Rishi Kapoor has revealed several interesting things about his life and career in his just launched autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, which has been co-authored by Meena Iyer. Among other things, Rishi also wrote about his rivalry with Amitabh Bachchan in the beginning of his career. Read the excerpts here.

On his rapport with Amitabh Bachchan : 

“I must admit that in those days there was an unspoken undercurrent of tension between Amitabh Bachchan and me. We never sat down to sort it out and luckily the strain evaporated on its own. It was only after we did Amar Akbar Anthony that the two of us got friendly with each other… Amitabh and I didn’t start off on the best of terms. Initially we had a rather uncomfortable, blow hot, blow cold relationship. ”

On the reason behind his cold rapport with Amitabh :

“I must confess there is still a lingering issue I have with Amitabh Bachchan. A big disadvantage of working in an all-star movie in those days was that everybody only wanted to make action films, which automatically meant that the star who could carry off action with the most flair would get the meatiest part. That’s how, with the exception of Kabhi Kabhie, which was a romantic film, none of the multi-starrers I featured in had an author-backed role for me. Directors and writers unfailingly reserved their strongest, pivotal roles for Amitabh Bachchan.”

On being a brat and calling Amitabh Bachchan by his name :

“I was immature and defiant back in the 1970s. He was ten years older than me but like an idiot I used to call him Amitabh, never Amit ji. Thankfully, I was able to overcome my differences and replace them with a warm camaraderie, which later turned into a family relationship (his daughter Shweta is married to my nephew Nikhil, Ritu’s son).”

On buying his Best Actor award for Bobby :

“During the making of Kabhi Kabhie, there was every indication of a cold war between us. He never spoke to me and I didn’t speak to him. I think that Amitabh was sulking because I had won the best actor award for Bobby, given by the leading film magazine of the era. I am sure he felt the award was rightfully his for Zanjeer, which released the same year. I am ashamed to say it, but I actually ‘bought’ that award. I was so naïve.”There was this PRO, Taraknath Gandhi, who said to me, ‘Sir, tees hazaar de do,toh aap ko main award dila doonga.’ I am not the manipulative sort but I admit that I gave him the money without thinking. My secretary, Ghanshyam, also said, ‘Sir,dete hain, mil jayega award, isme kya hai.’

On learning from his mistakes later in life :

“Amitabh probably learnt from someone that I had paid for the award. I can only say it was 1974, I was twenty-two years old, and incredibly naïve and bratty. I was flush with money and was not wise or mature enough to understand what I was doing. Only later did I realize my folly.”

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Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was present at the launch of filmmaker Karan Johar’s autobiography “An Unsuitable Boy”, said Karan is an intelligent and sensitive man with a gifted quality to understand human emotions.

Shah Rukh Khan said, “I think the name of the book should have been a good boy instead of “An Unsuitable Boy” because I think Karan is an extremely intelligent boy and a gifted human being.

“When I am saying intelligent, I meant the ability to understand human emotions, people and their situation. I think that is a gift he has from God. He is an extremely gifted sensitive person. And I must mention that he is a brave boy, he is the special human being I have come across,” he added.

It was a star-studded evening where many Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Alia Bhatt, Manish Malhotra, Suchitra Pillai, Sweta Bachchan, celebrated author Shobhaa De and co-author of the book journalist Poonam Saxena, among others, were present.

The book launch was followed by an interactive session with Shobhaa De that unveiled a better insight of the book.

As the book talked about Karan’s paternal instinct, when asked about it, the filmmaker said, “I think I have a nurturing quality and it came out stronger when I launched Alia, Varun and Sid. I cannot let them go of even now, after five years… I am very protective.”

He also added: “It goes to all the directors of my Dharma team as well. I think that comes from a strong paternal love that I have for them. I don’t know how to go about it but I have so much paternal love to offer.”

The book has a chapter about his friendship with best friend Kajol gone sour, which grabbed many headlines even before the book released.

When asked about the chapter, Karan said: “I do not want to say much about Kajol as enough has been said and done even before the book is out. I want to remember the history of friendship of 25 years that we have shared; sometimes, chapters end, books end so as relationships.”

The book talks about various phases of Karan Johar’s life including his first meeting with Shah Rukh Khan to his passion for Hindi films and his unrequited love of life; all has been encapsulated in 216 pages.

–IANS

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Suerpstar Salman Khan launched Sania Mirza’s autobiography ‘Ace against Odds’ at a function in Mumbai, only days after the book was unveiled by Shah Rukh Khan. Salman was full of who praise for Sania and their endearing friendship kept the audience enthralled at the event.

“People do not achieve what Sania has achieved even if they have to be born in three lifetimes. At 29 I think she has a lot to say, so before she forgets what she has to say, I think it was a very wise and sensible decision to write an autobiography”

What are the chances of Sania Mirza getting into Bollywood? Well Salman Khan thinks she can make it to the film industry anytime she wants. “She is doing very well in tennis but if she wants to enter films, which she doesn’t, but if she wants to join movies as well she will have this position here (pointing to the book). But what about Sania herself; she shares her view during the launch of her autobiography ‘Ace against Odds’. She also came out clean on the many versions floating about a biopic on her. Is Farah Khan really working on a biopic on her – Sania had her clarification ready.

Salman Khan when asked as it’s a season of autography when will his fans see Salman Khan’s autobiography. To which Salman’s fun-take was that he has to take it to the grave otherwise a lot of graves will open up. May be what meant was ‘a lot of skeletons will tumble out of the closet’. Then Sania herself helped the media by asking Salman the inevitable wedding question, to which Salman gamely played along with the hosts’ version of 18th November.

What are the chances of Sania Mirza getting into Bollywood? Well Salman Khan thinks she can make it to the film industry anytime she wants but what about Sania herself; she shares her view during the launch of her autobiography ‘Ace against Odds’. When a biopic is made on Sania, she’s not keen to play herself the role but would like either Parineeti Chopra or Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma to play her role. She also came out clean on the many versions floating about a biopic on her. Is Farah Khan really working on a biopic on her – clarification coming straight from the horse’s mouth, over to Sania Mirza.

While launching Sania Mirza’s autobiography ‘Ace against Odds’, Salman Khan was asked, as it’s a season of autobiography when will his fans see Salman Khan’s autobiography. To which Salman’s fun-take was that he has to take it to the grave otherwise a lot of graves will open up. May be what he really meant was ‘a lot of skeletons will tumble out of the closet’. Then Sania herself helped the media by asking Salman the inevitable wedding question, to which Salman gamely played along with the hosts’ version of 18th November.