Rishi Kapoor birth anniversary: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shares throwback tribute
Synopsis
On Rishi Kapoor's birth anniversary, daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shared rare throwback photographs and a message that read 'the stars will shine a little brighter today.' The tribute offers a window into a father-daughter bond that Rishi himself documented in his autobiography — and that, by Neetu Kapoor's account, only deepened after Riddhima's marriage.
Key Takeaways
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shared a monochrome throwback photo with Rishi Kapoor on his birth anniversary on 4 September .
Her caption read: 'The stars will shine a little brighter today for you I miss you every day.' Rishi Kapoor wrote about his close bond with Riddhima in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored .
Neetu Kapoor has said Rishi regularly travelled to Delhi to visit Riddhima and granddaughter Samaira after her marriage.
Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April 2020 at age 67 after battling leukaemia.
His final film, Sharmaji Namkeen , was released posthumously in 2022 , with Paresh Rawal completing the role.
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni paid a heartfelt tribute to her late father, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, on his birth anniversary on Friday, 4 September, sharing rare throwback photographs and a personal message on social media. The tribute underscored the deep bond the father-daughter duo shared — one that, by several accounts, only grew stronger in the years before Rishi's passing.
The Tribute
Riddhima posted a monochrome childhood photograph of herself with her father, alongside a family portrait featuring her parents, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor. In her caption, she wrote: 'Happy Birthday Papa The stars will shine a little brighter today for you I miss you every day.'
The post resonated widely among fans of the Kapoor family, many of whom have continued to mourn the loss of one of Hindi cinema's most enduring leading men.
A Bond Documented in His Own Words
The closeness between Riddhima and her father was not merely a private matter — Rishi Kapoor himself wrote about it in his autobiography, Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored. In the chapter on fatherhood, he described the pride he felt for both his children and noted that his relationship with Riddhima grew especially close following her marriage.
Neetu Kapoor has echoed this in public conversations, recalling that after Riddhima's wedding, Rishi would seize every opportunity to travel to Delhi to spend time with her and his granddaughter Samaira.
Neetu Kapoor on Rishi's Parenting Style
In a conversation on Soha Ali Khan's podcast All About Her, Neetu spoke candidly about how Rishi approached fatherhood with both Riddhima and son Ranbir Kapoor. She said Rishi deliberately maintained a certain distance from his children because he wanted them to grow up with a sense of respect — and even a measure of healthy fear — towards their father, so they would be 'raised right.'
A Career That Defined an Era
Born into the legendary Kapoor film dynasty, Rishi Kapoor made his screen debut as a child artist in his father Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker in 1970. He went on to launch his career as a leading man with Bobby in 1973, opposite Dimple Kapadia — a debut that made him an overnight star.
Over the following decades he headlined a string of superhits including Khel Khel Mein, Laila Majnu, Amar Akbar Anthony, Sargam, Karz, Prem Rog, Chandni, and Bol Radha Bol. His later work — spanning Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons, 102 Not Out, and Mulk — demonstrated a range that went far beyond the romantic hero image of his early years.
His final film, Sharmaji Namkeen, was released posthumously in 2022. Rishi had completed a substantial portion of the role before his death; actor Paresh Rawal stepped in to finish it.
His Passing
Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April 2020 after a prolonged battle with leukaemia. He was 67. His death marked the end of a chapter in Hindi cinema that spanned more than five decades, and tributes from across the industry continue to pour in each year on his birth anniversary.
Point of View
And documented in his own words. In an industry where star-family narratives are often managed for public consumption, the specificity here (the Delhi visits, the granddaughter, the autobiography chapter) lends the grief an unusual authenticity. Four years after his death, Rishi Kapoor remains one of the few Hindi film stars whose personal life story is as compelling as his filmography.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Riddhima Kapoor Sahni post a tribute to Rishi Kapoor?
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shared throwback photographs and a personal message on social media to mark her late father Rishi Kapoor's birth anniversary on 4 September. She wrote that 'the stars will shine a little brighter today,' expressing how much she misses him.
What did Rishi Kapoor write about Riddhima in his autobiography?
In his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, Rishi devoted a chapter to fatherhood in which he described the pride he felt for both his children. He noted that his bond with Riddhima became particularly close after her marriage.
How did Rishi Kapoor maintain his relationship with Riddhima after her marriage?
According to Neetu Kapoor, Rishi would make every effort to travel to Delhi to spend time with Riddhima and his granddaughter Samaira after Riddhima's wedding. Neetu shared this on Soha Ali Khan's podcast All About Her.
When did Rishi Kapoor pass away and what was the cause?
Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April 2020 at the age of 67 after battling leukaemia. His death came after a prolonged illness that he had spoken about publicly.
What was Rishi Kapoor's last film?
Rishi Kapoor's final film was Sharmaji Namkeen, released posthumously in 2022. He had shot a significant portion of the film before his death, and actor Paresh Rawal stepped in to complete the role.
