The Kapoor family has been dominating the Hindi film industry for 9 decades. Raj Kapoor has truly moved this clan forward.
In the last two episodes of our special series ‘Show Man Ke 100 Saal’, you will learn about Raj Kapoor’s childhood and his cinematic journey.
In the last episode of the series, we will talk about the legacy of the Kapoor family. It is divided into two chapters, the first chapter contains achievements and the second chapter contains controversies related to the Kapoor family.
Chapter 1:- Realization of the Kapoor family
A star has definitely emerged from the four generations of the Kapoor family. Prithviraj Kapoor was the first star in this family. Among Prithviraj’s six children, Raj Kapoor has continued the family’s legacy. In the third generation, Raj Kapoor’s second son Rishi Kapoor became the biggest star.
In the fourth generation, Randhir Kapoor’s two daughters Karisma and Kareena were among the top actresses. Ranbir Kapoor of this generation is among the best actors today.
From the first to the fourth generation, 19 people from this family out of a total of 37 people entered the cinema. Among them, 18 people worked as actors in 1,171 films. While 19 people worked as directors in 23 films, producers in 47 films and assistant directors in 21 films.
This family has won a total of 3 Padma Awards, 9 National Awards and 3 Dadasaheb Phalke Awards.
Prithviraj Kapoor – Padma Bhushan (1969) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, posthumously (1972) Raj Kapoor – 3 National Awards, Padma Bhushan (1971) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1987) Shashi Kapoor – 3 National Awards, Padma Bhushan (2011) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015)Rishi Kapoor – National Award (Best Child artist) Film – Mera Naam Joker Karisma Kapoor – National Award (Best Supporting Actress) Film – Dil To Pagal Hai Alia Bhatt Kapoor – National Award (Best Actress) Film – Gangubai Kathiawadi
Before marriage, the daughters-in-law of the Kapoor family also had a good reputation in the film industry. However, many left the profession after marriage. Currently, Ranbir Kapoor’s wife Alia Bhatt is pursuing a successful career even after marriage.
Monument to the Kapoor Family Legacy – RK Studio A grand monument to Raj Kapoor’s legacy was the RK Studio in Chembur, Mumbai. Raj Kapoor has made 21 films under his banner. There was a discussion about the Holi and Ganpati celebrations held every year at RK Studio. Since Raj Kapoor built this studio, it was later owned by his sons Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv.
As Randhir Kapoor grew up, he took on the responsibility of running the studio. A fire took place there in 2017. Everything was reduced to ashes. Costumes, technical equipment and photos were also burned.
Finally, Raj Kapoor’s three sons, Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv, decided to sell it by mutual agreement.
RK Studios was built by Raj Kapoor in 1948.
RK Studio was forced to be sold. Randhir had also given the reason for selling the studio in an interview with BBC Hindi. He had said: “We wanted to renovate RK Studio, but one thing was bothering us. In fact, no one goes there to shoot anymore.
Almost all filming takes place in Film City. Even if we had rebuilt the studio, there was no guarantee that anyone would come there. Additionally, maintenance is very expensive. Finally, after getting permission from mother Krishna Raj, we sadly decided to sell it.
At present, Randhir is the oldest member of the Kapoor family. His younger brothers Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv are no longer in this world.
Chapter-2:- 5 controversies related to the Kapoor family
1- Raj Kapoor’s affair with Vyjayanthimala, his wife Krishna left the house in anger. Raj Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala had worked in the film ‘Sangam’ (1964). The closeness between the two increased during filming. Raj Kapoor was already married.
Obviously, Krishna was completely heartbroken after seeing her husband Raj with another woman. He left home with the children. She went to live at Hotel Natraj located on Marine Drive, Mumbai.
I stayed there for a few days and then moved to his second house in Mumbai itself. Krishna came home only when Raj Kapoor ended his relationship with Vyjayanthimala.
Vyjayanthimala was a great actress of the 50s and 60s. He has received 5 Filmfare Awards. The Indian government also awarded him the Padmashree.
2- Vyjayanthimala denied the affair, called Raj Kapoor publicity hungry. Vyjayanthimala then dismissed the news of the affair with Raj Kapoor. He wrote in his biography that Raj Kapoor fabricated this case only for publicity purposes.
Expressing his displeasure over the matter, Rishi Kapoor had written, “How can she deny the news of this affair. He has no right to say it. She speaks badly about this man (Raj Kapoor), who is not of this world to present his point of view. If Papa had been alive today, she (Vyjayantimala) would not have been able to openly call him publicity hungry.
3- The Kapoor family’s condition for daughters-in-law: After Raj Kapoor, his three sons Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv continued the cinematic legacy. Apart from three sons, Raj Kapoor also had two daughters (Ritu and Reema). She did not appear in the films. In fact, there was a strict rule in the Kapoor family that daughter-in-law and daughter should not become actors.
Raj Kapoor’s elder daughter-in-law Babita’s father was an actor. When Babita entered into cinema, she also became very successful. Babita, who had appeared in films like ‘Ek Haseena Do Deewane’, ‘Pehchaan’, ‘Doli’, left cinema after marrying Randhir.
Similarly, the best actress of her time, Neetu Singh, had moved away from cinema after her marriage to Rishi Kapoor. However, Neetu said that she left films not for any tradition but for herself. After 29 years, Neetu made her comeback with her husband Rishi in the film ‘Love Aaj Kal’.
Shammi Kapoor’s first wife Geeta was the first daughter-in-law of the Bali family, who continued to work in films even after her marriage. After marriage, Geeta worked in 8 films.
In the truest sense, Raj Kapoor’s granddaughter and Randhir Kapoor’s elder daughter Karishma has broken this spell.
He made his film debut in 1991, when he was just 16 years old. His father Randhir was against this decision. However, Karishma got support from her mother Babita. It is said that there was a fight between Randhir and Babita over Karishma’s entry in the film. There was an argument between the two, which even led to a separation.
Later, Randhir himself admitted that he could not prove that he was a good father to his daughters. Randhir said that he is proud of his two daughters (Karishma and Kareena). He reached number one in the industry without any support.
Kareena’s grandfather (left), Raj Kapoor, named her ‘Siddima’, but her mother Babita named her Kareena, inspired by a book Anna Karenina read while she was pregnant.
4- If the girl Riddhima had entered the cinema, she would have committed suicide. Rishi Raj Kapoor’s younger son Rishi Kapoor also did not allow his daughter Riddhima to enter the cinema. This was revealed by his wife Neetu Kapoor in Rishi’s autobiography ‘Khullam-Khulla’. Neetu said that if her daughter had entered the industry, she might have left many actresses behind.
But she didn’t want to sadden her father. She knew that if she even talked about acting, Rishi would commit suicide. It’s not that they were conservative, they were just very protective of their daughter.
Riddhima respected her father’s wishes and pursued a career in fashion design. Four years after her father’s death, Riddhima made her film debut with the series ‘Bollywood Wives’.
Ranbir and Riddhima with their mother Neetu Kapoor (center). Ranbir and Riddhima were very close to their grandfather Raj Kapoor. Both of them went to meet grandfather at his bungalow in Chembur every weekend.
5- Rajiv was angry with his father. Rajiv had the shortest career among Raj Kapoor’s three sons. To improve his career, Raj Kapoor did the film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’, but the film’s actress Mandakini was talked about more than Rajiv.
According to a report in Laharen Retro, Rajiv got angry with his father after the release of ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’. Rajeev was of the opinion that the project was not done as it should have been. Although he is the main actor, his role has not been discussed.
About Rajiv, his elder brother Rishi Kapoor had written: “Chimpu, meaning Rajiv was the most talented of the three brothers. He had a good sense of music. He played the piano beautifully without learning. I’m sad he couldn’t see his potential. If he had understood his potential, he would have gone much further.
Rajiv Kapoor, born on August 25, 1962, has worked in very few films.
Source – The stories in the episode are taken from Rishi Kapoor’s biography ‘Khullam Khulla’, BBC Hindi and Leharen Retro. Data comes from IMDB.
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Witnessed the death of brothers aged 1 to 7; I got my first movie after being slapped
Year 1930, St. Xavier’s School Place, Bombay. A drama was unfolding in the school. A 6 year old boy wore a long robe like a priest. The dress was long and the boy was small. He was barely able to control himself. He was so excited when he went on stage that he said the same dialogue twice. ..
2- Ask to borrow money from a servant for a film; When Nehru asked, a photo of children was taken.
Raj Kapoor’s films were not playing. Raj knew that films that failed could become a problem. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward and established his own production house “RK Films” in 1948.
I started making the first film ‘Aag’, and I spent a lot of money. So much so that at the end of the film the unit had to borrow money from the servants to buy tea and snacks. ..