Page 7 - Seniors Today - December 2024

and lodging. As a child Raj Kapoor learnt child artiste to leading lady.
how not to be starry, because Papaji ate
the same food as the rest and slept on the
floor if need be. The family was not given
preferential treatment. Raj Kapoor helped
backstage, did odd jobs, did small parts,
understudied for other actors, doubled
as stage manager, and got as thorough a
training in various aspects of production
as was possible in a hands-on manner. He
learnt about sets, lights, costumes, music,
choreography, which came in handy when
he started making his own films soon after
his acting debut. A couple of years later, in
1950, he founded RK Studio in Chembur,
in the Eastern part of Mumbai.
Later in life, even when he was a
Raj Kapoor@100 superstar, he remained down to earth. He
went to small eateries around Chembur
and had his favourite watering holes. But
he also entertained lavishly and the RK
Holi bash became a Bollywood ritual.
Papaji did not believe in nepotism, so Raj
Photograph source: FilmHeritageFoundation.co.in
Kapoor and his brothers had to find their
Even when he was a superstar, he remained down to earth, writes Deepa Gahlot own way in the industry-- daughters were
not permitted to get into films. Later, the
daughters-in-law, Babita and Neetu Singh
had to give up their acting careers too.
Raj Kapoor started out as an assistant
with Kidar Sharma, who famously slapped
him when he goofed up while giving a
clap for a shot. But later, he also cast him
as leading man in Neel Kamal, opposite
Madhubala, making her transition from
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #66 | DECEMBER 2024
He got married early, to Krishna
Malhotra, sister of Premnath, co-actor and
friend. In those days early marriages did
not affect a star’s fan following; and though
they may have been affairs, marriages were
for keeps. Through all the real or alleged
link-up, she maintained a stoic dignity,
raising her five children.
The major storm in the Kapoor marriage
came in the form of Nargis, who became
Raj Kapoor’s muse and partner for over a
decade. But he never left his family, and
she could not wait. After Mother India, she
married Sunil Dutt and retired from films.
In the books written by his children,
Ritu Nanda and Rishi Kapoor, they have
mentioned their father’s affairs and the
turmoil in their marriage. When the affair
with actress Vyjayanthimala (she denied it
in her memoir) started during the making
of romantic drama Sangam, Krishna
Kapoor had left the house with the children
and moved into a hotel. She was persuaded
to return, however, and despite his
infidelities, the marriage lasted 42 years,
7