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Actor: Raj Kapoor
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Amithab Bachan, Sharuk Khan
Raj Kapoor was born at Dhakki Munawwar Shah near
Qissa Khwani in Peshawar, Pakistan (then British India) to Prithviraj Kapoor and
Ramsarni Devi Kapoor . He was the eldest of six children in the family.
Two of Raj's brothers are actors Shashi Kapoor and the late Shammi Kapoor. Raj
Kapoor attended Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun
At the age of eleven, he appeared in films for the first time, in the 1935 film
Inquilab. After acting in several films over the next 12 years, Raj Kapoor's big
break came with the lead role in Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Madhubala in her
first role as a leading lady. In 1948, at the age of twenty-four, he established
his own studio, R. K. Films, and became the youngest film director of his time
making his directorial debut with the film Aag starring himself, Nargis, Kamini
Kaushal and Premnath. In 1949 he co-starred alongside Dilip Kumar and Nargis in
Mehboob Khan's blockbuster Andaz which was his first major success as an actor.
He went on to produce, direct/or star in many box office hits such as Barsaat
(1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956)
and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960). These films established his screen
image modelled on Charlie Chaplin's most famous screen persona of The Tramp.
Outside of his home productions his other notable films were Anari (1959),
Chhalia (1960) and Teesri Kasam (1966).
In 1964 he produced, directed and starred in the romantic musical Sangam
alongside Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala which was his first film in colour.
This was his last major success as a leading actor as his later films like
Around the World (1966) and Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) with younger starlets
Rajshree and Hema Malini were box office flops.
In 1970 he produced, directed and starred in his ambitious film, Mera Naam Joker
which took more than six years to complete. His son Rishi Kapoor made his debut
in this film playing the younger version of his character. When released in
1970, it was a box office disaster. In later years it was acknowledged as a
classic. Kapoor himself regards this film as his favourite.
In 1971 he launched his eldest son Randhir Kapoor in the family drama Kal Aaj
Aur Kal starring himself, his son Randhir, his father Prithviraj Kapoor as well
as Randhir's would-be-wife Babita. He launched his second son Rishi Kapoor's
career when he produced and directed Bobby (1973) which was not only a huge box
office success but also introduced actress Dimple Kapadia, later a very popular
actress, and was the first of a new generation of teen romances.
In the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s he produced and directed films
which focused on the female protagonists: Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) with
Zeenat Aman, Prem Rog (1982) with Padmini Kolhapure and Ram Teri Ganga Maili
(1985) which introduced Mandakini. He acted in fewer films by the late 1970s and
early 1980s but played notable supporting roles alongside Rajesh Khanna in
Naukri (1979) and alongside Sanjay Khan in Abdullah (1980).
Raj Kapoor's last major film appearance was in Vakil Babu (1982) wherein he
appeared with his younger brother Shashi. His last acting role was a cameo
appearance in a 1984 released British made-for-television film titled Kim. He
also started R.K films industry.
Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years; he died of complications
related to asthma in 1988 at the age of 63. At the time of his death, he was
working on the movie Heena (an Indo-Pakistan based love story). The film was
later completed by his sons Randhir and Rishi Kapoor, and narrated by his
brother Shammi Kapoor. The movie was released in 1991 and became a huge success
at the Box Office. When he was being conferred upon the Dadasaheb Phalke Award,
where his brother Shashi Kapoor was also present, the crowd was clapping around
when President Venkataraman, who saw Kapoor's discomfort, came down the stage to
give the award to the legend in the middle of thundering claps where he was
breathing his last breath. And suddenly Kapoor collapsed, and was rushed to the
All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. The country's top
cardiologists tried their best, but could not save him.
Many of the songs he commissioned are evergreen hits. He introduced the music
directors Shankar-Jaikishan and the lyricists Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra.
He was married to Krishna Kapoor, sister of actors, Rajendra Nath and Prem
Nath.
Three of Kapoor's grandchildren are currently stars in the Bollywood film
industry. His granddaughters are Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, the
daughters of Raj's son Randhir Kapoor and his wife Babita. His grandson Ranbir
Kapoor is son of Rishi Kapoor and his wife Neetu Singh.
Kapoor had received many awards throughout his career, including 2 National Film
Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, 9 Filmfare Awards and 19 nominations. His
films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish (1954) were nominated for the Palme d'Or at
the Cannes Film Festival. His acting in the former was rated as one of the
"Top-Ten Performances of all time", by the Time Magazine. His film Jagte Raho
(1956) also won the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film
Festival.
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987 – the highest award for cinematic excellence in
India. In 2001, he was honoured with “Best Director of the Millennium” by
Stardust Awards. He was named “Showman of the Millennium” by Star Screen Awards
in 2002.
( Courtesy: Wikkipedia)
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