Amitabh Bachchan explains why he never visited Rishi Kapoor in hospital

It was Amitabh Bachchan who broke the news of Rishi Kapoor's death on Thursday morning. But the superstar maintained silence for the rest of the day on social media. He ultimately opened up and wrote a heartfelt tribute on his blog for his old friend and co-star of many years, Rishi Kapoor.

The 77-year-old actor, alongside the note, shared an illustrational picture of Kapoor playing `Dafli`. The picture is a reference to the late icon`s famous song `Dafli Wale Dafli Baja` from the film `Sargam.`

Sharing a few lines from his blog post as the caption, Bachchan wrote: "in Memoriam ...I had seen him at his home Deonar Cottage, Chembur, a young energetic, bubbly, mischief in his eyes Chintu, on those rare moments when I was privileged to have been invited to an evening at Raj ji`s house .."

He recalled about the `confident and determined` walk Kapoor had, which Bachchan never found in anyone else.
"When he spoke his lines, you believed every word of it .. there was never an alternative .. its genuineness was beyond question ..," the lines further read.

He also wrote about how the late star during the time of his diagnosis and treatment would take it lightly and say, `see you soon, just a routine visit to the hospital .. I`ll be back shortly `

Bachchan also revealed why he never visited him in the hospital.

"I never wanted to see distress on his smiling cherubic face...But I am certain .. when he went, he must have gone with a gentle smile."

The two stalwarts had shared screen space several times, giving many blockbusters to Indian cinema like the iconic `Amar Akbar Anthony`. They were last seen playing father and son in '102 Not Out'.

Here's the entire post by Big B.

"I had seen him at his home, Deonar Cottage, Chembur, a young energetic, bubbly, mischief in his eyes Chintu, on those rare moments when I was privileged to have been invited to an evening at Rajji's house. I would see him more often after, at RK Studios, when he trained as an actor for his film to be made, Bobby, a diligent enthusiastic youngster, ready to pounce onto every learning that came his way, in that famous large and legendary make up room of Rajji at the end of the first floor corridor of makeup rooms.

He had a walk that was confident and determined, a stride and style that was similar to that of his grandfather, the legendary Prithvi Rajji. A walk I had noticed in one of his earlier films, that walk... I never found it in any other.

We worked in several films together. When he spoke his lines, you believed every word of it. There was never an alternative, its genuineness was beyond question. And there has never been any other that could lip sync a song as perfectly as he would, never.

His playful attitude on set was infectious. Even in the most grave sequences he would discover that comedic spark and we would all just crack up. Not just on set, if you were with him at any formal event, he would find that little distractive light-hearted gem to expand on and lighten the situation.

When there was a time lapse as the shot got readied during a shoot, he would bring out his playing cards, or at times pull out his rather complicated Bagatelle board and invite others to play. A competition, not just for fun, a serious competition.

During his time of diagnosis and his treatment he never ever lamented his condition. It was always, 'see you soon, just a routine visit to the hospital, I'll be back shortly.'

Joie de vivre, the exuberant enjoyment of life, was a gene he inherited from his father, the Legend, the Ultimate Showman, the Iconic Raj Kapoor.

I never visited him in hospital, I never wanted to see distress on his smiling cherubic face. But I am certain, when he went, he must have gone with a gentle smile."

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was 67 and was suffering from leukemia for the last two years.