The family of legendary Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has reportedly secured posthumous copyright protection for his name in order to prevent unauthorised or commercial use. According to media reports, the move was made to safeguard the late actor’s legacy and ensure that his name is not used without the family’s consent.
Sources claim that the Kapoor family has obtained the required legal permissions to copyright the actor’s name. This means that any individual, brand or organisation wishing to use Rishi Kapoor’s name for commercial, professional or public purposes will now need prior approval from his family. A source told India Today that the step was taken to maintain control over how the late star’s name is used. “As per the copyright, anyone wanting to use the name Rishi Kapoor or mention it in any capacity would need prior permission from the family,” the source said.
Rishi Kapoor passed away on April 30, 2020 after battling leukemia. Despite his passing, he continues to remain one of the most beloved and influential figures in Indian cinema. Born into the iconic Kapoor film dynasty, Rishi was the son of legendary filmmaker and actor Raj Kapoor and the grandson of pioneering theatre personality Prithviraj Kapoor. Growing up in a family deeply connected to cinema played a significant role in shaping his career.
He first appeared on screen as a child artist in the 1970 film Mera Naam Joker, directed by his father Raj Kapoor. His performance in the film earned him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. Rishi Kapoor later made his debut as a leading actor with the romantic film Bobby, which became a huge commercial success and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, he appeared in over 150 films. Some of his most memorable performances were in films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Mulk, 102 Not Out, Kapoor & Sons, and Do Dooni Chaar.
On the personal front, Rishi Kapoor was married to actress Neetu Kapoor. The couple have two children, actor Ranbir Kapoor and entrepreneur Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Ranbir is married to actress Alia Bhatt.