Poonam Dhillon Recalls Teasing Rishi Kapoor For Showing Off His English: 'You’re A 10th Fail, I’m A Graduate'
Poonam Dhillon fondly recalls working with Rishi Kapoor, describing him as a “natural actor” with a slightly “irritable” charm.
Late actor Rishi Kapoor carved his own niche in Bollywood, often playing romantic heroes in an era when action-driven films ruled the box office. Though he once admitted to feeling like a “misfit" in the industry, his charm, charisma, and undeniable screen presence kept him at the forefront well into the 1990s, after which he gracefully transitioned into supporting roles.
Among the many actors he worked with during his prime was Poonam Dhillon, who starred alongside him in films like Yeh Vaada Raha, Biwi O Biwi, and Zamana. In a recent interview with Hindi Rush, Poonam fondly reminisced about their time together, describing Rishi as an “understated, natural actor" who could also be quite “irritable" on set—but never in a mean-spirited way.
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“I used to complain to Neetu [Kapoor] because he would get so irritated, scold us," she said, laughing. “We were kids in front of them." Poonam, who was ten years younger than Rishi, often played his romantic interest in films despite the age gap.
She also recalled his love for English and how he enjoyed flaunting his vocabulary. “He was this very English type… He would pride himself on his English. He would read TIME magazine and assume he was the only well-read person on set," she said. But once she grew more confident, she began playfully teasing him. “I told him, ‘Listen, you’re 10th fail, I’m a graduate. Don’t show off your English!’"
Their on-set banter extended to Scrabble games, where Rishi would impress his co-stars with seemingly complex words—many of which, Poonam claims, he made up. “Some heroines who didn’t know better were impressed. I used to argue, ‘There’s no such word!’" she said with a smile.
Despite his occasional grumpiness—what his wife Neetu Kapoor affectionately called being sadu—Poonam remembers Rishi as warm and gracious. One such moment came when he was writing his memoir, Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored. He called her unexpectedly just to say thank you.
“He said, ‘I just wanted to thank you.’ I asked, ‘For what?’ And he said, ‘I’m writing my book, thinking about all the heroines I’ve worked with. Each of you contributed to my life and career. I just wanted to thank you for being part of my journey.’ It was so sweet. I was touched."
Rishi Kapoor passed away in April 2020 at the age of 67, but his legacy—on and off screen—continues to be remembered with love and admiration.
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