prithviraj kapoor family biography hindi

Prithviraj Kapoor Wiki, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Prithviraj Kapoor (1906 – 1972) was a prominent Indian filmmaker and actor. His name is listed among the founding figures of Hindi cinema. In 1943, the Indian People’s Theatre Association was founded, and he was one of its founding members. He established the Prithvi Theatre, famous as a travelling theatre company, in Bombay in 1944. The root of the Kapoor family in Bollywood is Prithviraj Kapoor. He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and the Dadasaheb Phalke award by the Government of India.

Wiki/Biography

Prithviraj Kapoor was born on Sunday, 3 November 1906 ( age 65 years; at the time of death ) in Samundri, Punjab, British India (present-day Punjab, Pakistan). His zodiac sign was Scorpio. Soon after completing his school education, he joined the Edwardes College in Peshawar, Pakistan to pursue a bachelor’s in arts degree. He was born and brought up in an extended family. His father used to work in Samundri in Punjab as a sub-inspector with the British police, which transferred his father to Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province after a few years of Prithviraj’s birth. Soon after his father’s transfer, the whole family shifted to Peshawar where Prithviraj attended the Edwardes College in Peshawar, Pakistan for higher education. [1] Hindustan Times He joined a law degree course for one year to become a lawyer; however, he quit his studies to pursue his interest in theatre.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Parents & Siblings

His father’s name is Basheshwarnath Kapoor, and his mother’s name is Vaishno Devi. The couple had three sons, and two of their sons died at a very young age. Prithviraj is the third and only son of Basheshwarnath Kapoor from his first wife. Basheshwarnath Kapoor married twice and had four sons named Trilok, Amar, Ram, Vishi, and three daughters named Kailash, Prem, and Shanta from his second wife.

Family of Prithviraj Kapoor’s father, Basheshwarnath Kapoor

The popular Bollywood actor Trilok Kapoor was his younger brother.

The stepbrother of Prithviraj Kapoor

The noted Bollywood actors and producers Anil Kapoor , Boney Kapoor , and Sanjay Kapoor are his nephews and the sons of his cousin of Surinder Kapoor.

Prithviraj Kapoor with his wife and family members

Wife & Children

In 1923, Prithviraj Kapoor got married to Ramsarni Kapoor. The couple has three sons named Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and Shashi, Kapoor. They have a daughter named Urmila Sial Kapoor.

Prithviraj Kapoor with his sons and daughter

Prithviraj Kapoor was 17 years old and Ramsarni Mehra was 15 years old at the time of their marriage. It was an intra-community marriage, which was arranged by their parents by following Indian traditional ceremonies. It is said that their marriage was fixed by their parents in their childhood, but was officially held with a ‘Gauna’ ceremony when Ramsarni attained the age of fifteen and became old enough to leave the house of her parents. The couple parented their first child Raj Kapoor on 14 December 1924 in Peshawar, the North-West Frontier Province. Prithviraj Kapoor became a father of a child at the age of eighteen. In 1927, Prithviraj Kapoor, who was the father of three children at this time, shifted to Bombay from Peshawar. In 1930, he called his wife, who was pregnant with her fourth child, and three children to Bombay. In the same year, two of their sons died within a gap of one week. His elder son, whom they named Devinder or Devi, died of double pneumonia, and the other one, whom they named Binder or Bindie, died after swallowing the rat-poison pills that the couple had scattered in their garden area. Later, the couple gave birth to three children named Shamsher Raj or Shammi Kapoor, Balbir Raj or Shashi Kapoor , and a daughter named Urmila Sial who got married to a coal mine owner from Nagpur named Charanjit Sial at a very young age. Urmila and Charanjit Sial have three daughters named Anuradha Sial, Priti Sial, and Namita Sial, and a son named Jatin Sial.

Urmila Sial Kapoor with her husband

Prithviraj Kapoor belonged to a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family in Lyallpur, Punjab Province. [2] Bengali Cinema: ‘An Other Nation’

When he was a teenager, he began performing in the theatres of Lyallpur and Peshawar and initiated his acting career. In 1928, he decided to shift to Bombay from Peshawar to pursue his dreams of acting and took a loan from his aunt for the same. Soon after he reached Bombay, he became a part of the Imperial Film Company and started appearing in a few Hindi movies in minor roles. In the same year, he rose to prominence when he appeared in the film of the year ‘Be Dhari Talwar’ in a side role. He was then cast in the film Cinema Girl as a lead actor in 1929. Thereafter, he went on to appear in 9 silent Hindi films including Sher-e-Arab and Prince Vijaykumar. In 1931, he worked in a supporting role in India’s first talkie film, Alam Ara. In 1937, his work was acclaimed nationally in the film Vidyapati. His acting skills and performance were highly appreciated in Sohrab Modi’s film Sikandar as Alexander the Great.

Prithviraj Kapoor in a still from the film Sinkandar (1941)

Thereafter, he joined the grant Anderson theatre company, which was considered an English thetical company of that time. However, the company was uprooted from Bombay within a year. Gradually, Prithviraj Kapoor started appearing in enormous stage plays and on screen, which earned him the prestige of a very fine and versatile actor.

Prithvi Theatre

Prithviraj Kapoor founded his own theatre group named Prithvi Theatre in 1944.

An old picture of Shashi Kapoor posing outside the Prithvi Theatre

His eldest son Raj Kapoor started directing and producing Hindi films by the year 1946, and Prithviraj Kapoor started keeping himself involved in many theatre plays, which were organised by him to inspire the young people of India to participate in the Indian independence movement and the quit India movement. The ‘Prithvi Theaters’ staged more than 2662 performances after sixteen years of its initiation, and Prithviraj Kapoor used to appear in a leading role in almost every show. One of its most popular stage plays was ‘Pathan,’ which was staged continually nearly 600 times in Mumbai on public demand in 1947.

A still from the stage play ‘Pathan’

The period of travelling theatre was replaced by Hindi cinema in the 1950s. With the passage of time, many theatre groups started shifting toward cinema as it became a feasible and less costly way to earn money. On the other side, the ticket sales of theatre groups rapidly started declining. This factor also affected the position of Prithviraj theatre, whose fine actors, producers, directors, and technicians began shifting to Indian cinema. His sons too started investing in Hindi movies. In his late fifties, Prithviraj Kapoor quit appearing in theatre plays and began working as an actor in Hindi movies, which were to him by his own sons. He was cast in the film Awara in 1951 and the director of the film was his son Raj Kapoor.

Prithviraj Kapoor (extreme left) on the poster of the movie Awara

In 1960, Prithviraj Kapoor worked in the film Mughal-e-Azam as the Mughal emperor Akbar, and his performance in this film is considered as the most remarkable performance of his career.

Prithviraj Kapoor in a still from the film Mughal-e-Azam

He then appeared in a lead role in the film Harishchandra Taramati in 1963. He appeared as a grandfather in the movie Kal Aaj Aur Kal in 1971 along with his son and grandson Raj Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor, respectively. During his career in Hindi cinema, he contributed a lot of films to Punjabi cinema too. He appeared in many popular Punjabi movies such as Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai (1969), Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970), and Mele Mittran De (1972).

Prithviraj Kapoor in a still from the movie Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai

In 1971, Prithviraj Kapoor appeared in the Kannada movie Sakshatkara, which was directed by Puttanna Kanagal. Later, the Prithviraj Theatre was merged with an Indian Shakespeare theatre company named “Shakespeareana” by his son Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendal and was inaugurated on 5th November 1978 in Mumbai.

From 3 April 1952 to 2 April 1960, he served as the Rajya Sabha Member from the Bombay constituency.

Awards, Honours, Achievements

In 1954, he earned the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship from the Indian Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 1956, he was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 1969, he was felicitated the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. In 1972, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Posthumous) for the year 1971 for his immense contribution to the Hindi theatre and cinema. After receiving this award after his death, he became the third person in India to receive this award, which is regarded as the highest honour in Indian cinema.

On 29 May 1972, he died in Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai) at the age of 65 years after battling a long with cancer. His wife also died of cancer, fifteen days after his death. Later, the family members of Prithviraj Kapoor founded a memorial in his memory at their farmhouse named “Rajbaugh,” which is situated on the side of the Mula-Mutha River in Loni Kalbhor village of Pune in Maharashtra. Reportedly, Prithiviraj used to shoot films on this farm. These films include Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, and Prem Rog. According to some media sources, his residential bungalow was preserved after his death. One of the most popular songs of Hindi cinema “Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho” from the film Bobby was shot by Prithviraj Kapoor in 1973.

Facts/Trivia

• Soon after the marriage of Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni, her brother, Jugal Kishore Mehra, started receiving opportunities to work in Hindi cinema.

Basheshwar Nath Kapoor in a still from the film Awara

Anil Kapoor during his struggling days (with his family)

Prithviraj Kapoor Theatre 1995 stamp of India

Prithviraj Kapoor on the 2013 stamp of India

An Image of Prithvi Theatre

• Prithviraj Kapoor was proficient in Punjabi, Hindi, and Hindko languages.

In the war scenes, he uncomplainingly wore the real iron armour that was so heavy. During the sequence when Akbar walks to Ajmer Sharif to pray for a son, my father actually walked barefoot in the desert sun, and his soles were full of blisters.”

Shammi Kapoor continued by saying that during the shooting of an anger scene in the film Mughal-e-Azam for the song ‘Jab Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya,’ Prithviraj did not apply glycerine and turned his eyes red with rage naturally. Shammi said,

During Madhubala’s defiant song Jab Pyaar Kiya, the emperor’s eyes turn red with rage. My father did that sequence without glycerine. I recall Asif saab telling him to take his time and watched my father grow into that mood and his eyes turning red.”

References [+] [−]

References

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ABHAY SHASHIKANT PANDEY

PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR, The Stalwart of Hindi Film Industry

The dashing and handsome son of a young police officer from Punjab of British India, rushes to Bombay with some money from his aunt to pursue a career in Bollywood. Today, he is considered one of the most celebrated actors in the Indian film industry - Prithviraj Kapoor.

Prithviraj Kapoor in the film Ek Raat (1942) (Source : Wikipedia)

A pioneer in the Indian film industry and theatre industry, Prithviraj Kapoor was born on November 3, 1906 in Lyllapur (Now Faisalabad), Pakistan. Kapoor began acting in theatres of his home town, where he became fascinated by the art and the artistry. He was ostracised by his parents for attending theatre and had great difficulty keeping his passion alive, which led him to the decision of moving to Bombay. In the late 1920s, he joined the Imperial Films Company in Bombay. In the company, he began playing minor roles in films starting with “Be Dhari Talwar'' which was his debut film. In the following year, Kapoor got his first leading role in his third film, “Cinema Girl”. After appearing in nine silent films, in 1931, he played a supporting role in the first talkie, “Alam Ara” (1931) directed by Ardeshir Irani, where he showcased one of his greatest assets: his powerful, flowing voice.

As his films did not do well at the box office, he started taking small roles in every film that came his way. The 1932 film “Rajrani Meera'', directed by Devaki Bose, was Kapoor's breakthrough project. In 1934, he followed with his even more successful “Seeta'', a film in which he played Rama alongside Durga Khote in the title role. His acclaimed performances include Manzil, President, Vidyapati, Pagal, and Sikandar. His most famous role is probably that of Alexander the Great in Sohrab Modi's Sikandar (1941). Meanwhile, Prithviraj continued performing on stage as his first love. Ultimately, he turned out to be a good actor both on stage and on the film screens. After achieving sufficient success on the big screen, Prithviraj founded his own theatre company in 1944 called Prithvi Theatre. The theatre delivered some 2,662 shows over the 16 years of its existence, with Prithviraj appearing in every show, touring across India for four to six months each time.

However, in the late 1950s, the theatre era began to crumble, and most of the 80 theatre actors and technicians were gradually absorbed into the film industry. He then started playing important roles in films but not as the lead. His most memorable performances include his roles in “Mughal E Azam,” “Harishchandra Taramati,” “Sikandar-e-Azam,” and “Kal Aaj Aur Kal.” He has also appeared in critically acclaimed Punjabi films such as “Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai,” “Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar” and “Mele Mittran De.” He lost his voice while directing the film 'Paisa' in 1954 and stopped acting in films. In 1954, he was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship and in 1969 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. Prithvi Theatre then merged with the Shakespeare Company run by Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendall and was revived as the “Shakespeareana.” This led to the company being permanently based in Mumbai on November 5, 1978.

Prithviraj was married at a very early age of 18 while his wife was only 15. Both Prithviraj and his wife Ramsarni suffered from cancer in their old age. Prithviraj died on May 29, 1972, and his wife died two weeks after him on June 14, 1972. After his death, Prithviraj received Indian cinema's highest honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 1972, becoming only the third person in the Indian film industry to receive this prestigious award. The India Post issued a special 2 rupee stamp for him in 1996 to commemorate his Golden Jubilee at the Prithvi Theatre.

Prithviraj Kapoor is also known for providing India with the first film family. His father, Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, a retired Deputy Inspector of Peshawar, played a cameo role in his grandson Raj Kapoor's film Awaara. Thus, the Kapoor family brought their fifth generation to the Indian film industry. All three of his sons - Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, and Shammi Kapoor - became legendary actors, while his two daughters-in-law also worked in the film industry. Most of his grandchildren, namely Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor, have worked and achieved success as actors and/or as filmmakers. His great-grandchildren Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and Ranbir Kapoor are also well-known in the same industry.

He died years ago, but he still resides in the hearts of people who dream about becoming an actor, people who love art, and people who believe and do what their heart says. The “Theatre Wala” is celebrating his 116th Birth Anniversary today, November 03. What’s your favourite performance of this legendary actor?

Prithviraj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar from the movie “Mughal-E-Azam” (1960) (Source - Pinterest)

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Born on 3 November 1906 in present-day Pakistan, Prithviraj Kapoor was an ardent actor who nurtured a deep love for theatre throughout his life.

New Delhi: If Bollywood were a kingdom, the Kapoors would be its monarchs. And if one were to trace the fountainhead of this cinematic legacy, all the branches of the tree would converge on one name: Prithviraj Kapoor.

The celebrated thespian entered films when cinema was yet to establish its foothold in the Indian imagination, but is best remembered for the poignant plays he staged with his eponymous travelling theatre.

Kapoor, who was born on 3 November 1906 and died 29 May 1971, remains one of the shining lights of Indian entertainment, having left behind an ouvre of films and plays that continue to regale audiences nearly half a century after his death.

Also read:   I always had a soft spot for Shashi Kapoor, I remember his eyelashes: Sharmila Tagore

Kapoor was born to a policeman’s family in Lyallpur, also known as Faisalabad, in present-day Pakistan.

He began studying law, but cut that short to become an actor. He moved to Mumbai, then Bombay, in 1928 with a small loan from his aunt.

His debut followed two years later with the silent film Cinema Girl (1930), opposite Ermeline. He also starred in India’s first talkie, Alam Ara (1931), besides numerous other films like Debaki Bose’s classic Vidyapati (1937) and son Raj Kapoor’s Awara (1951).

Awara , in fact, also featured a cameo by Kapoor’s father in his lone cinematic appearance ever.

However, the role that immortalised Kapoor was that of Akbar, the raging father to lovelorn Salim, in K. Asif’s iconic Mughal-e-Azam (1960).

• Prithvi Theatre

A giant of the motion picture alright, but Kapoor, always an ardent actor at heart, carried a deep love for theatre throughout his life.

At the age of 38, having developed a strong financial standing, he set up Prithvi Theatre, a travelling troupe that went across the country with plays that tapped issues of the day for inspiration.

The first play staged by Prithvi Theatre was Shakuntala in 1944. Between 1945 and 1956, he directed seven original plays. Two years before Partition ripped the country apart, Kapoor foretold its horrors in a stirring play called Deewar (1945).

“My father’s basic request or dictum to the writers was to write plays that dealt with contemporary problems,” his son Shashi Kapoor, the late star who nurtured the troupe after his father’s death, said in an interview to Rediff in 2003. “Partition was about to happen and he wanted the anxieties of the people to be dealt with in their plays.”

Deewar ran to full houses, evoking an emotional response from the audience. The play will return to stage for this year’s edition of the Prithvi Theatre Festival, a testament to its cross-generational appeal.

Two months before Partition, when the animosity between Hindus and Muslims was peaking, he dared to plead for religious harmony in his play Pathan , returning to the theme in two subsequent plays as well, Gaddaar and Aahuti .

Aahuti , Kapoor’s last play on the subject, was the first in Indian theatre to touch on women’s rights, narrating the bloody chapter from a female perspective and highlighting the rape and sexual harassment that took place during the Partition.

The play was reportedly so evocative that it would often cause the refugees in the audience to burst into tears.

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The four plays, commonly referred to as the ‘Partition Quartet’, are said to have influenced subsequent films on Partition such as Ritwik Ghatak’s Meghe Dhaka Tara , Komal Gandhar and Subarnarekha .

By 1960, the theatre group stopped making money, with more and more audiences turning towards films, and Kapoor gradually stopped acting in theatre and film.

Kapoor was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Indian cinema’s tallest recognition, in 1972.

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• Prithviraj Kapoor

Kal, Aaj aur Kal produced by his eldest son and directed by his eldest grandson may never be mentioned in the list of great films, but it is another example of Prithviraj Kapoor’s stellar acting.

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Prithviraj Kapoor

• Born November 3 , 1906 · Samundri, Punjab, British India
• Died May 29 , 1972 · Bombay, Maharashtra, India (cancer)
• Birth name Prithvinat Kapoor
• Height 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
• Prithviraj Kapoor was born on November 3, 1906 in Samundri, Punjab, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Mughal-E-Azam (1960) , Maharathi Karna (1944) and Bidyapati (1937) . He was married to Rama Kapoor. He died on May 29, 1972 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.
• Spouse Rama Kapoor (1923 - May 29, 1972) (his death, 6 children)
• Children Urmila Sial (Kapoor) Shashi Kapoor Raj Kapoor Shammi Kapoor
• Parents Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor
• Relatives Randhir Kapoor (Grandchild) Ritu Kapoor Nanda (Grandchild) Rishi Kapoor (Grandchild) Rima Jain (Kapoor) (Grandchild) Rajeev Kapoor (Grandchild) Aditya Raj Kapoor (Grandchild) Kanchan Desai (Kapoor) (Grandchild) Kunal Kapoor (Grandchild) Karan Kapoor (Grandchild) Sanjana Kapoor (Grandchild) Karisma Kapoor (Great Grandchild) Kareena Kapoor (Great Grandchild) Ranbir Kapoor (Great Grandchild) Armaan Jain (Great Grandchild) Aadar Jain (Great Grandchild) Zahan Kapoor (Great Grandchild) Shaira Kapoor (Great Grandchild) Trilok Kapoor (Sibling)
• Son of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor . Father of Raj Kapoor , Devi (died during childhood), Nandi (died during childhood), Shammi Kapoor , daughter Urmila Sial, and Shashi Kapoor . Grandfather of Randhir Kapoor , Rishi Kapoor , Rajeev Kapoor , Karan Kapoor , Kunal Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor . Great-grandfather of Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor . Cousin of Surinder Kapoor .
• Considered the most handsome Indian actor of Pre-Independence India and the founder of India's first film family, the Kapoors.
• Born in Peshawar in a middle-class landlord family. His father was a police officer. He enrolled at Edward College, Peshawar after finishing his schooling at Lyallpur and Lahore. He was married at 18 and did a year of law after graduation but interrupted his law studies to pursue his dreams of acting.
• In 1944, he invested in and set up Prithvi Theatre. He was the first to use the concept of modern, professional urban theater in Hindustani. In over 16 years of its existence under Prithviraj Kapoor, the theater did some 2,662 shows, with Prithviraj starring as the lead actor in every single show.
• Acted in India's first ever talkie The Light of the World (1931) , although not in the lead role, which was given instead to Master Vithal .

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Remembering an icon: Prithviraj Kapoor

KOCHI: The first talkie film in India is ‘Alam Ara’ which was released in 1931. Prithviraj Kapoor was the hero of the movie.

A noted pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry, he was also the patriarch of the Kapoor family, five generations of which have played active roles in Bollywood.

He was born on November 3, 1902 at Samundri to a middleclass Punjabi family belonging to the Khatri caste of Hindus.

His father, Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, was a sub-inspector of police.

He received his higher education at the Edward College, Peshawar.

It was here that his talents on stage first received expression. He also studied law as a graduate student for one year, but his heart was in theatre.

In 1928 Prithviraj moved to Mumbai. His performance in ‘Vidyapati’ (1937) was much appreciated.

His best-known performance is perhaps in ‘Alexander the Great’ and in Sohrab Modi’s ‘Sikander’.

Through all these years Prithviraj remained devoted to the theatre. Prithviraj invested in and founded ‘Prithvi Theatres,’ a travelling troupe which staged memorable productions across India. In over 16 years of existence, the theatre staged some 2,662 shows. Prithviraj starred as the lead actor in every single show. As Prithviraj progressed into his 50’s, he gradually ceased theatre activities and accepted occasional offers from film-makers, including his own sons.

His notable filmography of this period includes ‘Mughal E Azam’ (1960), ‘Harishchandra Taramati’ (1963) Sikandar-e- Azam (1965) and the Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971).

In 1969, Prithviraj was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government of India.

After his death in 1972, he was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 1971. At age 18, Prithviraj married the 15-year-old Ramsarni Mehra, in a match that was arranged by their families.

Their eldest child, Raj Kapoor, was born in 1924. In 1931, when Ramsarni was pregnant for the fourth time, the couple suffered the tragic loss of two of their three children in the space of one week from pneumonia and poisoning.

The couple went on to have four more children. All three of their surviving sons, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, were to become famous actors and film-makers in their own right.

Nearly all his grandchildren have worked in the field of films, either as actors or filmmakers or both.

Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor are his great grandchildren. Both Prithviraj and Ramsarni suffered from cancer in their declining years and died within a fortnight of each other, in 1972.

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September 15, 2024

Prithviraj Kapoor Biography, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Wiki & More

Updated On : November 2, 2018

Prithviraj Kapoor

BIRTHDAY	3 November,1906 (Saturday)
BIRTH PLACE	Samundri, Faisalabad, Punjab
COUNTRY	Pakistan
AGE (in 1972)	65 Years Old
BIRTH SIGN	Scorpio
HEIGHT	N/A
WEIGHT	N/A
CASTE	N/A

Prithviraj Kapoor Photos

Short biography.

Prithviraj Kapoor, the legendary actor, was born on 3rd November 1906 in Samundri, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. He was an actor with actual stardom and was the pioneer of the Hindi Film Industry. He was an Indian Film Actor, Director, Producer & Writer.

Other Name:	Prithvinath Kapoor, The Showman, The Greatest Show Man of Indian Cinema, Charlie Chaplin of Indian Cinema, Raj Sahab
Other Professions:
Appearance:

Prithviraj Kapoor Complete Bio & Career

Prithviraj Kapoor, the patriarch of the Kapoor family, is also the founder of the Indian theatre and the Hindi Cinema, in the country. He is the actor, who started his career in the silent era of movies. He was a multi-talented actor, who could do a positive balance between the theatre and the screen.

Starting his career from the year 1927, the versatile actor proved his caliber in the silent cinema, the theatre, and the talkie cinema. He was one of the founding members of the Prithvi theatres. This venture of his was very close to his heart and he invested a considerable amount of his earnings in the Prithvi Theatres. The theatre used to portray plays, which were conceptualized to motivate the youth, to participate in the Freedom struggle of India. On the 50th anniversary of Prithvi Raj Theatres, Indian postage stamp issued a 2Rs commemorative stamp in his honour.

Few of the noted movies done by the accomplished actor, are Alam Ara, Sikandar, Vidyapati, Aawara, Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai and Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar. In addition to Hindi, he has also acted in a landmark Punjabi film called Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai in the year 1969. The film was a huge hit and there were lines of kilometers in Punjab to watch this film. He also received a number of awards out of which the most prominent were, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Prithviraj Kapoor Popular Videos

Honours & Awards

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AWARD NAME	AWARD CATEGORY	RECEIPT YEAR	RECEIPT FIELD
	Civilian Award	1969	Arts
	Indian Cinema Award	1971	Hindi Film Industry

Health Issues, Illness and Death Info

Prithviraj Kapoor died on 29-05-1972 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. After his death in 1972, he was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 1971. He was the third recipient of that award, the highest accolade in Indian cinema.

DEATHDAY	29 May,1972 (Monday)
DEATH PLACE	Mumbai, Maharashtra
DEATH COUNTRY	India

Prithviraj Kapoor Family, Relatives and Other Relations

He was married to Ramsarni Mehra from 1923 until his death in 1972. Together the couple had 3 sons named Shammi, Shashi and Raj Kapoor and a daughter named Urmila Sial. All his sons were legendary actors and actor Rishi Kapoor is his grandson. Actresses Karisma and Kareena Kapoor are his great-granddaughters and actor Ranbir Kapoor is his great-grandson.

Life's Important Dates Of Prithviraj Kapoor

• LIFE EVENTS
• FAMILY EVENTS

Body Measurements

Skin Colour	Fair
Eye Colour	Brown
Hair Colour	Black

Personal Info

Home Town	Mumbai
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu
Address	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Marital Status	Married
Debut	Do Dhari Talwar (1928)
Best Movies	Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai (1969), and Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

Shocking / Interesting Facts & Secrets About Prithviraj Kapoor

• He worked in 9 silent movies such as Sher-e-Arab, Prince Vijaykumar, and Do Dhari Talwar among others.
• He founded Prithvi Theatres in the year 1996.
• His film Kal Aaj Aur Kal features three generations of Kapoor family.
• His role of Mughal Emperor Akbar in the cult classic film Mughal-E-Azam is still remembered.

Prithviraj Kapoor Age, Birthday Facts and Birthday Countdown

Prithviraj Kapoor was 65 years 6 months & 26 days old age.

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Prithviraj Kapoor

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Prithviraj Kapoor (born November 3, 1906, Samundri, India [now in Pakistan]—died May 29, 1972, Bombay [now Mumbai], India) was an Indian film and stage actor who founded both the renowned Kapoor family of actors and the Prithvi Theatre in Bombay (now Mumbai). He was best known for playing Alexander the Great in Sohrab Modi’s Sikandar (1941; “Alexander the Great”) and the emperor Akbar in K. Asif’s Mughal-e-azam (1960; “The Greatest of the Mughals”).

Kapoor began his acting career in theatres in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) and Peshawar (both now in Pakistan). He joined the Imperial Films Company in Bombay in the late 1920s. Starring in India’s first sound film, Ardeshir Irani’s Alam ara (1931; “The Light of the World”), he demonstrated his greatest asset—a powerful, booming voice. Throughout the 1930s Kapoor played lead roles in Hindi films produced by the New Theatres, a studio based in Calcutta (now Kolkata). The 1932 film Rajrani Meera , directed by Debaki Bose, was Kapoor’s breakthrough project. He followed it up in 1934 with the even more successful Seeta , a film in which he played Rama , opposite Durga Khote in the title role. His most popular New Theatres film was Vidyapati (1937), Bose’s impressively mounted chronicle of the life of the court poet of the kingdom of Mithila (the area of ancient Videha, now Tirhut). In the late 1930s Kapoor was back in Bombay, where he starred in several successful melodramas produced by Chandulal Shah’s Ranjit Studio.

Despite his involvement with Hindi cinema, Kapoor remained committed to the theatre; he launched the Prithvi Theatre in Bombay in 1944 to promote Hindi stage productions. Over the next decade at the Prithvi Theatre, he gave many their first breaks, including director Ramanand Sagar, the composing duo Shankar-Jaikishan, and music director Ram Ganguly. Kapoor continued to work until he died of cancer in 1972. Among his later films were his son Raj Kapoor ’s Awaara (1951; “The Vagabond,” or “The Tramp”), his grandson Randhir Kapoor’s Kal aaj aur kal (1971; “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”), which featured three generations of the Kapoor family, and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’s Aasmaan mahal (1965; “Heavenly Palace”). However, his formidable reputation as an actor and talent spotter rests primarily on the first half of his long career.

Kapoor was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1972 for his contribution to Indian cinema. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours, in 1969.

Prithviraj Kapoor Biography

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The Kapoors: The First Family Of Bollywood

From Prithviraj Kapoor’s lead role in Cinema Girl (1929) to Kareena Kapoor’s portrayal of a fierce cop in Angrezi Medium (2020), the Kapoor family has reigned over Bollywood for around ninety years now, and they don’t seem to be stopping soon.

The Indian cinema, popularly known as Bollywood, resides in the city of Mumbai. Bollywood derived its name from its American equivalent, Hollywood, and the city of Mumbai which was formerly known as Bombay. It has been the pride of India for more than a century now. Many actors have come and gone, leaving their unique marks on the Indian history. However, one family which has stayed in this industry since the beginning and ruled the hearts of millions, goes by the name of The Kapoors .

Prithviraj Kapoor

Dating back to the 20s, Prithviraj Kapoor moved to Mumbai with the hopes of becoming an actor. He performed in various small-budget movies as an extra, before landing the lead role in Cinema Girl in 1929. He was also a part of Bollywood’s first talkie, Alam Ara (1931). Prithviraj continued winning hearts of his audience in various movies, including his unforgettable character of Emperor Akbar in the quintessential film Mughal-e-Azam (1960).

Privthiraj’s son, Raj Kapoor, became one of the most influential actors and directors of the Indian cinema. Being presented with highest degree of film awards such as the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987, Raj Kapoor earned himself the titles of ‘ Charlie Chaplin of India ’ and ‘ The Greatest Showman of India ’.

His brothers, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, left their own legacy for their fans to cherish forever.

Rishi Kapoor

The next generation welcomed Raj Kapoor’s son, Rishi Kapoor, as their romantic hero. The actor ruled Bollywood cinema during the 70s and 80s. Due to his numerous hits and energetic charisma onscreen, Rishi Kapoor is often considered as one of the greatest actors of the Indian cinema. Sadly, the acclaimed actor passed away earlier this year due to cancer.

Karisma and Kareena Kapoor

Fans of Bollywood then saw the sisters, Karisma and Kareena Kapoor, make their name on the big screen. Taking roles of independent and smart women, they both inspired fans throughout the country. Kareena Kapoor is also Bollywood’s one of the highest paid actresses.

Ranbir Kapoor

Kareena and Karisma’s cousin, Ranbir Kapoor, earned himself many romantic leads in several high-grossing films. His portrayal of the esteemed actor Sanjay Dutt in the biopic Sanju (2018) earned him huge praise from fans all around.

With around five generations involved in the film industry, The Kapoor family is still going strong by releasing blockbuster movies and captivating the Indian audience with its performances

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Remembering Prithviraj Kapoor On His 112th Birth Anniversary

Known as the pioneer of indian theatre and hindi film industry, prithviraj kapoor was born on 3rd november 1906..

Known as the pioneer of Indian theatre and Hindi film industry, Prithviraj Kapoor was born on 3rd November 1906 into a Punjabi Hindu family of Samundri, Samundri Tehsil, Lyallpur District, Punjab, British India. The actor began his career in the theatres of Lyallpur and Peshawar. With the help of a loan from his aunt, he moved to Bombay and first worked as an extra in his first film, Do Dhari Talwar, though he went on to earn a lead role for his third film, titled Cinema Girl, in 1929.

After acting in silent films, he bagged a supporting role in India's first film talkie, Alam Ara which released in 1931. After that, Prithviraj Kapoor starred in many iconic films like Alexander The Great, Awara, Mughal-E-Azam amongst others.

On his 112th birth anniversary today, we take a look back at his journey as recalled by his sister Shanta Kapoor Dhawan-

Theatre Was His First Love

"Theatre was Prithviraj's first love, and he started acting in a Ramlila when he was but a boy. He also did some theatre in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) and Peshawar. He joined a law course at Lahore but quit in the first year to join Grant Anderson Theatre Company in Calcutta," recalled Shanta.

The Struggling Days

"Bhapa (Prithviraj) would later tell us that six actors would share one blade to shave. But soon he was offered a job by BN Sircar of New Theatres, who had also discovered KL Saigal, at a salary of Rs 60 a month; it was raised to Rs 250 and the next raise was to to Rs 500. With such a handsome salary for those times, Bhapa brought his family to Calcutta. Those were times when 20 eggs came for 4 anna (25 paisa) , 100 langra mangoes for a rupee."

Prithviraj acted alongside his son, Raj Kapoor and grandson, Randhir Kapoor in Kal Aaj Aur Kal which released in 1971.

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Kunal Kapoor recollects, "I think Prithviraj Kapoor's plays at the core are very relevant today. They are about human conditions that have gone on for thousands of years under one pretext or the other."

Well, we couldn't agree more to this!

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Take A Look At All The Members Of The First Family Of Indian Cinema

 Here are all the details about the entire Kapoor family that was originally started by Prithviraj Kapoor. Read on to find all about them.

• Poornima Pandey
• Updated - 2023-06-21, 12:49 IST

Prithviraj Kapoor

Shammi Kapoor

Shashi kapoor, raj kapoor’s children.

• Randhir Kapoor is married to Babita and has two daughters, Karisma and Kareena. Karisma was married to Sanjay Kapur and has two kids, Samaira Kapoor and Kiaan Raj Kapoor, and Kareena is married to Saif Ali Khan, and they have a son, Taimur. The couple is also expecting their second child who is due to arrive anytime this month.

• The eldest daughter of Raj Kapoor, Ritu Nanda , was married to Escorts Chairman Rajan Nanda and has one son, Nikhil Nanda, and a daughter Nitasha Nanda . Her son is married to Shweta Bachchan, Amitabh, and Jaya Bachchan's elder daughter, and has two children, Navya Naveli Nanda and Agastya Nanda. Ritu Nanda's daughter, Nitasha is unmarried and is helping her brother Nikhil take care of their family business after their father's demise in 2018.

• Rishi Kapoor was married to Neetu Kapoor with two children Riddhima Kapoor Sahani and Ranbir Kapoor . Riddhima is married to a Delhi-based businessman, Bharat Sawhney. She works as a jewellery designer and has a daughter named Samara.

• Rima Jain married businessman Manoj Jain , and they have two children, aspiring actors Armaan Jain and Aadar Jain . Armaan has now moved into the hospitality business after opening his own food delivery chain, Kitchen Tales after his not so heartwarming attempt in Bollywood. He married his longtime girlfriend, Anissa Malhotra in 2019 in the presence of the entire Kapoor family. Aadar, on the other hand, is still part of Bollywood and is dating actress Tara Sutaria of the Student of the Year 2 fame.

• Rajeev Kapoor , who died of a heart attack on February 09, married his longtime girlfriend and live-in partner, Aarti Sabharwal , who was an architect in 2001. However, the two soon parted ways in the year 2003, post which Aarti shifted her base to Canada. They have no children.

Shammi Kapoor’s Children

• Aditya Raj Kapoor was initially an actor and had also worked in several movies including Mumbai 118, Sambar Salsa, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, and others. He later also ventured into business and filmmaking. Currently, he is retired and living in Mumbai with his wife Preeti Kapoor and children Tulsi Kapoor and Vishwa Pratap Kapoor.

• Whereas his sister, Kanchan , is married to famed producer Manmohan Desai’s son, Ketan Desai who also happens to be a film producer. Together they have two children, Raj Rajeshwari Desai and Pooja Desai.

Shashi Kapoor’s Children

• Kunal Kapoor made his debut through ‘Siddhartha’ but his unsuccessful attempts made him choose advertising as his profession. He later established his own company and now is a film director and producer. He has produced movies like Singh is Bling. He was married to a famous Indian director and producer, Ramesh Sippy’s daughter, Sheena Sippy (but the two were later separated) . They have two children Shaira Laura Kapoor and Zahan Prithviraj Kapoor.
• Moving on to Karan Kapoor, who was also known as the ‘Bombay Dyeing Man’, 20 years back. He is a renowned photographer and resides in Mumbai. He married Lorna Kapoor and has two children named Aliya and Zak Kapoor.
• Last but not the least, the youngest of them all was Sanjana Kapoor who is an Indian theatre artist and runs the Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai. She was earlier married to Aditya Bhattacharya , son of filmmaker Basu Bhattacharya but the two parted their ways. Later, Sajana tied her knot with Natural Historian and wildlife filmmaker and photographer, Valmik Thapar, they both have a son called Hamir Thapar.

The Kapoor Haveli

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Remembering Prithviraj Kapoor: 10 facts you must know about the Father of Bollywood

Today is prithviraj kapoor's 110th birth anniversary. here are 10 facts you must know about him.

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The pioneer of Indian theatre and a stalwart in Hindi film industry, Prithviraj Kapoor was born on November 3 in the year 1906. Prithviraj Kapoor was the patriarch of the famous Kapoor family of Bollywood. He was born in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) in Pakistan.

Kapoor completed his higher education at the Edwardes College in Peshawar. He studied law, but later discovered his acting skills on stage and decided to make a career out of it.

• Prithviraj Kapoor started his acting career as a theatre artist in his native place, Lyllapur and Peshawar
• In 1928, Prithviraj moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with some money that he borrowed from his aunt and joined the Imperial Films Company
• At the company, he started doing minor roles in films. It was in 1929 when Kapoor got his first lead role in his third film, Cinema Girl
• Prithviraj was also cast in nine silent films such as Do Dhari Talwar , Sher-e-Ara b and Prince Vijaykumar

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Remembering Prithviraj Kapoor!

Best known as shenshah akbar in mughal e azam, prithiviraj kapoor is the patriarch of the kapoor family. we reminisce the icon's journey on his 103rd birth anniversary..

Prithviraj was born on November 3, 1906 at Samundri near the town of Lyallpur (now known as Faisalabad in Pakistan) to a middle-class family of Punjabi Khatri origin. He could speak Punjabi, Hindi and Hindko.

His father, Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, was a sub-inspector of police. Prithviraj received his initial education at Khalsa College Lyallpur and at Lahore. His paternal grandfather, Dewan Keshavmal, was a powerful influence during his childhood.

Baseshwarnath was posted at Peshawar, and so Prithviraj received his higher education at the Edwardes College, Peshawar, Pakistan and joined a one year programme in Law to become a Lawyer. It was here that his talents on stage first received expression.

Prithviraj did his B.A. from Edward college, Peshawar, a feat that few of his descendants were destined to match. He also studied law as a graduate student for one year, but his heart was in the theatre. In 1928, with the help of a loan from his aunt, Prithviraj moved to the city of Bombay (present-day Mumbai).

He acted as an extra in his first film role, though he grew up to get a lead role for his third Cinema Girl in 1929. After featuring in nine silent films, Kapoor did a supporting role in India's first film talkie, Alam Ara (1931). His performance in Vidyapati (1937) was much appreciated. His best-known performance is perhaps as Alexander the Great in Sohrab Modi’s Sikandar (1941). He also joined the only English theatrical company called 'J. Grant Anderson' which remained in India for a year. Through all these years Prithviraj remained devoted to the theatre and performed on stage regularly, he developed a reputation as a fine actor on both stage and screen.

Prithviraj invested in and founded Prithvi Theatre, a travelling troupe which staged memorable productions across India. In over 16 years of existence, the theater staged some 2,662 shows. Prithviraj starred as the lead actor in every single show.

His other notable films are Mughal E Azam (1960), Harishchandra Taramati (1963), Sikandar-e-Azam (1965) and Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971).

Kapoor starred in the legendary religious Punjabi film Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai (1969), a film so revered in Punjab that there were lines many kilometers long to purchase tickets.

He also starred in the Punjabi films Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970) and Mele Mittran De (1972).

In 1954, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, and in 1969, the Padma Bhushan by the government of India. He remained Nominated Rajya Sabha Member for eight years.

After his death in 1972, he was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 1971. He was the third recipient of that award, the highest accolade in Indian cinema.

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Raj Kapoor Age, Wife, Family, Children, Death, Biography & More

Real Name	Ranbir Raj Kapoor
Nickname	Showman of Bollywood
Profession	Actor, Producer and Director
Height (approx.)	in centimeters in meters in feet inches
Weight (approx.)	in kilograms in pounds
Eye Colour	Hazel
Hair Colour	Grey
Date of Birth	14 December 1924
Date of Death	2 June 1988
Place of Death	New Delhi, India
Age (at the time of death)
Death Cause	Cardiac Arrest (after suffering from Asthma)
Zodiac sign	Sagittarius
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Peshawar (Pakistan)
School	St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun
Educational Qualification	6th Fail
Debut	Inquilab (1935) (Child Actor)
Family	- Prithviraj Kapoor (1906-1972) - Ramsarni Devi Kapoor (1908-1972) - (1938-2017) Shammi Kapoor (1931-2011) Nandi Kapoor (Died:1931) Devi Kapoor (Died: 1931) - Urmila Sial Kapoor
Religion	Hinduism
Controversies	• His wife Krishna used to remain upset and even left his home due to his affairs with Indian heroines like Nargis, Padmini, and . • In 1978, he promised the legendary singer that he would hire her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar as the music director for the movie 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram,' but when she went to the United States on a music tour; he signed Laxmikant Pyarelal for this film without telling her. It made her annoyed. Later, he also asked the music composer to add more alaaps to the song that she was going to sing for this movie. • He made scenes of heroines in short clothes in which their skin was exposed more than necessary. He even took shots of the semi-nude scenes of actresses with their co-stars, which were not so common in India and were not even appreciated by the Indian audience of that time.
Favourite Food	Biryani, Chicken Curry, Pao, Eggs, Moori (puffed rice) with Peanuts, Small Samosas, Caramel Custard
Favourite Actor
Favourite Musical Instrument	Accordion
Favourite Actress
Favourite Film
Favourite Drink	Johnny Walker Black Label Whisky
Favourite Musician	Shankar, Jaikishan
Marital Status	Married
Affairs/Girlfriends	Nargis (Hindi movie actress) Vyjayanthimala (Hindi movie actress and dancer) Padmini (Hindi movie actress and Bharathanatyam dancer)
Wife
Marriage Date	May 1946
Children	- - Ritu Nanda (married to industrialist Rajan Nanda) Rima Jain (married to investment banker Manoj Jain)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor Smoking

Raj Kapoor drinking alcohol with singer Mukesh

Raj Kapoor With Vyjayanthimala And Lyricist Shailendra

• His super hit movies are Awaara (1951), Anhonee (1952), Aah (1953), Shree 420 (1955), Jagte Raho (1956), Chori Chori (1956), Anari (1959), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Chhalia (1960) and Dil Hi To Hai (1963).
• To start a career as an actor, his father Prithviraj Kapoor came to Bombay in 1930 and to do stage performances, he with the group of 80 persons used to travel to different places across India.
• His brother Devi died in 1931 due to pneumonia and Nandi died in 1931 due to the swallowing of poison (rat pills) strewn in the garden.

Raj Kapoor in younger days

• Once he pulled Kidar Sharma’s fake beard accidentally and got a slap from him.
• At the age of 10, he made his film debut as a child artist in the drama film ‘Inquilab’ (1935).
• During the initial days of his career, he wanted to become a music director.

Raj Kapoor With Nargis

• His parents arranged his marriage with Krishna who is the daughter of Prithviraj Kapoor’s maternal uncle.
• Krishna’s sister is Prem Chopra ‘s wife and her brothers Narendra Nath, Rajendra Nath and Prem Nath became actors later.
• According to his wife Krishna, he used to drink daily and accustomed to weep in the bathtub for his girlfriend.
• After marriage, when Nargis with her husband Sunil Datt met Krishna in a party, Nargis said sorry to Krishna for her past relationships with Raj Kapoor.
• When Vyjayanthimala came in his life, at that moment Krishna left his home and used to live in Natraj Hotel with her children, later she moved to her father’s house.

• His son Rishi Kapoor revealed Raj’s affairs with different actresses in his autobiography ‘Khullam Khulla.’

Raj Kapoor With His Family

• Ranbir was his favourite grandchild. Once Ranbir demanded him a suit while he was going to Russia and from there he brought two bags of suits in all possible colours for him.
• His daughter Ritu Nanda’s son Nikhil Nanda got married to Shweta who is the daughter of famous actor Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan .

Raj Kapoor with Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar

• Filmmaker Vijay Anand tried to direct a film with the leading stars Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Dev Anand but it couldn’t be completed due to dates hassles and some other reasons.
• He is famous in different countries such as China, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, The Soviet Union and many other parts of the world.

Raj Kapoor’s Superhit Movie ‘Bobby’

Raj Kapoor With Mohammed Rafi And Shankar Jaikishen

Raj Kapoor With Singer Mukesh

• For his famous movies Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish (1954), he was chosen a nominee (two times) for the grand prize of ‘Palme d’Or’ at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Also, his performance in Awaara was listed among the top 10 greatest performances of all time by Time magazine.
• For his film Jagte Raho in 1956, he got the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic).

Raj Kapoor’s First Coloured Film ‘Sangam’

• He became a member of the jury at the fourth Moscow International Film Festival in 1965.
• His films Around the World  (1966) and Sapnon Ka Saudagar  (1968) were box office flops.

Raj Kapoor’s Favourite Movie ‘Mera Naam Joker’ (1970)

Raj Kapoor’s Classic Movie ‘Kal Aaj Aur Kal’

Raj Kapoor’s Classic Cult ‘Mera Naam Joker’

Raj Kapoor and Zeenat Aman

• When he was suffering from bad health, his friend and director Hrishikesh Mukherjee made the movie ‘Anand’ in his honour.
• Because of his consistency at the box-office, he was often called “the Clark Gable of the Indian film industry.”

Raj Kapoor Receiving ‘Dada Saheb Phalke Award’

• After a month of struggling for life on an artificial respiratory system, at the age of 63, he passed away due to multiple organ failures and cardiac arrest.
• During the time of his bad health, he was making the movie ‘Henna,’ which was completed by his sons Rishi and Randhir after his death.      

Raj Kapoor’s Postal Stamp

• He won the title “Best Director of the Millennium” by Stardust Awards.
• In 2002, he was given the name “Showman of the Millennium” by Star Screen Awards.

Raj Kapoor’s Brass Statue

• His movies Shree 420, Aag, and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai have patriotic themes and his famous song ‘Mera joota hai Japani’ gives the feeling of patriotism and is so popular that it is still featured in many films.      

• He brought Shankar Jaikishan (music directors), Shailendra (lyricist) and Hasrat Jaipuri (lyricist) in the film industry.
• He gave a career break to the actresses Dimple Kapadia, Mandakini, Nimmi and also his sons Rishi, Randhir, and Rajiv.
• He explained the unrevealed facts about his films in an interview.

Raj Kapoor’s ancestral house in Peshawar

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Neetu Kapoor shares a heartfelt PIC with Ranbir Kapoor as they bid farewell to Ganpati Bappa

About the Author

The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More

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