'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' actor Rajiv Kapoor dies at 58
Mumbai: Actor-director Rajiv Kapoor, son of celebrated filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, died on Tuesday due to heart attack. He was 58.
Neetu Kapoor, wife of late actor Rishi Kapoor, was the first to confirm the news on Instagram. She wrote "RIP" alongside a picture of her brother-in-law.
Brother Randhir Kapoor said Rajiv Kapoor died due to heart attack. "He passed away about 1.30 pm due to heart attack," Randhir Kapoor told PTI.
Rajiv Kapoor made his acting debut with 1983 film "Ek Jaan Hain Hum", but made first appearance as a leading man in blockbuster "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" (1985), which was Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture.
He went on to feature in films like "Aasmaan", "Lover Boy", "Zabardast" and "Hum To Chale Pardes".
Rajiv Kapoor's last film as a leading man was 1990's "Zimmedaar". A lesser known face from the famous Kapoor film clan, he then made a switch to production and direction.
His first production was "Henna" (1991), directed by his brother Randhir Kapoor. In 1996, Rajiv Kapoor made his feature directorial debut with "PremGranth", starring Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.
He also produced the Rishi Kapoor-directed 1999 romance drama "Aa Ab Laut Chalen".
In 2001, the married architect Aarti Sabharwal, but the couple divorced later.
Rajiv Kapoor was the youngest among three brothers and two sisters -- Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain. His eldest sister Ritu Nanda and brother Rishi Kapoor passed away in January and April last year.
The actor was set to make a comeback to the screen with sports drama "Toolsidas Junior", starring Sanjay Dutt in the lead.
Produced by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker and producer Bhushan Kumar and directed by Mridul, the movie was announced in December last year.
Mourning Rajiv Kapoor's death, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar said she is "deeply saddened".
"I just got to know about the passing away of the talented actor Rajiv Kapoor, the youngest son of Raj Kapoor Sahab. I'm deeply saddened by the news. May his soul rest in peace," Mangeshkar tweeted.
Director-producer Naved Jaffrey remembered Rajiv Kapoor as someone with "a pure heart and a very nice human being".
"May his soul rest in peace, deepest condolences to the family," Jaffery wrote on Twitter.
Actor-producer Tusshar Kapoor offered his deepest condolences to the Kapoor family. "Sad to hear of the passing away of Rajiv Kapoor! May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.
Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA), a trade union which looks after the rights and welfare of its members in the entertainment industry also expressed its deepest condolences on the demise of Rajiv Kapoor.
The late actor was a CINTAA member since October 1983, the association said on Twitter.
"Sad to hear of the passing away of #RajivKapoor (Chimpu) ji ! Deepest condolences to the family! RIP," producer Girish Johar tweeted.
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh said he was "devasted" with the news of Rajiv's demise.
"Devastated! Another big loss to the family Folded hands one of my most favourite people in the world. Love him so so dearly. Don't remember a Happy Moment without him. Chimpu uncle we will miss you," he wrote on the micrblogging site.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid remembered Rajiv Kapoor as "one of the most versatile" actors of his time.
"My heartfelt condolences to the entire Kapoor family. #OmShanti," director Madhur Bhandarkar wrote.
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Shivakumar blames Centre for maize growers' problems in Karnataka
Bengaluru/Belagavi (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday blamed the Centre for the maize growers' problems in the state.
Speaking to reporters on the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises in Bengaluru ahead of the Legislative session in Belagavi, he also took a dig at the BJP MPs for keeping mum on the issue.
"The Centre has to answer to the problems of North Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I have taken some strong decisions pertaining to maize procurement which will burden the state government financially, but the Centre has not spoken a word on the issue and the BJP MPs have not raised their voice. Aren't they concerned about it," Shivakumar asked.
The Deputy CM also hit out at the Haveri MP and former CM Basavaraj Bommai for not speaking on the matter.
"Bommai has said that the state government has to buy it, but what's Centre's share? Who decides the Minimum Support Price (MSP)? It's they (Centre) who decide MSP. They have not taken any decision yet," Shivakumar alleged.
He added that the state government will give compensation to the farmers, but the Centre is also responsible.
"Why hasn't Bommai raised the issue in parliament? Why he did not meet the PM and agriculture minister," he asked.
The maize growers have been demanding procurement at Rs 3,000 per quintal.
The current MSP is Rs 2,400 per quintal, and farmers are seeking a Rs 600 bonus. Ahead of the session, the state government announced increasing maize procurement from 20 quintals per farmer to 50 quintals at Rs 2,400 per quintal.
On irrigation related issues, Shivakumar said no one has done as much work as the Congress government has done in the history of the irrigation department of Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, charged that the government has become so poor that it is not able to replace the crust gates of the Tungabhadra dam.
"While farmers are committing suicide, the government is in a jolly mood arranging breakfast meetings," Ashoka said while interacting with reporters in Belagavi.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said there is a need for discussion on the burning issues of the state during the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature.
"Farmers are in distress due to the bad policies of the state government. It also failed to fulfill its promise to create jobs for unemployed youths.Weavers are also facing challenges," the Shikaripura MLA told reporters in Belagavi.
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