Rishi Kapoor's Complicated Twitter Relationship With Pakistani Fans

New Delhi: Rishi Kapoor signed off Twitter activity on Sunday evening, after India were crushed by Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, with a tweet that read (and we reproduce it here with exclamations and capitals intact): "Ek baat to manna padega! My any type of tweet shakes the shackles of the Pakistani youth whom I love. They reciprocate to me right or wrong! YO!" Mr Kapoor, 64, has a long, complex and often fractious history of engaging with Twitter users from Pakistan. Often, he accuses them of being needlessly hateful and abusive - sometimes, he's accused of raising hackles by posting belligerent and provocative tweets.

For instance, he's been trolling Pakistan ever since they made the final, ousting England:

Congratulations Pakistan! You enter finals? Wow! Good to see you wearing our colour BLUE! Get ready to be BLUED now! We will BLUE you away!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 14, 2017

 

We don't need to say anything more! Tradition of destroying the opposition,as has always been the case,will continue! Blues are invincible! pic.twitter.com/q2IBs3zSdw

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 15, 2017

 

PCB. Cricket team bhejna please.Earlier Hockey ya Kho Kho team bhejin thin. Kyon ki 18th June(Fathers Day) Baap khel raha tumhare saath lol!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 15, 2017

Rishi Kapoor is happy to engage with responses like this, to which he replied "this should be the spirit":
 

We like you sir,but we love green,see you and your blue in the ground , really i am proud to be a pakistani.

— miqal waheed (@MiqalW) June 14, 2017

To tweets like this, Mr Kapoor responds with disdain, often returning insult for insult:
 

Expected some decency and maturity from an actor of your caliber. But looks like it's too much to ask. RESPECT!

— Madeeha Anwar (@MadeehaAnwar) June 15, 2017

This was the actor's last tweet in advance of the match, posted a couple of days before:
 

Achcha choddo yaar. Tum log Jeeton aur hazaaron Baar jeeton sirf Terrorism bandh kar do yaar. Mujhe haar manzoor hai. We want peace and love

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 15, 2017

Despite complaining about being hounded by trolls, Mr Kapoor has repeatedly proved that he has a self-deprecatory sense of humour:
 

Good one Sabir Nazar! Too many provocations made me say things. Anyway it's become too complicated now so forget it. May the best team win! pic.twitter.com/VGNZPnMxvU

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 17, 2017

And that he's gracious in defeat and doesn't hold a grudge:
 

Yes Pakistan, you have defeated us. Well played, outplayed us in all departments. Many congratulations, I concede. Best wishes!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 18, 2017

So, Pakistan, no hard feelings, at least for Rishi Kapoor. He tweets with abandon and often without appearing to pause to consider the consequences. He has applied his unfiltered style both to the Indian Premier League or IPL season some months ago, pleading for Pakistani players to be included in the tournament, and to the death sentence for Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian accused by Pakistan of spying:
 

IPL. You got world players. Afghanistan makes debut. My plea is please consider Pakistani players.Phir match hoga! Hum bade log hain.Please!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 4, 2017

 

Sorry India.Tried to broker peace via actors,films,sports etc..with Pakistan,but they just want hatred,so be it!Taali do haath se bajti hai!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 10, 2017

Mr Kapoor almost never backs away from exchanging recriminations with those who respond to his posts aggressively - neither does he shy away from singling out tweets for praise.

Rishi Kapoor's Twitter is delight. Be like Rishi Kapoor.