I still remember I had given my 5th standard exam and enjoying summer vacation in May. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh has been my favourite Bollywood pair and their film Khel Khel Mein was scheduled to be released on May 16, 1975.
My uncle who used to stay in my building was also film lover and had a record of sorts of watching the first day first show. He came for a tea and told me he had booked two tickets for the Matinee show of Khel Khel Me and so be ready before at least 40 minutes to reach the cinema theatre which was about 10 minutes away.
My obvious response was ‘yes’ I will be there. I was so happy that I will be slowly and steadily joining the bandwagon of watching the first day first show.
As the day come lot of my schoolmates and their relatives had already gathered outside the theatre with discussion around Rishi alias Chintu and Neetu Singh and the film will be a box office hit.
As the lights were deemed there was a pin drop silence as everyone in the audience was eager to see the first appearance of their favourite pair.
Khel Khel Mein, a suspense thriller directed by Ravi Tandon, music by RD Burman and the lyrics written by Gulshan Bawra. ‘’Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’’ and ‘’Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karenge’’ were super hit and so also the film.
Rishi and Neetu were at their best accompanied by Rakesh Roshan. As the time was passing by, the film turned quickly from fun and frolic to a taut thriller. Iftekhar played a negative role, Dev Kumar in a positive role and Aruna Irani also star in the film with famous song “Sapna Mera Toot Gaya.”
Khel Khel Mein was one of the RIshi Kapoor films I watched for at least three times. The list included Bobby, Chandni, Deewana, Nagina, Amar Akbar Anthony and so many.
Rishi Kapoor left us early as he was busy currently in the shooting of Sharmaji Namkeen. It is an untimely exit of a great actor. Till his last moment, Rishi Kapoor lived life king-size. He was an entertainer, who didn’t even stop on his deathbed. Nothing slowed him down, not leukaemia, not controversies, not even death.