Recently, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has been busy promoting his upcoming film Brahmastra and also his late father Rishi Kapoor’s last film, Sharmaji Namkeen. Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor lost his life to cancer in 2020. During his successful career, Rishi Kapoor won several awards, including a National Film Award. His film Sharmaji Namkeen is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 31 March, 2022.
In a recent interview with Film Companion, Ranbir Kapoor was asked what his father Rishi Kapoor’s dream table and a meal that he might thoroughly enjoy would be. Ranbir revealed that his father loved soup, especially as an appetiser with Chinese food. He also said that Rishi Kapoor wasn’t really into fried dishes, but enjoyed pak choy and vegetables, pan-fried noodles, and a good chicken and a fish.
Ranbir went on to say that his family has been a huge fan of Chinese food and that the restaurant Ling’s Pavilion in Mumbai has been a favourite with them for many years. He recalled that when he was younger, he went to Ling’s Pavilion with his parents and sister every Friday. The family of four used to order one crab each and eat them with steamed mantou buns. It seemed like Ranbir holds this food-related memory of his father very close to his heart.
Rishi Kapoor’s love for Chinese food is not news. Ritesh Sidhwani, the producer of Sharmaji Namkeen, said that Rishi Kapoor had even convinced his doctors to let him eat Chinese food while he was undergoing chemotherapy in the US. It goes to show how much food meant to the late actor, who even invited Ritesh Sidhwani for a drink and dinner while he was on treatment.
Sidhwani even expressed that “if you aren’t a foodie, I don’t think he’d like you” with regards to Rishi Kapoor. The producer also explained how Rishi Kapoor used to say that people need to appreciate food and look forward to meals. “I think he secretly judged vegetarian people also. He never said it, but if you were vegetarian, he didn’t trust you completely” Ranbir chimed in.
It was heartwarming to see Ranbir remember his father fondly and realise how food connected the two of them. After all, it comes as no surprise that someone who was a foodie throughout his life would be associated with food and merriment even long after he has passed away.