Rishi Kapoor walked out of father Raj Kapoor’s film because he wanted to shoot at night, reveals Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra

Rishi Kapoor was launched by Raj Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor had, on several occasions, spoken openly about his strained relationship with his father, legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. Despite working together on several seminal films such as Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, and later Prem Rog, there remained a noticeable emotional distance between the two. Rishi often referred to his father as “sahab,” a choice of address that reflected fear than familiarity. However, despite having such a dynamic, the late actor once revealed that he had rejected a film offered by his father. This anecdote was recently recalled by filmmaker Rakesh Omprakash Mehra in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN. Mehra, who worked with Rishi Kapoor on Delhi 6, shared how the actor had turned down a Raj Kapoor film simply because it required night shoots.

Mehra recalled approaching Rishi Kapoor with the script of Delhi 6, which the actor liked immediately. However, Mehra was apprehensive, as most of Rishi’s scenes were scheduled to be shot at night. “I had heard he was averse to night shootings,” said Mehra, before recounting Rishi’s reaction when he was informed about the night schedule. “He told me an anecdote. He said there was this director called Raj Kapoor. He narrated a film to me and then told me that there were 2–3 days of night shooting required. I left that film for three nights, and here you are telling me that the entire film is set at night?” he recalled.

Despite the hesitation, Mehra stood his ground. “There is no other way and I need your help here,” he told the actor. Rishi Kapoor eventually agreed, making Delhi 6 the first film in which he shot extensively at night. “He did cooperate, and that was the first time ever when he shot at nights.” In the same conversation, Mehra also recalled Rishi Kapoor’s immediate response upon hearing the screenplay of Delhi 6. The actor was deeply moved and expressed his eagerness to be part of the project. “It reminded him of Jaagte Raho that Raj Kapoor made, and he added that there was a very strong social commentary, and he would love to do it.”

Talking about the dynamic between Rishi Kapoor and Raj Kapoor, the late actor also reflected on this complicated relationship in his memoir Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored. He recalled how Raj Kapoor would often return home late at night in a drunken state, an experience that deeply unsettled him. “There was a point in time, when I was a young boy, when his arrival was anything but pleasant. Those midnight moments haunted me for a long time, although I steadfastly refused to share my feelings with anyone, until now. My father would not only come home very late, but also very drunk,” he wrote and added, “From the moment my father staggered home, I would hide under my razai, shivering but alert, my eyes wide open, straining to hear what he was saying or doing. It was only when I heard his voice growing faint, as he moved towards his room, that I would relax and breathe easy.”