Rishi was a foodie, he loved his meats, fish and soufflé: Hemant Oberoi

Bollywood

star Rishi Kapoor, who passed away in Mumbai this morning, saw his family, friends and colleagues express their grief and condolences at the news of his demise. While it is known that he was an admirable

actor

, he was also a

foodie

.

Hemant Oberoi

, Grand Chef, Taj Luxury Hotels, who was Rishi Kapoor’s friend, shares with BT how much he meant to him. "I just found Rishi’s photograph with me when he had come to the opening of my restaurant at BKC. On the first day, first night he was there. I have known him for over four decades, when Rishi and

Neetu

were not even married, so, I have lost a very good friend. I would call him a 'Kohinoor at heart', he was that kind of an amazing gem of a man. This morning, I got a message that he is unwell and that he has been admitted to hospital, so I sent him a message on the phone and said, 'Get well soon, and come back fast'. By the time I switched on the TV at 10.30, the sad news was already there. It was just unbelievable. I cannot get over his words that he told me when he came to my restaurant. He said, "Yaar, today I have not come to eat. I have come to give you a coin from Vaishnodevi, Jai Mata Di," he says.
'He hosted hosted my first 31st New Year's Eve party'
He adds, "Rishi was a foodie and a gentleman, full of good manners and respect for everybody. I am going to miss him as a friend. I remember calling to invite him for my son's wedding and he said, "'Nahi yaar Hemant, I am shooting in Delhi'. I told him the function was in Delhi itself and he said, 'Then toh problem hi nahi hai' and he reached in the evening after the shooting. I just can't believe it that he's no more."

And anything that he was particuarly fond of, food-wise? "Good food," says Hemant, "Any kind of good food. He was in

Zodiac Grill

, Wasabi,

Golden Dragon

and he used to love his meats, his fish and his soufflé. In hosted my first 31st New Year's Eve party at Zodiac Grill, he took over the entire Zodiac. All these memories keep coming back. Just two years back, I was in San Diego and my son was doing the catering for someone's wedding at a restaurant and there were Rishi and Neetu. Rishi was full of life, telling everyone how our friendship goes back so many years. I miss him terribly, I can tell you that."