National Award-winning actor once refused to work with superstar father over night shoots. Later shot a film at night with Sonam Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan

Rishi Kapoor’s life in cinema was filled with memorable roles, iconic songs and unforgettable performances. But behind the stardom was a man who carried complex emotions, especially when it came to his relationship with his legendary father, Raj Kapoor. However, the father and son collaborated on landmark films such as Mera Naam Joker, Bobby and Prem Rog, their bond remained complicated. Rishi Kapoor once revealed that he had even turned down a film offered by Raj Kapoor. The reason wasn’t creative differences, it was something far more practical. He was strongly opposed to night shoots.

Rishi Kapoor once walked out of his father's movie

Rishi Kapoor, one of Hindi cinema’s most respected actors, enjoyed a career that spanned decades. From romantic leads to layered character roles, he brought sincerity and emotional weight to the screen. Yet, despite being born into Bollywood royalty, his relationship with Raj Kapoor was far from easy. The late actor had often admitted that there was an emotional distance between them. He famously addressed his father as “sahab".



Recently, filmmaker Rakesh Omprakash Mehra during an exclusive interaction with SCREEN, recalled the actor’s long-standing discomfort with night shooting schedules. Mehra, who directed Rishi Kapoor in Delhi 6 (2009), had already heard that the actor avoided night shoots. When he narrated Delhi 6 to the veteran actor, he informed him that the film would be shot almost entirely at night.

That’s when Rishi Kapoor shared a personal story. He told Mehra that years ago, Raj Kapoor had narrated a film to him and later mentioned that it would require two or three nights of shooting. Rishi decided to walk away from the project because of that requirement, something he admitted quite candidly.

Despite this hesitation, Mehra stood firm. He told Rishi Kapoor that there was no alternative and that the film simply could not be made without night shoots. After hearing this, the actor agreed to take the leap. As Mehra recalled, Rishi Kapoor eventually cooperated fully, making Delhi 6 the first film in which he shot extensively at night.

What truly convinced him, however, was the script. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra shared that Rishi Kapoor was deeply moved after reading it. The story reminded him of Raj Kapoor’s Jaagte Raho, especially its strong social commentary.

For the unversed, Delhi 6, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor, went on to become a unique chapter in Rishi Kapoor’s career, not just for its content, but for what it represented personally. I

More about Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor made his acting debut as a child artist in Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he won the National Film Award. His transition to leading man came with Bobby, which turned him into a household name. He passed away on April 30, 2020, at the age of 67 after battling leukaemia. His final film, Sharmaji Namkeen, was released posthumously, with Paresh Rawal stepping in to complete the role.