Born in south Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and
actor Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Mumbai's Campion
School. His brothers are well-known actors, Randhir Kapoor and
Rajiv Kapoor.
Rishi Kapoor debuted in his father's 1970 film Mera Naam Joker, playing
his father's role as a child. Rishi Kapoor had his first lead role
opposite Dimple Kapadia in the popular 1973 film Bobby which became an
instant hit among youngsters. He made a popular pairing with future
wife Neetu Singh in 1974-1981 but the pair was successful only in
films with big casts, since films with Rishi as the lead - like Zehreela
Insaan, Zinda Dil, Doosara Aadmi, Anjane Mein, Jhoota Kahin Ka, Dhan
Daulat - were box office flops. Rishi Neetu pair was successful in multi-star films like Khel Khel Mein, Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Pati
Patni Aur Woh, Duniya Meri Jeb Mein. The only solo hit of the Rishi
Neetu was Rafoo Chakkar. Rishi Kapoor got 51 films as the solo lead
hero from 1974-1997 but of them 40 were box office flops, and he managed
only 11 hits: Bobby, Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar, Sargam,
Karz, Prem Rog, Nagina, Honeymoon, Banjaran, Heena and Bol Radha Bol. So,
he was offered the role of playing younger brother to lead heroes in
movies with big casts from 1977-1994. Rishi Kapoor did 41 films with big casts from 1976-2000 where Rishi was cast as 2nd or 3rd lead
hero. Of them, 16 were flops and 25 were hits. He was often offered
the role of younger brother to main lead heroes in the multi-hero films he did where his character would be a romantic one and the
story would revolve on the main lead hero of the film. In the '90s, his 2
hero films Deewana, Damini and Eena Meena Dika were hits. He got
the plum lead hero roles in two-hero films only few times like in Hum
Kisi Se Kum Nahin, Badalte Roshtey, Aap Ke Deewane, Saagar then in the '90s
with Chandni, Deewana (1992), Damini (1993) and Gurudev (1994); otherwise
in the 2 hero films Rishi did in the late 70s and throughout the '80s, it was
his other co-star whose character overshadowed Rishi's and the other
co-star was appreciated more like in case of Katilon Ke Kaatil, Coolie,
Sitamgar, Zamana. After several box office failures from in 1990s, he
eventually moved on to supporting roles in the 2000s. In 1999 he
directed the film Aa Ab Laut Chalen. His last film as a romantic lead
was the 5-year delayed release Karobaar: The Business of Love
(2000), which was unsuccessful. He has since then played supporting roles
in films like Yeh Hai Jalwa, Hum Tum, Fanaa, Namaste London, Love Aaj
Kal and Patiala House. He also appeared in the British films Don't Stop
Dreaming and Sambar Salsa. He was paired with Neetu Singh in the film
Do Dooni Chaar (2010). Rishi has acted in the movie Chintu Ji in which
he plays himself. In 2012 he appeared in a villainous role in Agneepath
and in the multi-starer Housefull 2 where he appeared with brother
Randhir for the first time.