Raj Kapoor

Born: December 14, 1924, Peshawar

Died: June 2, 1988, Mumbai
Spouse: Krishna Kapoor
Children: Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Ritu Nanda, Reema Kapoor, Reetu Nanda Kapoor
Grand-children: Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Nitasha Nanda, Nikhil Nanda, Adar Jain, Armaan Jain
Siblings: Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Devi Kapoor, Nanda Kapoor, Urmila Sial Kapoor

Raj Kapoor, a man who is known to offer Indian Cinema its most refined cinematic language, still resides in the hearts of millions film lovers throughout the entire globe. Visit any corner of the earth and you will easily ferret out people who still like the simplicity and cinematic excellence introduced to Hindi Cinema by Raj Kapoor. Generations came and went but nothing could fade away the charm and elegance Raj Kapoor and his films of olden days - golden days to be more precise.

Raj Kapoor was born to Prithvi Raj Kapoor on 14 December 1924. His deep understanding of Film medium brought him an immeasurable array of laurels and also the title of The Show-Man. He was perhaps the most prolific film personalities Indian Film Industry ever had. Raj Kapoor was an Actor, Producer and Film director. There would hardly be any aspect of filmmaking that remained untouched from the Midas touch of this legendary filmmaker during his long career. 

Raj Kapoor forayed into Indian cinema as an apprentice in the Bollywood Production Studios that were operational during the years of 1940's. At the very juvenile age of 24 Raj Kapoor began his journey as an Actor, Producer and Director. He proved his acting mettle in Aag, which hit the silver screen in 1948 and was produced by his own Production Company, RK Films. The film found great critical admiration and was declared a hit within a days of its release.

His next production was Barsaat, which released in the year of 1949 and was a smash hit. After Aag, Raj Kapoor once again proved his versatility when he produced, directed and starred in Awaara in the year of 1951. Awaara proved to be another megahit and established Raj Kapoor as the big-wig of the industry. His co-star in Awaara was Nargis, who had appeared with Raj Kapoor in his previous blockbusters Aag and Barsaat. Like his other films, Awaara also gained huge popularity across the glove including Russia, where the movie and its songs were dubbed into Russian.

The year of 1955 saw the release of Shree 420 which proved to be another classis from RK Films. The film addressed issues of poverty while serving the romantic plot with the magical pairing of Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Shree 420 dealt with the issue of unemployment that was plaguing newly independent India of those times. Like other films of Raj Kapoor Shree 420 was also not preachy and revolutionary in tone. The film talks about how an individual can overcome economic and environmental injustice without compromising with his integrity and prestige.

After the stupendous success of Shree 420, Raj Kapoor went on to produce an array of successful films. For most of the films, which were made under RK Films, were produced, directed and acted by none other than Raj Kapoor himself. There were many box office hits after Shree 420 Raj Kapoor directed and acted in. Some of them are Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956) and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960).

With the advent of modern technology, India started producing films in color. In 1964 Raj Kapoor also produced, directed and starred in Sangam which was his first film in color. This film proved his last major success at the Box Office as a leading actor. His last film which he produced, directed and starred in Mera Naam Joker. The film was the greatest debacle of Raj Kapoor’s career when released in 1970.

During the years of 1970s and early 1980s Raj Kapoor produced and directed films with stories that had women-centric themes. In films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) Prem Rog (1982) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) the emphasis was given on the female protagonists and their upheavals. These films not only did great business but also paved ways for women-centric films in India.

The Show-man of Indian cinema, Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years. At the age of 63, the disease took his life in 1988. When he breathed his last, he was working on his next movie Heena, an Indo-Pakistan based love story. At the time of his death, his sons Randhir and Rishi Kapoor came together and completed his last film which released in 1991 and went on becoming a stupendous success at the Box Office.