[7] As an adult, his first lead role was opposite Dimple Kapadia in the teen romance Bobby, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

[8] He starred in several successful films from the mid-1970s to the 1990s, such as Kabhi Kabhie, Laila Majnu, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Sargam, Naseeb, Kaatilon Ke Kaatil, Prem Rog, Coolie, Nagina, Chandni, Henna, Deewana, Bol Radha Bol and Damini.

[10][11] Since the 2000s, Kapoor played character roles to critical acclaim in films such as Hum Tum, Fanaa, Namastey London, Love Aaj Kal, Agneepath, Housefull 2, Aurangzeb, Shuddh Desi Romance, 102 Not Out and Mulk.

[27][verification needed] Rishi Kapoor's two sisters are late Ritu Nanda, who was an insurance agent, and Rima Jain.

Rishi Kapoor's first leading role in adulthood came opposite Dimple Kapadia, in the 1973 teen romance Bobby, also directed by his father.

[31] In 1980, Kapoor starred along with Tina Munim in Subhash Ghai's musical reincarnation thriller Karz (1980), which went on to become a cult classic with a highly popular soundtrack.

In a role considered one of his career-best works, Kapoor played an idealistic Devdhar in the 1982 musical romantic drama Prem Rog, a film based on the concept of widow remarriage, co-starring Padmini Kolhapure, which earned him his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

[32] Another highlight of his career was the musical romantic drama Saagar (1985), directed by noted director Ramesh Sippy, which saw Kapoor reunite with Dimple Kapadia, 12 years after they made their debuts in Bobby.

[27][34] He ended the decade on a high with Yash Chopra's blockbuster romantic musical Chandni (1989) starring as Sridevi's love interest, Rohit, a helpless romantic-turned-cripple, which earned him another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

[36] Between 1973 and 2000, Kapoor's other film roles (mainly as the romantic lead)[20] include:[29][27] Raaja (1975), Laila Majnu (1976), Sargam (1979), which earned him a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor, Bade Dil Wala (1983), Tawaif (1985), which earned him another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor,[13] Bol Radha Bol (1992), Deewana (1992) and Karobaar (2000).

[13] Kapoor successfully transitioned to character acting in the mid-2000s, going on to appear in several supporting roles, such as in Hum Tum (2004), Fanaa (2006), Namastey London (2007) and Love Aaj Kal (2009).

[37] In the 2010s, he played diverse roles such as the villain in Agneepath (2012), Aurangzeb (2013) and Kaanchi (2014);[38] a gay dean in the coming-of-age romance Student of the Year (2012); and real-life mobster Dawood Ibrahim in the action thriller D–Day (2013).

[39] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) for his role in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), playing a middle-aged father trying to buy his own car, starring alongside his wife Neetu Singh.

[43] In January 2021, it was reported that Paresh Rawal is going to complete Kapoor's unfinished portions of the film,[44] and it was released on Amazon Prime Video on 31 March 2022.

Kapoor's public persona and early career would come to be defined by his romantic films such as his super hit debut Bobby, Rafoo Chakkar, Sargam, Karz, Prem Rog, and Chandni.