Rishi Kapoor’s Karz Director Subhash Ghai Reveals Late Actor Was Hospitalised Due To Depression After The Film Tanked At The Box-Office
The failure of late actor Rishi Kapoor's Karz got him hospitalised because of depression, reveals filmmaker and friend Subhash Ghai
It was in the month of April this year that the legendary Rishi Kapoor left for his heavenly abode after battling leukemia for more than a year. Needless to say, he has left a void that can't be filled by anyone, anymore. Rishi Kapoor has given fans a streak of memorable performances, one of which is his 1980's reincarnation drama, Karz. The film, which was helmed by Subhash Ghai, turned out to be a dud at the box-office but is considered iconic in today's time. It is still watched and cherished by many of his fans. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Subhash Ghai revealed how Karz's colossal failure led Rishi Kapoor into the puddle of depression. He was, in fact, hospitalised due to the very reason.
Soon after the fate of Karz was out, Rishi Kapoor didn't answer Subhash's phone calls on Friday and Saturday. It was on Sunday that he came to know about the late actor's condition. Subhash said, "On Sunday, I learnt that he had been admitted to the hospital for depression. He had worked hard on every scene and was so proud of the film, requesting several preview shows for his friends before its release. The no-show came as a shock and I had to get Raj saab (his father Raj Kapoor) to reassure him that we’d made a good film irrespective of its commercial failure." Though not during it's release, Karz became gained a cult status over the next few years.
Rishi and Subhash next worked in Kaanchi (2014) and they continued to share a close rapport for years. Subhash was devastated after waking up to the news of Rishi's demise.
In an interview with HT, Subhash had revealed that Rishi always stood beside him. Subhash said that in an industry full of fair-weather friends, Rishi stood by him for decades. “Whenever I would be in depression, his message would come ‘don’t get depressed, you are the best’. Here, after a film flops, actors desert you. But he was the only one who would call and talk after a film flopped. Aise insaan ke baare mein aap kya kahenge (What can you say about such a person)?. I wanted to see his face, this will be the biggest tragedy of my life."
image source: instagram/subhashghai1