In his recently released autobiography, “Khullam Khulla: Uncensored,” Rishi Kapoor, gave some of the most candid moments of his life making it a treat to read. Rishi in this book penned down his story of growing up in the shadow of legacies, making his mark, chance meetings and love for his wife and also the dance with fame and money in Bollywood. He also put down his experiences beyond Bollywood and also his face to face meet with the gangster Dawood Ibrahim.
Dawood has been on the run from 1993 after the Mumbai blasts and is on the most wanted list of Interpol for his crimes. He also has inspired many crime films, one such film was ”D-Day,” released in 2013, in which Rishi Kapoor played the role of Dawood.
In his book, Kapoor penned down the two times he met Dawood Ibrahim. The first time was in Dubai when Rishi was there to attend the ‘Asha Bhosle and RD Burman night’. The gangster’s hired guy approached him at the airport and said, “Dawood Saab baat karenge (Dawood Saab would like to speak to you.)” The Gangster then invited Rishi and his friends to his house. The duo was, according to the book, picked up in a gleaming Rolls Royce and driven around in circles so to not recognize the route to the gangster’s home.
Once at his place, the gangster revealed his exploits and not having any regrets about his criminal record. He also spoke about the murder scene he arranged in Mumbai court that has inspired the 1985 movie “Arjun,” starring Sunny Deol. While leaving, Dawood offered to Rishi, “If you need anything at all, any money, anything, just feel free to ask me,” to which the actor politely declined.
The second meet was in Dubai too in 1989, when Rishi was shopping with his wife Neetu in a Lebanese store where Dawood was present with his eight bodyguards. This time the gangster again offered to buy Rishi and his wife something to which the actor said no again. The actor was then offered Dawood’s mobile number. Rishi quoted in his biography that, “He (Dawood) was always extremely nice to me and showed me a lot of warmth,” and his confusion as to why the gangster’s attitude changed towards India. The actor wrote, “Everything changed soon after. I don’t know what made him go after my country the way he did. I have had no interaction with him at all after that chance meeting at the shoe shop.”
