Two days and two of the countries Bollywood stars succumb to cancer back to back.  Within 24 hours of Irrfan Khan passing away at 53, it was a sad welcome to another morning as the news of passing away of Rishi Kapoor came in.

India's first ever smiling heartthrob, Rishi Kapoor succumbed to Leukemia at the age of 67, as confirmed by family sources, at 0845 hrs in Mumbai. Rishi Kapoor had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and had undergone treatment in the US.  He had returned to India in September 2019 was seen publicly on many occasions.  His last effort on the silver screen was in 2018, when he appeared alongside Amitabh Bacchan in 102 Not Out.

A flambouyant personality and a charming on screen presence made Rishi Kapoor the heartthrob of the nation, even when he appeared in his first movie as a child star in Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker. His first movie as an adult star was the 1973 blockbuster Bobby with Dimple Kapadia. He followed up his immediate stardom with a host of romantic, comedy and drama films. Never being an action hero, his chubby and jovial onscreen presence was unmatchable.

Son of the showman late Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu Singh, son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Ridhima. Rishi Kapoor along with Neetu Kapoor, brothers Randhir and Raji Kapoor had visited Udaipur to participate in a wedding in 2013.

As per the doctors treating him and his family, who were alongside him in his last hours, Rishi Kapoor maintained his jovial self right till the very end.  He kept the those around him entertained and was grateful to millions of his fans and wellwishers across the globe.