Juhi Chawla Revisits Old Memories Of Shooting With Rishi Kapoor: Chintuji And I Would Play Scrabble On Set, He Was Too Good

Actress Juhi Chawla worked with late actor Rishi Kapoor in a number of films. The duo was seen together in films like Ghar Ghar ki Kahani, Ghar ki Izzat, Bol Radha Bol so on and so forth. It was during a media interaction that happened before lockdown that she revealed, she used to be in awe of Rishi Kapoor when she was new to the film industry.

Juhi found Rishi Kapoor to be an effortless actor and someone who would never rehearse for any scene. In a Mid-Day report Juhi Chawla revealed, “Though a little detached, he was always friendly. Chintuji [would arrive on set] at 10 am. He would often sit outdoors under a tree to have his make-up done. His make-up artiste, Shashi dada, would set out a neat table with the [products]. A tiny transistor radio would be turned on while the make-up was done. when done, Chintuji would impatiently pick up the sponge, rub it all over his face, and undo dada’s effort, and then announce that he was ready. As time went by, and we worked on more films together, including Bol Radha Bol and Saajan ka Ghar, Chintuji [and I] would play Scrabble on set. I played well, but he was too good, and would often beat me. Nonetheless, I kept trying to win!”

It was in the month of September 2017, that the script of Sharmaji Namkeen was narrated to Juhi. The film is about a middle-aged gentleman called Sharmaji. Juhi in the same report revealed, she found the script to be very amusing and heart-warming and she went on to state that the role was tailor-made for Chintuji (Rishi Kapoor).

The actress was further quoted as saying, “Producer Honey Trehan wanted to hold a joint narration with the entire cast and crew. It seemed like a good ice-breaker. Chintuji was reluctant but agreed because he said Amitabh Bachchan would do such sessions often. He said [he’d leave early] too, however, when the reading began, it was so joyful that he stayed till the end, and was the last to leave.”

Juhi went on to reveal, she last met Rishi Kapoor at the HK hospital where he had been for routine treatment in the month of March, ’20. She went on to reveal, she was thinking of talking to him and enquiring about his health just a few days ago, but that could not happen.