Khullam Khulla: Uncensored by Rishi Kapoor
Khullam Khulla by Rishi Kapoor was the most awaited autobiography largely because of the frank and outspoken nature of the actor. And more because of the curiosity to know about the oldest Bollywood family, some insights into the present Kapoor family and revelation of any untold truth.
The Greatest Showman of Hindi Cinema
Raj Kapoor is the most revered celebrity of the film industry and I grew up watching his movies mainly because my parents were his huge fans. But he had serious affairs with Nargis and Vyjayanthimala and was an alcoholic were news to me. Rishi Kapoor has written in details about it and of course Raj Kapoor as a father.
Nothing about other Kapoors
But apart from Raj Kapoor, a little bit here and there about his uncles and siblings and his own family, he refrains from writing about any other Kapoor like Karishma or Kareena, both have a successful career as actors and his relationship with the rest of the Kapoor family. Why so, readers will know later at the end of the book.
Rishi Kapoor as an Actor
Throughout the book, Rishi Kapoor mainly wrote about his successful career as an actor and directors, producers, music director, choreographer, co-stars etc. with whom he had worked. Through the book he expressed his gratitude to all.
There is also a full chapter on movies, songs and film making during his time and now. He writes how things have changed now both for good and bad. He was especially critical about the kind of songs composed these days and I happen to agree with him.
He also wrote about the fights he got embroiled in, his coldness for Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan and his Twitter activity. He wrote about his courtship period with Neetu but not in much detail. Why so, you will know at the end of the book.
Not much about himself
Few more pages are left in the book and I know everything about Rishi Kapoor as an actor, but he has scarcely written anything about Rishi Kapoor as a person. Readers will only know him as a heavy smoker and drinker, nothing else he writes about himself. Well, it is difficult to boast about the shortcomings, but you will know more about him by the end of the book.
What’s so special at the end
You must be wondering why I am repeating ‘you will know by the end of the book’. Well, this isis because the best has been reserved for the end. The last chapter, which is the afterword written by Neetu Kapoor reveals all restrained facts about Rishi Kapoor as a person.
It is Neetu Kapoor, who has been frank and outspoken about her husband. Her chapter was actually the uncensored part of the entire autobiography. In few pages she writes about everything which Rishi Kapoor didn’t manage to write in the entire book.
The Verdict
There is absolutely no need to read the entire autobiography. You just have to read Foreword written by Ranbir Kapoor and the Afterword written by Neetu Kapoor. That’s it. These are the uncensored part of the book, real essence of the autobiography, giving insights about Rishi Kapoor as a person.
To be honest without Neetu Singh’s Afterwords, the autobiography wasn’t the same. She gives the other side of her better half.
