Late Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal And Other Members Of 'Sharmaji Namkeen' Cast

Late actor Rishi Kapoor’s last film Sharmaji Namkeen is slated to premiere on March 31 on OTT Platform. Since the trailer was released a few days ago, the film has been the talk of the town. The Hitesh Bhatia directorial was reportedly slated to release on September 4, Rishi Kapoor’s birthday.

Backed by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment and MacGuffin Pictures, the film is about the life of a retired widower, BG Sharma also known as Sharmaji, who engages in various hobbies to keep himself busy and avoid loneliness. He tries a variety of activities before deciding that cooking is his calling in life. On the other hand, his son is unhappy with his father’s decisions.

The film initially starred Rishi Kapoor in the role of BG Sharma and had completed the major part of the film before he passed away on April 30, 2020. Speaking about Rishi Kapoor’s last shot for the film, Bhatia said in an interview, that the veteran actor was pushing him to take a close up shot. “Eventually, we did the shot, not knowing it will become the last shot of his life,” the director recalled.

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Sharmaji Namkeen Cast Members

The film stars Juhi Chawla, Suhail Nayyar, Taaruk Raina, Satish Kaushik, Sheeba Chaddha and Isha Talwar in prominent roles. Chawla and Rishi Kapoor—who has appeared in a number of films together since their 1992 film Bol Radha Bol—shared screen after nearly six years. They last appeared together in Chalk n Duster.

Chawla will be seen playing a Mrs Manchanda in the film who hires Sharmaji as a cook and is often seen encouraging him to keep cooking. While Suhail Nayyar essays the role of Sharmaji’s son in the film.

After Kapoor’s, who was suffering from leukaemia, demise, veteran actor Paresh Rawal was then chosen to step into his shows and complete the film. Rawal also appears as Sharmaji in the film.

Paresh Rawal’s casting as Sharmaji

In an interview, producer Farhan Akhtar had mentioned that after Kapoor’s demise, the actor could think of no one else but Paresh Rawal who could pull off the role of Sharmaji—who he described to be a character with a tough exterior but is emotional. “Embodying the essence of this character was the most important thing for me. He was absolutely the best person to do it,” he said