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Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday morning after being hospitalised at a Mumbai hospital. He was 67 and had been battling leukemia for two years.

The news of his death was confirmed by Rishi Kapoor's brother Randhir, who informed the media that his younger brother had been facing breathing difficulties and that his wife Neetu was by his side when he was taken to hospital.

He is survived by his wife Neetu, his son and actor Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahani.

“He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents,” the family said in a statement.

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Kapoor’s family urged his fans, who under normal circumstances would have been expected to pour onto the streets to mourn him, to follow novel coronavirus social-distancing rules.

“There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force,” the family said.

His grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, father Raj Kapoor, brothers Randhir and Rajeev, and his son, nieces and nephews have all played roles in films.

He made his debut at the age of 16, playing a younger version of his father’s character in Prithviraj Kapoor's film Mera Naam Joker in 1970 and then as a leading man starting in 1973 opposite Dimple Kapadia in Bobby.

Friends and fans from Bollywood and beyond poured out their grief and praise for Kapoor, who had appeared in more than 50 films over the course of a career spanning five decades. He had also appeared alongside fellow actor Irrfan Khan, who also suffered from cancer and passed away due to health complications just a day before.

Akshay Kumar described the loss as a nightmare, while frequent co-stars Hema Malini and Simi Garewal remembered his lively nature. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences, saying he was "anguished by his demise" and fondly recalled interacting online and offline with the actor.

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