Rishi Kapoor on why guilt drove him to say no to films

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor says he would have worked more with Nasir Hussain but it was guilt that kept him away from working with the filmmaker.

Kapoor worked with Hussain in hit films such as Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

“I worked with Nasir sahab [sir] in two movies. I would have worked with him in four movies but guilt kept me away. I somehow felt that Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai did not perform as well as Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, that’s why I felt that I must have hurt Nasir sahab’s feelings and hence shouldn’t work with him,” Kapoor said.

The actor said Hussain had called him on several occasions and asked him to meet in his office.

“And I would always make some excuse like I am busy or I am working. Pancham [music composer RD Burman] would also call me asking me to meet Nasir sahab, but because of my guilt, I felt he should work with other actors. Pancham da, Majrooh Sultanpuri uncle, Nasir sahab and I were a fabulous team,” he added.

The actor, who has worked in films like Bobby, Kabhie Kabhie, Prem Rog and Bol Radha Bol, also revealed that Rs90,000 (Dh5,167.66) was spent on his costume for the song Bachna ae Haseeno from the 1977 film Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

“The entire dress was made of plastic shells because that would reflect on the camera and look different when exposed to different kinds of lighting,” Kapoor said, adding that it took two months of hard work to make the ensemble for the song.

“I had suggested that dress to Nasir sahab and informed him that it might be a little expensive but he least expected it to be that expensive. Rs90,000 was a lot of money, especially in 1975. The red heart that I had worn with that outfit was borrowed from Neetu’s [Neetu Singh] friend who had purchased it in London. I told her that I wanted to wear it for that song,” he added.