stood out for an unusual reason and made underworld don Dawood Ibrahim his fan.
Directed by BR Chopra, the film featured an ensemble cast including Rati Agnihotri, Poonam Dhillon, Ashok Kumar, Kader Khan, Deepak Parashar, Shashikala, Sushma Seth, Asrani, Shammi, Iftekhar, and Yunus Parvez.
Kapoor revealed in his autobiography that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was particularly fond of Tawaif, partly because his character in the film was also named Dawood. The actor mentioned in his book that he didn't understand what later caused Dawood Ibrahim to change so drastically and commit something as devastating as the Mumbai blasts. However, at that time, the don praised his performance enthusiastically and admired his work.
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