Mumbai: How could you define Rishi Kapoor? A sparkling Kapoor prodigy, a versatile actor who explored different genres till cancer grips him, a sharp tongue who used to call ‘spade’ a ‘spade’? The second son of Raj Kapoor was an absolute chocolate boy during his initial days and used to enjoy female attention a lot.
But as soon as he fell for his on-screen co-star Neetu Kapoor, a love story was born and continued till his last breath. Ahead of his third death anniversary, let’s remember the gorgeous Kapoor in vignettes of his family ties.
“Fond memories of Baisakhi day as we got engaged 43 years back on 13th April 1979. Baisakhi has a different connotation for Neetu and Rishi.”
In this frame, Rishi Kapoor is holding his granddaughter Samara Sahani.
This is the ultimate famjam picture. Rishi was accompanied by Neetu, son Ranbir, daughter Ridhima and granddaughter Samara.
Neetu Singh’s Instagram album is full of couple pictures. From the 70s to 2020s- the couple has seen different shades of marital life. This is a goofy picture where Neetu and Rishi exude love.
This is a major throwback picture where Rishi is enjoying the colour of festival.
This is a precious frame. In Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s Sangeet, Ranbir is holding a picture frame of his late father.
This is another famjam moment where Kapoor was accompanied by his teenage son and daughter.
If stories are to be believed, after being diagnosed with cancer, Rishi requested his doctor that he might allow him to have a sip of wine once a day.
Food, fun, family and wine…This was Rishi Kapoor’s world…
Hyderabad: Most cities in the world, especially great civilisations, revere their founders and make it a point to remember them. But our city seems to be an exception, given that in popular culture the metropolis is known today for pearls, and is associated with the Nizams, who in fact had nothing to do with the foundation of Hyderabad.
It is to correct that wrong, or rather our forgetfulness as grateful citizens of Hyderabad, that we should remember our founder Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, who laid the foundations of our city in 1591. Born on April 4, 1566, he was the fourth king of the Golconda dynasty that existed from 1518 to 1687. It is only fit that we remember him for having the vision to build a new city, which would eventually go on to have over four centuries of continuous history.
The Charminar, which is the first monument built to mark the new city of Hyderabad, today is world famous and still stands as an example of the grandeur that Hyderabad was surrounded with right from its foundations. It may be noted that Mohammed Quli is rather more known for his association with the legend of his lover Bhagmati.
Much before Hyderabad was built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, it was his grandfather Sultan Quli who settled in Telangana after migrating from Hamadan (Iran) in the late 15th century. The Golconda fort in Hyderabad was a walled city from which the first three Qutb Shahi kings ruled.
The Golconda Fort’s origins are traced back to the 14th century when the Rajah of Warangal Deo Rai (under the Kakatiya Kingdom which ruled from Warangal) built a mud fort, which was later taken over the Bahamani empire between (1358-75). It was later developed into a full-fledged citadel by Sultan Quli, who founded the Qutb Shahi (or Golconda) kingdom in 1518, when the last sovereign Bahamani emperor Mahmud Shah Bahamani died.
A view of the Golconda fort from atop the Bala Hissar area, which shows the number of houses that have cropped up over the last four decades. (Photo: Siasat)
Prior to that, Sultan Quli was a commander and later governor of Tilang (Telangana), under the Bahamani empire (1347-1518), when its second capital was at Bidar. Sultan Quli had risen to the level of governor under the Bahamanis. At this point of time he was given the fort, which he began developing into a walled-city. It eventually came to called Golconda Fort (name derived from Golla-conda, or shepherds hill).
Sultan Quli’s youngest son Ibrahim Qutb Shah was the third monarch of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. Mohammed Quli was one of the younger ones Ibrahim had with his wife named Bhagirathu. Mohammed Quli eventually would would become the fourth king in 1580 after his father died. The young monarch would decide to move out of the Golconda fort in 1591 due to a host of reasons, including the lack of infrastructure or lack of space inside the fort.
The Golconda fort was historically famous for its diamond markets, and trade. Diamonds were historically mined in the Andhra region (then under the Golconda empire), and were sold in the fort’s markets, and later in Hyderabad.
New City
When Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah founded Hyderabad city in 1591, it was designed with grand edifices and fueled by global trade. The city’s centrepiece undoubtedly was the Charminar, built as the foundational monument. We know for a fact that aside from the Charminar and other monuments that towered the new city of Hyderabad (built after Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah decided to move out of the walled-city of Golconda), the main area or the Bazars were what attracted foreign merchants alike in the 16th and 17th centuries.
In fact, one of the handful of structures from Mohammed Quli’s period that remains today is the Badshahi Ashurkhana. It was built a year after the Charminar in 1592, and is a Shia Muslim place of mourning for remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. The Qutb Shahi kings were also orthodox Shias.
Hyderabad’s historic Badhshahi Ashurkhana displaying all of its Muharram Alams. (Image: Abinaya Sivagnanam)
Apart from Indian traders, Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah’s Hyderabad drew Persian, Armenian, Portuguese and British traders. The French traveller Monsieur Thevenot in fact gives us a glimpse of what Hyderabad was like under its sixth king Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626-72).
An excerpt from his travelogue tells us what he thought of Hyderabad (which he called Bagnagar) then: “The gardens without the Town are the loveliest, and I shall only describe one of them, that is reckoned the pleasantest of the kingdom. At first, one enters into a great place called the first Garden; it is planted with Palms and Areca trees, so near to one another that the sun can hardly pierce through them.”
“The Tradesmen of the Town, and those who cultivate the Land, are Natives of the Country. There are many Franks also in the Kingdome, but most of them are Portuguese who have fled for Crimes they have committed: However the English and Dutch have lately setled there, and the last make great profits,” wrote Thevenot of his travels to Hyderabad.
Mohammed Quli in fact wrote in Dakhni, the language which is spoken in the Deccan, and which is often mistaken as Urdu. He was a Dakhni poet, who compiled thousands of lines in his lifetime. He has written about 50000 or more lines of poetry.
Charminar – As architectural masterpiece and Mohd Quli’s legacy
Undoubtedly, to this day, the Charminar is still Hyderabad’s main attraction. It’s intricate designs and magnificence can’t be easily paralleled in the Deccan or even the country easily. It is after all the foundation of Hyderabad. It also reflects the globalisation of the 16th century in the Deccan.
Apart from its Persian and local influences in terms of design, the Charminar also has pineapple motifs on it. The fruit was imported to the Deccan via trade with the Portuguese (who brought it from Brazil originally). Aside from that, it also has Shirdal (or griffins) motifs in its central arcade.
Many also often mistake the Charminar to be a religious monument, but that is not the case. The first mosque of Hyderabad is the Jama Masjid that is just across the monument. The Charminar is exactly what it is meant to be – a monument for the city. Historian HK Sherwani also points out that what’s believed to be a mosque on the second floor was originally used as a school or seminary for both Hindus and Muslim children.
All in all, regardless of religious or political affiliations, it is the least that we as a city can do to remember our founder Mohammed Quli, without whom Hyderabad would not have existed.
Unfortunately today we do not know how does the city looked like thanks to the Mughals, who under Aurangzeb destroyed most of the original structures, including palaces, in 1687 over an eight month long battle. We have only an idea of the grandeur thanks to history books and whatever remains from what Mohammed Quli and the Golconda kings built.
It seems almost impossible to believe, but 12 months have gone by since we reported the tragic passing of Shane Warne. One of Melbourne’s most famous sons, the Australian cricketer was without doubt among the most talented players of his, or indeed any, era. Yet his almost magical skills on the field of play are only a small part of the legend that was Shane Warne.
Ruffling feathers with the ball of the century
This year will mark 30 years since Warne first took to the field of play at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Plenty has changed in 30 years. Today, nobody would look twice at a cricketer with bleached hair and an earring, but the staid members in their MCC ties were bemused and concealing smirks – just who did this chap think he was?
The answer came around 17 seconds after he was thrown the ball. His first delivery pitched way outside leg stump, spun all the way around Mike Gatting, which was a long way even then, and struck the top of off stump. Gatting’s look of bewilderment as he walked off would be repeated another 707 times before Warne retired from test cricket 15 years later.
Never a dull moment
It doesn’t take a cricketing genius to recognize Warne’s extraordinary talent – but it was arguably a cricketing genius who described him best. When Warne passed, Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter in tribute and said there was “never a dull moment, on or off the field, with Warnie around.”
Some of those off-field moments landed Warne in hot water, but he always owned his falls from grace and bounced back. To the general public, it just proved that he was only human like the rest of us. Let’s be honest, the adulation afforded to the likes of George Best, Alex Higgins, Diego Maradona and Warne’s old buddy Ian Botham, demonstrate that we all have fondness for a flawed genius.
Casino life – a real bloke’s bloke
Australian comedy singer Kevin Bloody Wilson was one of many to write songs in Warne’s honor, like Hero of Ancient Greece. It opened with the words “A cricketing legend all Australian boy, A real bloke’s bloke and we all loved him for it.” Warne liked to drink beer, smoke cigarettes and play the pokies at the casino just like a million other “Australian blokes” of his generation.
But to use the gambling terminology, Warnie knew no other way than to go all in. Most of us might look at a list of minimum deposit casino platforms and choose somewhere to play cricket pokies like Cricket Star or Cricket Hero for perhaps $10. That would hold little appeal for Warne, who would be straight across to the casino’s high roller tables, and buying champagne and cigars all round, too!
Known the world over
Shane Warne was known everywhere he went. But unlike so many famous athletes, he always found time to say hello, sign an autograph and pose for a selfie. Whether he was working his magic in the middle, chatting with those curmudgeons in the Long Room at Lord’s or getting into another scrape at a nightclub or casino, Warnie knew no other way than to be himself.
A year on from his passing, the cricketing world is a quieter place, and has lost a certain lustre. We’ll never forget Shane Warne.
Mumbai: A day after her mother passed away, actor Madhuri Dixit Nene penned an emotional note.
Taking to Instagram, Madhuri talked about how her late mother Snehlata Dixit taught her to embrace and celebrate life.
“Woke up this morning to find Aai’s room empty. It feels surreal. She taught us to embrace and celebrate life. She gave so much to so many people. We will miss her dearly but she will live on in our memories. Her wit, positivity and grace were infectious. We will celebrate her life together through our memories. Om shanti om,” Madhuri wrote.
She also dropped a picture where she is seen sharing a smile with her mother.
Netizens, including members from the film industry, paid their heartfelt condolences over the demise of Madhuri’s mother.
“Om Shanti,” actress Raveena Tandon commented.
Actress Dia Mirza dropped a red heart emoji in the comment section.
Madhuri’s husband Shriram Nene also paid tribute to his mother-in-law.
“Our beloved Aai, Snehalata Dikshit, passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by her loved ones. Am emotionally and physically drained. But the love of my family, friends and all of you have made this bearable. She was a saint: full of life, wisdom, patience, and a sense of humour that pierced all barriers. She will be missed, but never forgotten. Her memories will keep her alive forever for all of us,” he wrote.
Madhuri’s mom passed passed away peacefully at the age of 90 years at their residence in Mumbai.
Mumbai: She was called the first female superstar of the country. She ruled the industry in such an era when it was explicitly dominated by superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, and Dharmendra. She broke the glass ceiling in the industry and established herself as a crowd-puller.
Sridevi, the enigmatic actor in the hindi film industry, left us five years back. The undisputed queen of the silver screen left some unforgettable performances for the audience. She left too early. But she will live forever through her on-screen characters. From Chandni to Sashi… Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
Sadma
There’s hardly any person who has not shed a tear in the last scene of this movie. Remake of a Tamil movie, this film established Sridevi as one of the most powerful actors at the very early stage of her Hindi career.
Chandni
Her white look in this film set a fashion trend back in the 80s. Helmed by Yash Chopra, this movie is also celebrated for its music.
Mr India
Sridevi was not only a powerful actor, but she was also one of the most successful commercial heroines in the hindi industry. From ‘Hawa Hawai’ to ‘Kaate Nehi Katte’, Sridevi showed her range of versatility in this movie.
ChaalBaaz
Sridevi played twin characters in this movie, the tamed and submissive Anju and the boisterous and go-getting Manju. Sridevi’s comic timing was mostly talked about in this movie.
Khuda Gawa
Amitabh Bachchan, larger-than-life setting and Sridevi! The film was talked about as Amitabh and Sridevi were struggling to deliver hits at the box office back then.
Lamhe
Teaming up with her ‘Chandni’ director Yash Chopra one more time, Sridevi played double roles in this movie. For playing the dual roles of mother and daughter, Sridevi won accolades.
English Vinglish
After a 15-year-long hiatus, Sridevi made a pleasant comeback at the movies with Gauri Shinde’s directorial debut ‘English Vinglish’. The film received a standing ovation at the Toronto International film festival. The present generation is perhaps more acquainted with Sridevi’s Sashi than her Chandni.
It’s difficult to live up to Sridevi’s legacy. But she is undoubtedly one of the most charismatic actresses on the silver screen who remained a mystery even in her death.
Hyderabad: Bohini Kamalakar was born on March 2 nd 1932 in Gowliguda, in the erstwhile Hyderabad state of the Nizams. Born on the auspicious day of Holi into a small family, with only one sibling, an older sister, his childhood was of meager beginnings. His father held two jobs to keep the family afloat. He was a cashier at the Nizam’s treasure and by night ran a small printing press, where he made cinema tickets for the local movie houses.
Growing up in the Nizam’s Hyderabad state, Kamalakar learned how to read and write Urdu (then the state’s official language) and was a life-long devotee of the language and its exquisite poetry and literature. Hyderabad’s rich history, customs and cuisine, were always a matter of great pride. A Telangana man at his core, Kamalakar never shied away from feeling proud of his earthy upbringing and the culture and grit that it embodied.
The Nihiari Kulcha, Chapala Pulusu, Karachi Bakery bread and biscuits, Biryani and a good Paan defined Kamalakar. Feeding people exquisite Dakhani food was a passion. Bohini Kamalakar attended Vivek Vardhini School and then went to Nizam College.
Kamalakar was a rising artist in his college days. An actor and a singer, he was popular on campus and the songs that he wrote and sang were all a hit and his contemporaries always remembered them with great fondness long past his prime.
He was a regular recording artist at All India Radio and an avid fan of Begum Akhtar, K.L Saigal, Punkaj Mallick, Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi. Shyam Benegal made his directorial debut with a play at Nizam College “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” and Kamalakar was the lead.
Nizam College and printing press
While a student at Nizam College, he had dreams of going to Bombay and even abroad. The sudden demise of his father changed his course. He had to take over his father’s printing press as he had a mother and sister to support. He later completed his MA in Economics, the first in his entire family to get a formal education, ever.
The printing press in Hyderabad, from which he retired, was called ‘Anand Power Press’. It was one of the first printing presses in Hyderabad to run on electricity. He grew the press into a well-known small enterprise acquiring machines from abroad. A successful business allowed him to purchase the building from his landlord and buy a piece a land in the new part of the expanding city where he started his family life with his wife Maya.
Bohini Kamalakar broke ground on a new house in Adarshnagar, and was a pioneer in starting the colony. Soon they had three children, Gita, Jaya and Anand.
Wedding cards, bill books, small magazines and stationery were the main items that were printed in his letterpress. As a small entrepreneur he became the sole printer for ICRISAT and Ford Foundation, which was a turning point. Even though being a printer defined his professional life he did not given up on his artistic interests. If there were three things Kamalakar was passionate about, they were movies, music and Hyderabadi cuisine.
From Satyajit Ray, Akira Kurasawa, Frederico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, John Ford, William Wyler, to Steven Spielberg he had a thirst and taste for good cinema. Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt were his favorite Indian filmmakers. He was an avid listener of Hindustani Classical Music, and was a founding member of Surmandal, an organization that invited famous musicians to perform in Hyderabad.
His love for old Hindi music was bottomless. His mornings began with K.L Saigal on Vividh Bharati and ended with Binaca Geetmala. His record collection was diverse from Johann Strauss to Lata Mangeshkar. His house was always alive with music and an appreciation for everything artistic.
Kamalakar became a Free Mason later in his life, a membership of which he deeply cherished. He also had a passion for construction. He helped many friends build houses. Helping those in need came to him naturally. He financed the education of his employee’s children, opened bank accounts for them and gave generous loans and in return received undying support from everyone from his auto driver on up.
Kamalakar left us on January 14, 2023. He is survived and loved by his wife Maya, daughter Gita, son Anand, daughter-in-law Sudha, grandchildren Sonali, Kundun and Aman and his devoted caregiver Durgamma.
(The author is one of Bohini Kamalakar’s children).
