Raj Kapoor#Legacy

Raj Kapoor was born as Shrishti Nath Kapoor on 14 December 1924 at Kapoor Haveli, a large house then owned by his grandfather in the Qissa Khwani Bazaar neighborhood of Peshawar, British India into a Punjabi Hindu family{{cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/article299657.ece |title=Remembering an icon: Prithviraj Kapoor |work=The New Indian Express |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=3 July 2017 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817021537/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/article299657.ece |url-status=dead }} who belonged to the Dhai Ghar Khatri community. He had an Arya Samaji upbringing.CHATTERJEE, PARTHA. “[http://www.jstor.org/stable/41804040 INDIAN CINEMA: Then and Now].” India International Centre Quarterly 39, no. 2 (2012): 46. "Thanks to K. A. Abbas, who adapted his radical idea to Raj Kapoor's Arya Samaji upbringing (...)" His parents were Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Devi Kapoor (née Mehra). The Kapoor family hailed originally from Samundri, Samundri Tehsil, Lyallpur District, Punjab Province, British India.{{cite book |first=Sharmistha |last=Gooptu |title=Bengali Cinema: 'An Other Nation' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzEdHF5UYcMC&pg=PA124 |date=2010 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-203-84334-5 |pages=124}} He was the eldest of six children in the family.{{cite web |url=http://www.statsvet.su.se/publikationer/ahmed/artiklar_2006/41_prithviraj_kapoor.htm |title=Prithviraj Kapoor: A centenary tribute |publisher=Daily Times / University of Stockholm |access-date=3 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505125639/http://www.statsvet.su.se/publikationer/ahmed/artiklar_2006/41_prithviraj_kapoor.htm |archive-date=5 May 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.junglee.org.in/pk.html |title=Prithviraj Kapoor |publisher=Kapoor Family Page |access-date=3 November 2007}} He was the grandson of Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, great-grandson of Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor, and great-great-grandson of Dewan Murli Mal Kapoor, and was part of the Kapoor family. His brothers were the late actors Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. He also had a sister named Urmila Sial. Two other siblings died in infancy. Kapoor's family later on moved from Peshawar to Bombay for residence and for education.

He is the nephew of actor Trilok Kapoor, who is the younger brother of his father. His first cousin was director Vijay Kapoor who was the son of Trilok Kapoor and actor Subbiraj who was his father's sister's son. His father's cousin was film producer Surinder Kapoor, whose children are producer Boney Kapoor and actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor.{{cite news|title=Surinder Kapoor, cousin of Prithviraj Kapoor|url=http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/may/04/surinder-kapoor-on-life-and-times.htm|newspaper= Rediff.com}} His father's maternal first cousins were actors Kamal Kapoor, Ravindra Kapoor, and Nandkishore Kapoor. Kamal's grandson is filmmaker Goldie Behl. His maternal first cousin, Juggal Kishore Mehra, was a singer, whose step-granddaughter, Salma Agha, later became an actress and singer.

As Prithviraj moved from city to city early in his career during the 1930s, the family had to move too. Raj Kapoor attended several different schools like Colonel Brown Cambridge School in Dehradun, St Xavier's Collegiate School in Calcutta{{cite web |last1=Ultra |first1=Nihil |title=Xaviers 150 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090122/jsp/calcutta/story_10426452.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918041150/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090122/jsp/calcutta/story_10426452.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2012 |website=The Telegraph|location=India |access-date=1 May 2016 |date=22 January 2009}} and Campion School in Bombay.{{cite book |first=Madhu |last=Jain |title=Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3heZ8I-k9AC&pg=PT78 |date=2009 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-81-8475-813-9 |pages=78}}

At the age of ten, Raj Kapoor appeared in a Hindi film for the first time, in 1935 film Inquilab.{{cite web|url=https://m.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/5-facts-about-the-iconic-raj-kapoor-worth-revisiting-58895.html|title=5 Facts About The Iconic Raj Kapoor Worth Revisiting|date=2 June 2023}}

Some early success came with the lead role in 1947 with Kidar Sharma's romantic drama Neel Kamal opposite Begum Para and Madhubala.{{Cite book|last=Viplava|first=Vinoda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISNJDwAAQBAJ|title=Hindi Cinema Ke 150 Sitare|date=2013-01-01|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=978-93-81063-71-2|pages=1893|language=hi}} The film proved to be a semi-hit at the box office, but his other releases, such as Jail Yatra, Dil Ki Rani and Chittor Vijay didn't do well.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/eventful-1947-breakthrough-year-for-dilip-kumar-raj-kapoor-indian-cinema-8538245/|title=The eventful 1947 was a breakthrough year for Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Indian cinema|date=5 April 2023 }} In 1948, he founded his own banner R. K. Films and made his directional debut with the musical drama Aag in which he starred alongside Nargis, Premnath and Kamini Kaushal.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aag_1948|title=Aag (1948)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }}{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Kushwant|title=Screen-Struck India|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1396924/screenstruck_india_kushwant_singh/|newspaper=The Emporia Gazette|date=6 November 1976|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = 8 December 2014 }} {{Open access}} The film was an average grosser, but received positive reviews from critics.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Aag-1948/article16206193.ece|title=Aag (1948)|website=The Hindu |date=22 July 2010 }}

File:PYAR.png, in a poster for the 1950 film Pyar]]

Several films released in 1949 had a major influence on Kapoor's career.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/remembering-raj-kapoor-how-a-24-year-old-became-the-youngest-film-director-of-his-time-set-up-iconic-rk-studios-9066557/|title=Remembering Raj Kapoor: How a 24 year old became the youngest film director of his time, set up iconic RK Studios|date=14 December 2023}} His first release Sunehre Din flopped commercially, but the next one Parivartan emerged a commercially successful venture while his third release, Mehboob Khan's romantic drama Andaz, which also starred Dilip Kumar and Nargis, went on to become highly successful at the box office.{{Citation |last=Divyansh Srivastava |title=IMG 20221225 142200 |date=2022-12-25 |url=http://archive.org/details/img-20221225-142200 |access-date=2022-12-25}} This was followed by Barsaat, which he also directed and produced.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/shah-rukh-khan-in-kashmir-for-shooting-of-dunki-1212803.html|title=Shah Rukh Khan in Kashmir for shooting of 'Dunki'}} The film went ahead of the former, eventually emerging as the highest grossing Indian film of all time, breaking the record of Kismet.{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/with-pathaan-and-jawan-shah-rukh-khan-becomes-only-actor-after-raj-kapoor-to-deliver-2-atgs-in-a-single-year-1247199|title=With Pathaan and Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan becomes only actor after Raj Kapoor to deliver 2 ATGs in a single year|date=29 September 2023}} It ran in Kolkata's Paradise Cinema for almost two years.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6042|title=All Time Longest Runners In Kolkata: Sholay 2nd - HAHK 4th}} The huge box office success of Andaz and Barsaat made Kapoor one of the leading male stars of the time along with Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand.{{cite web |title=Top Actors |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219165002/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors |archive-date=19 February 2008 |access-date=24 April 2020 |work=Box Office India}}

The following year, he starred in Sargam and Dastan opposite Rehana and Suraiya, respectively.{{cite book |title=Raj Kapur, the Fabulous Showman: An Intimate Biography |publisher=National Film Development Corporation |page=362}}{{cite book|author=Bhaichand Patel|title=Bollywood's Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQL4dkVAnPIC&pg=PA70|accessdate=21 March 2015|year=2012|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-670-08572-9|pages=70–}} Kapoor had only one release in 1951 which was his own directional, the crime drama Awaara co-starring Prithviraj Kapoor and Nargis.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/awara|title=Awaara (1951)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} The film opened to highly positive response from critics as well as the audience and proved to be another major success for the actor.{{cite news|title=63 Years of change|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/63-years-of-change/|access-date=3 August 2015|agency=Indian Express|publisher=The Indian Express [P] Ltd.|date=3 October 2014|ref=Screen}} Its soundtrack composed by Shankar–Jaikishan was the best-selling Hindi film music album of the 1950s and became popular in foreign markets as well, especially in the Soviet Union, China, Turkey and Afghanistan.{{cite book |last1=Rajinder |first1=Dudrah |last2=Jigna |first2=Desai |title=The Bollywood Reader |date=1 October 2008 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (UK) |isbn=978-0-335-22212-4 |page=65 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wz4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA65 |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/841785/how-turkey-simply-could-not-get-enough-of-raj-kapoors-awara|title=How Turkey simply could not get enough of Raj Kapoor's 'Awara'|date=July 2017 }} Awaara also earned Kapoor a fan-following in Soviet Union where the film had approximately 100 million admissions and remains the third-most watched foreign film in the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3743|title=You Asked It - Padmaavat Is Bigger Than Mughal E Azam?|date=8 March 2018}} In 1952, he reunited with Nargis for psychological drama Anhonee and crime noir Bewafa.{{cite news|last=Kohli|first=Suresh|title=Blast From The Past – Anhonee (1952)|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105104910/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|access-date=3 December 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 January 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bewafa|title=Bewafa (1952)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} While Anhonee was a success, Bewafa only managed average returns.{{cite web|title=The 25 Best Double Roles in Bollywood – Nargis, Anhonee (1952)|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-best-double-roles-in-bollywood/20120531.htm|work=Rediff.com|access-date=3 December 2012|date=31 May 2012}} This was followed by a minor setback, the next year as none of his films, including Aah and Dhoon worked at the box office.{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=159&catName=MTk1Mw==== |title=Box office 1953 |website=Boxofficeindia.com |access-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708090519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=159&catName=MTk1Mw==== |archive-date=8 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}

After having no major appearance in 1954, he made a comeback in 1955 with the comedy drama film Shree 420, co-starring Nargis and Nadira,{{Cite web |title=Humming SRK's 'Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya'? Know the story behind the phrase |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/humming-srks-not-ramaiya-vastavaiya-know-the-story-behind-the-phrase-2427704-2023-08-28 |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902093122/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/humming-srks-not-ramaiya-vastavaiya-know-the-story-behind-the-phrase-2427704-2023-08-28 |url-status=live }} which garnered critical acclaim and emerged the top-grossing film of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ldjz1q700o|title=In pictures: Celebrating 100 years of the 'greatest showman of Indian cinema'|date=14 December 2022}} Its songs, such as "Mera Joota Hai Japani", a solo by Mukesh, "Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua", a duet by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar, and ""Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh", a duet by Dey and Asha Bhosle, topped the year-end annual list of Binaca Geetmala and made its soundtrack the fourth best-selling Bollywood album of the 1950s.Reliving the Geetmala lore.

S.K. Screen, Friday, 22 September 2000, transcript available online at {{cite web |url=http://www.ameensayani.com/reviews/review_4.htm |title=Ameen Sayani/Press Reviews |access-date=2006-07-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050905081633/http://www.ameensayani.com/reviews/review_4.htm |archive-date=5 September 2005 |df=dmy-all }}, accessed online on 29 July 2006{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=280&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|title=Music Hits (1950-1959)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081530/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=280&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce |archive-date=15 February 2008 }} Shree 420 was released in the Soviet Union in 1956 and it took 2nd spot at the Soviet box office charts that year.[https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ Indian Films in Soviet Cinemas: The Culture of Movie-going After Stalin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806001013/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpoLAQAAMAAJ |date=6 August 2023 }}, page 86, Indiana University Press, 2005 Despite being imported at an unusually high price, it was the most successful foreign film of the year at the Soviet box office, drawing an audience of 35 million viewers.{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalan |first=Sudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-FceAQAAMAAJ |title=A Taste for Indian Films: Negotiating Cultural Boundaries in Post-Stalinist Soviet Society |date=2005 |publisher=Indiana University |pages=163 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=2 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702092511/https://books.google.com/books?id=-FceAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }} At the 3rd National Awards, it won National Award for Second Best Feature Film in Hindi.{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm3rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=3NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=2015-09-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105331/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm3rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=3NFA.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} The following year, he starred in Anant Thakur's Chori Chori and Sombhu Mitra's Jagte Raho (which he also produced).{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Unnati |date=24 October 2021 |title=Forget Dil Chahta Hai, Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer Chori Chori was the first road trip movie |url=https://theprint.in/features/reel-take/forget-dil-chahta-hai-raj-kapoor-nargis-starrer-chori-chori-was-the-first-road-trip-movie/755494/ |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} Although underperforming commercially, the latter received acclaim and its Bengali version won Certificate of Merit at the 4th National Film Awards.{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm4thNFAAward.aspx|title=4th National Film Awards|publisher=International Film Festival of India|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054101/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm4thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}} Chori Chori and Jagte Raho also proved to be the final film appearances of Nargis opposite Kapoor.{{cite book |last=Bhatia |first=Jagdish |title=Celebrities: A Comprehensive Biographical Thesaurus of Important Men and Women in India |publisher=Aeon Publishers |year=1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VqY5AQAAIAAJ&q=Celebrities:+A+Comprehensive+Biographical+Thesaurus+of+Important+Men+and+Women+in+India}}

After delivering a moderate fare with Sharada in 1957, Kapoor delivered two successful films, the next year - Phir Subha Hogi and Parvarish, both co-starring Mala Sinha.{{cite news |title=Phir Subah Hogi (1958) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Phir-Subah-Hogi-1958/article15938668.ece |access-date=19 September 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=19 June 2009 |language=en-IN}}{{cite web|author=Box Office India|title=Top Earners 1958|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA==|publisher=boxofficeindia.com|access-date=1 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030041245/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA==|archive-date=30 October 2013|df=dmy-all}} In 1959, he collaborated with Hrishikesh Mukherjee for the comedy drama film Anari, which also had Nutan, Motilal and Lalita Pawar in the lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anari_1959|title=Anari (1959)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} The film took 1st spot at the box office that year and was a success for Mukherjee whose last directional Musafir received lukewarm response from audience.{{cite book|author1=Gulzar |author2=Nihalani, Govind |author3=Chatterjee, Saibal |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|year=2003|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt Ltd.|isbn=81-7991-066-0|page=592}}[http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/dec/17dinesh.htm The common man lure of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films] Rediff.com The soundtrack of Anari became one of the best-selling Hindi film album of the decade. Especially the song "Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe", a solo by Mukesh, was very popular. For his performance in the film, Kapoor won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/filmfare-awards-winners/bollywood/1960/101|title=Filmfare Awards (1960)|website=The Times of India }}

Kapoor began the 1960s with Radhu Karmakar's Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (which he also produced) and Manmohan Desai's Chhalia. The former did very well at the box office.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA==|title=Box office 1960|website=Boxofficeindia.com|access-date=28 Feb 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207075735/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA==|archive-date=7 February 2009|url-status=dead}} It won Kapoor several accolades, including National Award for Second Best Feature Film in Hindi, Filmfare Award for Best Film and his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor.{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |title=8th National Film Awards |publisher=International Film Festival of India |access-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123052231/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=23 November 2016 }}{{cite news|title=1961 Filmfare Awards |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://www.timescontent.com/tss/showcase/preview-buy/6633/Times-Exclusive/Raj-Kapoor-C-Subramaniam.html |author=The Times Group |author-link=The Times Group |date=20 May 1962 |access-date=2012-02-19}} On the other hand, Chhalia based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's "White Nights" was a moderate commercial success, but received positive response from critics.{{cite news|last1=Parmar|first1=Prabhjot|title=Films and Partition: Trains of History|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070805/spectrum/main1.htm|access-date=13 October 2016|work=www.tribuneindia.com|publisher=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum|date=5 August 2007|archive-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720155818/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070805/spectrum/main1.htm|url-status=live}} From 1961 to 1963, he had only one success in C. V. Sridhar's melodrama film Nazrana (1961).{{cite news |url=http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/19vedc/Article |title=The life and loves of an eternal romantic |publisher=New Straits Times |date=23 May 2011 |author=Mahendra Ved |accessdate=8 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524225123/http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/19vedc/Article/ |archive-date=24 May 2011}} In 1964, Kapoor had two releases, Dulha Dulhan opposite Sadhana and his own directional Sangam, co-starring Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar, which was the first Indian film to be exclusively shot abroad on locations including London, Paris and Switzerland and was also among the most expensive film of its time with the longest runtime for an Indian film up to that time. Sangam, which was Kapoor's first color film, was the second-highest grossing film of the 1960s behind Mughal-E-Azam.{{cite web | url=https://www.easterneye.biz/sangam-a-trendsetting-love-triangle-in-bollywood/ | title='Sangam': A trendsetting love triangle in Bollywood - EasternEye | date=17 June 2023 }} Its soundtrack, composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, became very popular and included the songs "Dost Dost Na Raha", "Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega", "Bol Radha Bol", "Yeh Mera Prem Patra".{{Cite web|title=Music Hits 1960–1969|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=281&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081535/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=281&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|archive-date=15 February 2008|access-date=2 September 2013|website=Box Office India}}

Sangam also proved to be one of the last major hits of Kapoor as a lead.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/feature/reel-take/an-iaf-pilot-a-love-triangle-raj-kapoor-why-sangam-is-a-bollywood-hit-even-after-50-yrs/247544/|title=An IAF pilot, a love triangle & Raj Kapoor: Why Sangam is a Bollywood hit even after 50 yrs|website=ThePrint |date=9 June 2019}}

Kapoor lost stardom in the late-1960s as his subsequent releases, such as Teesri Kasam (1966), Diwana (1967), Around the World (1967) and Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) were commercially unsuccessful.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/feature/reel-take/teesri-kasam-when-raj-kapoor-played-perfect-foil-to-waheeda-rehmans-heartbreaking-grace/190231/|title=Teesri Kasam: When Raj Kapoor played perfect foil to Waheeda Rehman's heartbreaking grace|website=ThePrint |date=10 February 2019}}

In 1970, he starred, produced and directed Mera Naam Joker, which took six years in making. The film had an ensemble cast consisting of Simi Garewal, Kseniya Ryabinkina, Padmini, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar and Rishi Kapoor (playing younger version of Kapoor). Upon release, Mera Naam Joker was heavily panned by critics and proved to be a box office bomb, eventually putting Kapoor into a financial crisis.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/cult-hindi-films-that-flopped/photostory/27856115.cms|title=Cult Hindi films that flopped|website=The Times of India}} However, in later years, it attained cult status and is now considered one of his best films with film experts labelling it a "misunderstood masterpiece".{{Cite web |title=Raj Kapoor's Russian co-star from Mera Naam Joker to mark his birth anniversary in Mumbai |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/raj-kapoors-russian-co-star-from-mera-naam-joker-to-mark-his-birth-anniversary-in-mumbai/articleshow/55969656.cms |website=Mumbai Mirror}} For portraying a kind-hearted clown in the film, Kapoor won BFJA Award for Best Actor (Hindi).[http://www.bfjaawards.com/bfja/index.htm Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313203234/http://www.bfjaawards.com/bfja/index.htm |date=2008-03-13 }}

The following year, Kapoor produced and appeared alongside his son (Randhir Kapoor) and father in Kal Aaj Aur Kal.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2018 |title=RK Studio may vanish, but the legend will live on! Take a walk down memory lane here |url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/rk-studio-may-vanish-but-the-legend-will-live-on-take-a-walk-down-memory-lane-here/1343828 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828170137/http://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/rk-studio-may-vanish-but-the-legend-will-live-on-take-a-walk-down-memory-lane-here/1343828 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |website=The Free Press Journal |accessdate=August 28, 2018}} The film proved to be moderately successful and marked Shankar-Jaikishan's last collaboration with R. K. Films.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2016 |title=Kal Aaj Aur Kal will always be my favourite: Randhir Kapoor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/kal-aaj-aur-kal-will-always-be-my-favourite-randhir-kapoor/story-G3fHPnV8pc16ql4N5CewjK.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828135818/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/kal-aaj-aur-kal-will-always-be-my-favourite-randhir-kapoor/story-G3fHPnV8pc16ql4N5CewjK.html |archive-date=28 August 2018 |website=Hindustan Times |accessdate=August 28, 2018}} In 1973, he decided to launch Rishi to cover-up the losses incurred due to the box office failure of Mera Naam Joker,{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_proud-of-ranbir-s-choice-of-roles-rishi-kapoor_1741229|title=Proud of Ranbir's choice of roles: Rishi Kapoor – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=15 September 2012|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026122909/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_proud-of-ranbir-s-choice-of-roles-rishi-kapoor_1741229|url-status=live}} in the romantic musical Bobby, which paired him opposite debutante Dimple Kapadia.{{cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shampa |last2=Srivastava |first2=Anil |title=One Hundred Indian Feature Films: An Annotated Filmography |date=1988 |publisher=Taylor & on Francis |isbn=978-0-8240-9483-6 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zX4GY37rG8kC&pg=PA53 |language=en |access-date=2 May 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901092035/https://books.google.com/books?id=zX4GY37rG8kC&pg=PA53 |url-status=live }} The film opened to thunderous commercial response, both in India as well as overseas and emerged an All Time Blockbuster as well as the highest-grossing film of 1973.{{cite news |title=On Independence Day, here are the most successful Indian movies of every decade since 1947 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/on-independence-day-here-are-the-most-successful-indian-movies-of-every-decade-since-1947/story-EIf9tdhbWfO38hftOSwQIM.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=15 August 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508110633/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/on-independence-day-here-are-the-most-successful-indian-movies-of-every-decade-since-1947/story-EIf9tdhbWfO38hftOSwQIM.html |url-status=live }} In 1975, Kapoor returned to acting with two back-to-back successful films in Randhir Kapoor's Dharam Karam and Naresh Kumar's Do Jasoos.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJfSDwAAQBAJ&dq=Sone+Ka+Dil+Lohe+Ke+Haath&pg=PT229 |page=229 |title=Jubilee Kumar: The Life and Times of a Superstar|isbn=9789388322409 |date=February 25, 2020

|format=Ebook |publisher=Hachette India |first1=Seema Sonik |last1=Alimchand}} In 1978, he returned to the director's chair with Satyam Shivam Sundaram starring Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/satyam-shivam-sundaram-love-sublime|title=Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} It ran into controversies and was accused of promoting "obscenity", but opened to positive reception from critics as well as audience and earned him a nomination in the Filmfare Award for Best Director category.{{Cite web |author-link=Anuja Chauhan |date=18 June 2022 |title=Shivling is omnipresent |url=https://www.theweek.in/columns/anuja-chauhan/2022/06/18/shivling-is-omnipresent.html |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=The Week India |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bobbytalkscinema.com/bobbytalk/adminpanel/imagetemp/Film-Inf-1978-Classification.jpg|title=Film Information Classification (1978)}}

In 1980, Kapoor appeared alongside Sanjay Khan and Zeenat Aman in the highly anticipated romantic drama Abdullah.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/abdullah|title=Abdullah (1980)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} Upon release, it did not live up to expectations and underperformed domestically, but was successful overseas due to his popularity in the Soviet Union.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=186&catName=MTk4MA== |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005061223/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=186&catName=MTk4MA== |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2013 |title=Box Office 1980 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=11 June 2012}} In 1982, Kapoor once again directed his son Rishi in the romantic musical drama Prem Rog opposite Padmini Kolhapure.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prem_rog |title=Prem Rog |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en |access-date=5 June 2017}} The film marked his return to social themes and emerged commercially successful at the box office as well as the second-highest grossing film of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.easterneye.biz/prem-rog-twenty-interesting-facts-about-the-socially-relevant-classic/|title=Prem Rog: Twenty interesting facts about the socially relevant classic|date=27 July 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/42-years-prem-rog-raj-kapoor-rishi-kapoor-padmini-kolhapure/0660a4cb66249|title=42 years of Prem Rog: Raj Kapoor's masterpiece on love and tradition|date=31 July 2024}} Its soundtrack composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal was also very successful and proved to be one of the best-selling Hindi film albums of the decade.{{cite web |title=Music Hits 1980–1989 |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=283&catName=MTk4MC0xOTg5 |publisher=Box Office India |date=5 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205042958/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=283&catName=MTk4MC0xOTg5|archive-date=5 February 2010}} The same year, he appeared alongside Shashi in Asit Sen's Vakil Babu, which marked his final film appearance.{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/17slid10-the-last-role.htm|title=Vakil Babu (1982)}}

In 1985, he directed and produced romance film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, which had his youngest son Rajiv Kapoor and the then newcomer Mandakini playing the lead roles.{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/happy-birthday-mandakini-7-lesser-known-facts-about-the-ram-teri-ganga-maili-actor/story-yh913ZwrBRWRqjGCIpcTUO.html |title=Happy Birthday Mandakini 7 lesser-known facts about the Ram Teri Ganga Maili actor|access-date=23 March 2022|date=30 July 2017}} Despite not having any stars, Ram Teri Ganga Maili took first spot at the box office that year and proved to be an All Time Blockbuster and one of the biggest hits of the 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6097|title=Rewind - Thirty Five Years of Mard|date=8 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3957|title=You Asked It - Can Race 3 Do 300 Crore Plus?|date=24 May 2018}} At the 33rd Filmfare Awards, it won five awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Kapoor and Best Music Director for Ravindra Jain.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/filmfare-awards-winners/bollywood/1986/101|title=Complete list of winners of Filmfare Awards 1986|access-date=August 27, 2013|work=The Times of India}} Ram Teri Ganga Maili was Kapoor's last work as he died in 1988. Few months before his death, he was working on an Indo-Pak cross-border love story Henna, which was later directed and released by Randhir in 1991 and went on to become a major box office success.{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Madhu |title=Raj Kapoor's dream film Henna releases |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19910731-raj-kapoors-dream-film-henna-releases-814613-1991-07-31 |access-date=27 May 2021 |work=India Today|date=31 July 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212609/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/raj-kapoors-dream-film-henna-releases/1/318566.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

On 12 May 1946, Raj Kapoor married Krishna Malhotra, a first cousin of his father Prithviraj.{{Cite book |last=Nanda |first=Ritu |title=Raj Kapoor speaks |last2=Kapoor |first2=Raj |date=2002 |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-0-670-04952-3 |location=New Delhi |quote=Though Raj Kapoor had never seen Krishna before, she was related to him. She is the first cousin of Prithviraj.}}{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Rachit |date=18 March 2016 |title=Meet the Kapoor family of Bollywood |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/meet-the-kapoor-family-of-bollywood-12645.html |website=Filmfare |quote=Krishnaji was Prithviraj’s cousin, so she was also Raj’s aunt in addition to being his wife.}} She was then 16 and he was 22.{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Madhu |date=2 October 2018 |title=Krishna Raj Kapoor: the grand matriarch |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/krishna-raj-kapoor-the-grand-matriarch/article25105238.ece |website=The Hindu}} Krishna was one of nine siblings, and following her marriage, many of them joined the Hindi film industry. Her brothers, Rajendra Nath, Prem Nath and Narendra Nath, later became actors, and her sister Uma is married to actor Prem Chopra.{{cite news |title=Bye bye, Bina |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091213/jsp/7days/story_11857115.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911143821/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091213/jsp/7days/story_11857115.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |work=The Telegraph|date=13 December 2009 |location=Calcutta, India |first=Bharathi S. |last=Pradhan}}

Raj and Krishna Kapoor had five children: three sons, actors Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor, and two daughters, Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain. Randhir is married to former actress Babita and is the father of actresses Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Rishi's widow is actress Neetu Singh and their two children are daughter Riddhima Kapoor, and son, actor Ranbir Kapoor. Raj Kapoor's elder daughter, Ritu Nanda, was married to industrialist Rajan Nanda (scion of the family which promoted and controls the Escorts group), and they had two children: daughter Nitasha Nanda and son, Nikhil Nanda, married to Shweta, daughter of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Raj Kapoor's younger daughter, Rima Jain, is married to investment banker Manoj Jain and is the mother of Armaan Jain and Aadar Jain, both actors.

Both of Kapoor's brothers, all three of Kapoor's sons, two of Kapoor's daughters-in-law, three of Kapoor's grandchildren and a great-grandson are all actors in the Hindi film industry. His granddaughters Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor (daughters of Kapoor's eldest son Randhir), and grandson Ranbir Kapoor (son of Kapoor's second son Rishi) are the latest Hindi cinema superstars from the Kapoor family, while another of his grandsons, Nikhil Nanda (Kapoor's daughter Ritu's son), is a noted industrialist. Nikhil's son, Agastya Nanda, made his acting debut with The Archies in 2023.{{Cite news|title= Netflix collaborates with close to a dozen large brands for The Archies|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/netflix-india-collaborates-with-major-brands-for-the-archies/articleshow/105763665.cms|date= 6 December 2023|website= Economic Times|access-date= 9 December 2023|archive-date=7 December 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231207193837/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/netflix-india-collaborates-with-major-brands-for-the-archies/articleshow/105763665.cms|url-status= live|url-access=limited|quote=The Archies movie, made on an estimated budget of Rs 40 crore, is based on the American comic book series by the same name.}}

Kapoor had a longtime romantic relationship with renowned actress Nargis Dutt during the 1940s and 1950s, despite being a married man, although neither ever publicly admitted to this.{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?236030 |title=Clangorous Liaisons |work=Outlook India |author=Patel, Bhaichand |date=19 November 2007}} The couple starred in several films together, including Awaara and Shree 420. As Raj would not leave his wife and children, Nargis ended their relationship after Chori Chori and married Sunil Dutt with whom she fell in love on the set of Mother India (1957). In 2017, his second son Rishi confirmed his father's affair in his autobiography Khullam Khulla.Goyal, Divya (updated 1 October 2018) [http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/exclusive-rishi-kapoor-on-what-his-mother-said-to-nargis-about-raj-kapoor-affair-1650095 Exclusive: Rishi Kapoor On What His Mother Said To Nargis About Raj Kapoor Affair – NDTV Movies]. Movies.ndtv.com (18 January 2017). Retrieved on 20 November 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030615/spectrum/book3.htm |work=The Sunday Tribune |date=15 June 2003 |title=Raj Kapoor – The Great Showman |author=Khubchandani, Lata}}{{cite web |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/rishi-kapoor-reveals-dad-raj-kapoors-alleged-affairs-with-his-heroines-1649632 |title=Rishi Kapoor Reveals Dad Raj Kapoor's Alleged Affairs With His Heroines |work=NDTV Movies |date=17 January 2017 }}

Krishna Raj Kapoor died on 1 October 2018. Rajan Nanda, husband of Ritu Nanda, died on 5 August 2018. In January 2020, Ritu Nanda herself died. She was followed three months later by her younger brother Rishi, Kapoor's second son, who died in April 2020. Kapoor's third and youngest son, Rajiv, died in February 2021.{{Cite news|title=Ritu Nanda passes away at 71; Neetu Singh, Big B pay tribute|newspaper=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/ritu-nanda-passes-away-at-71-neetu-singh-remembers-dearest-sister-in-law/articleshow/73239998.cms}}{{Cite news|title=Rishi Kapoor: Bollywood's romantic hero dies at 67|publisher=BBC News|date=30 April 2020|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52482688}}{{Cite web|title=Actor-producer Rajiv Kapoor dies at 58|date=10 February 2021|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/actor-producer-rajiv-kapoor-dies-at-58-7181975/}}

Dilip Kumar, Mukesh, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Dev Anand, Pran, Rajendra Kumar, Manna Dey, Shankar Jaikishan, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Rajesh Khanna were among Kapoor's closest friends from the movie industry.

{{Main|Raj Kapoor filmography}}

Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years; he died of complications related to the disease in 1988 at the age of 63. He collapsed at the event where he was to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in New Delhi, and was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for treatment. He was hospitalised for about a month before he succumbed to complications arising from his asthma.{{cite web |title=Remembering Indian cinema's greatest showman. |url=http://movies.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/03/raj-kapoors-22nd-death-anniversary.htm |publisher=movies.rediff.com |access-date=22 October 2010}} At the time of his death, he was working on the movie Henna (an Indo-Pakistan based love story). The film was later completed by his sons Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor and was released in 1991.

{{anchor | Samadhi | Memorial }}

His and his parents' samadhi is at their family farm "Rajbaugh", meaning the "gardens of king". Located inside the MIT Art Design and Technology University (MIT ADTU), Rajbaugh lies on the banks of Mula-Mutha River in Loni Kalbhor village 30 km east of Pune in Maharashtra. The Kapoor family sold part of 125 acres Rajbaugh to MIT ADTU which built a memorial for the Kapoor family on its campus. The memorial was unveiled in 2014 in the presence of Lata Mangeshkar and Kapoor clan. The Kapoor family memorial has 7 pagodas showing elements of Raj Kapoor's movies, a museum or viewing gallery which showcases family photographs and moments from his movie making from 1945 to 1990. Raj Kapoor shot many of his films at this farm, including Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, and Prem Rog. The family bungalow inside the farm has been preserved; the popular song "Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho" was shot inside this bungalow.{{Google maps | url= https://www.google.com/maps/place/Raj+Kapoor+Memorial/@18.4928318,74.0237278,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x9b44212117e483ef?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit2t70xL7qAhU4IbcAHYhdD_8Q_BIwDHoECBAQCA | title= Google map location of Smadhi of Raj Kapoor and Prithviraj Kapoor at Rajbaugh at the camputof MIT-WPU | access-date= 8 July 2020}}[https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/with-rk-studios-up-for-sale-in-mumbai-here-is-how-pune-still-hangs-on-to-raj-kapoor-s-memories/story-gBe0GlN81RyUGmIgQ59AlJ.html With RK Studios up for sale in Mumbai, here is how Pune still hangs on to Raj Kapoor's memories], Hindustan Times, 2 September 2018.[http://www.mitsft.in/Raj_Kapoor_Memorial Raj Kapoor Memorial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705112012/http://www.mitsft.in/Raj_Kapoor_Memorial |date=5 July 2020 }}, mitsft.in.Madhu Jain, 2009, [https://books.google.com/books?id=l3heZ8I-k9AC&q=%22prithviraj+kapoor%22+and+%22surinder+kapoor%22 Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema], Penguin Books.[http://www.mitsft.in/Raj_Kapoor_Memorial Raj Kapoor Memorial brief] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705112012/http://www.mitsft.in/Raj_Kapoor_Memorial |date=5 July 2020 }}, mitsft.in.

File:Радж Капур- встреча в Индии с делегацией узбекских писателей- Самиг Абдукаххар и др, 1950-ые.jpg etc.), 1950s, India]]

Raj Kapoor is often referred as The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema in the Indian media.{{cite news|last=Chatterjee|first=Prerna|date=14 December 2018|title=Raj Kapoor, The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema|work=The Print|url=https://theprint.in/features/raj-kapoor-the-greatest-showman-of-indian-cinema/163297/|access-date=8 September 2021}}{{Cite web|date=December 14, 2019|title=Remembering The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema – Raj Kapoor|url=https://www.saregama.com/blog/remembering-the-greatest-showman-of-indian-cinema-raj-kapoor/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Saregama Blog|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Onkar|title=Remembering Indian cinema's greatest showman|url=https://movies.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/03/raj-kapoors-22nd-death-anniversary.htm|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Rediff|language=en}} Film historians and movie buffs speak of him as the "Charlie Chaplin of Indian cinema", since he often portrayed a tramp-like figure, who, despite adversity, was still cheerful and honest. His movies were popular in large parts of South/Central/Southeast Asia, the former Soviet Union/Bloc, China, the Middle East, and Africa; his movies were global commercial successes.

Siddharth Kak made Raj Kapoor, a feature film documentary on the actor in 1987 which was produced by the Government of India's Films Division.{{cite web |title=Siddharth Kak's film on Raj Kapoor to be screened in Russian theaters |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/19880115-siddharth-kaks-film-on-raj-kapoor-to-be-screened-in-russian-theaters-796849-1988-01-15 |website=India Today |date=15 January 1988}}

A postage stamp, bearing his face, was released by India Post to honour him on 14 December 2001. To honour him, a brass statue of his was unveiled at Walk of the Stars at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai in March 2012. File:Raj Kapoor 2001 stamp of India.jpg

File:Raj Kapoor's statue at Bombay's Walk of Stars.jpg]]

Many of Raj Kapoor's movies had a patriotic theme. His films Aag, Shree 420 and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (In the country where the Ganges flows) celebrated the newly independent India, and encouraged film-goers to be patriots. Raj Kapoor commissioned these famous lyrics for Mera Joota Hai Japani, a song from the movie Shree 420:

: Mera joota hai Japani (My shoes are Japanese)

: Ye patloon Inglistani (These trousers are English)

: Sar pe lal topi Roosi (The red cap on my head is Russian)

: Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani (But still, however, my heart is Indian)

The song is still extremely popular and has been featured in a number of movies since Shree 420 was released. Indian author Mahasweta Devi stopped the show with her inaugural speech at the 2006 Frankfurt Book Fair when she used these lyrics to express her own heartfelt patriotism and debt to her country.

Kapoor appeared in Box Office India{{'}}s "Top Actors" list twelve times from 1949 to 1960.

Apart from his success as an actor, Kapoor is also considered one of the greatest directors of Indian cinema.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/raj-kapoor-100-films-that-defined-the-career-of-indian-cinema-s-showman-101734178488645.html|title=Raj Kapoor @100: Films that defined the career of Indian cinema's showman|date=14 December 2024}} The films directed by him, such as Shree 420 (1955), Sangam (1964), Bobby (1973) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) are among the biggest hits of all time with each one having footfalls ranging from 50–60 million.{{cite news |date=1 May 2020 |title=The Best Films Of Rishi Kapoor - Bobby Has Historic Numbers |publisher=boxofficeindia.com |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=6050 |access-date=1 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=3018|title=Bahubali 2 (Hindi) Is Mission Impossible For Others|date=21 June 2017}}

In 2014, Google commemorated his 90th birthday.{{cite web |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/raj-kapoors-90th-birthday/ |title=Raj Kapoor movies featured in Google doodle as it celebrates his 90th birth anniversary |date=14 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214044831/https://www.google.com/doodles/raj-kapoors-90th-birthday |archive-date=14 December 2014 |url-status=live }}

Raj Kapoor was a canny judge of filmi music and lyrics. Many of the songs he commissioned are evergreen hits. He introduced the music directors Shankar–Jaikishan and the lyricists Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra. He is also remembered for his strong sense of visual style. He used striking visual compositions, elaborate sets, and dramatic lighting to complete the mood set by the music. He introduced the actresses Nimmi, Dimple Kapadia, and Mandakini, as well as launching and reviving the careers of his sons Rishi, Randhir and Rajiv. Famous for making his actresses reveal the body, not very common then in Indian cinema, it was said his 'show-womanship' matched his showmanship.{{cite book |last1=Bharatan |first1=Raju |title=A Journey Down Melody Lane |date=2010 |publisher=Hay House Publishers – India |isbn=978-81-89988-91-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WnxABAAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 |access-date=9 February 2017}}

Raj Kapoor's Shree 420 (1955) movie's Hindi song Mera Joota Hai Japani ("My Shoes are Japanese") was used in opening sequence of 20th Century Studios 2016 movie Deadpool, starring Ryan Reynolds.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Reynolds' 'Deadpool' features a famous Bollywood song!|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-ryan-reynold-s-deadpool-features-this-famous-bollywood-song-2176180|access-date=2021-11-28|website=DNA India|language=en}}

The 1967 "Song about Yogis" ({{langx|ru|Песенка про йогов}}) by Vladimir Vysotsky mentions Raj Kapoor as one of the three best-known symbols of Indian culture in the Soviet Union, along with Shiva and yoga.[http://kacmanat.ru/vsv/vvtxt/67.19.htm В.С.Высоцкий 1967 Песенка про йогов] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204430/http://kacmanat.ru/vsv/vvtxt/67.19.htm |date=22 March 2017 }}. kacmanat.ru

In 2022, he was placed in Outlook India{{'}}s "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.{{Cite web |title=75 Bollywood Actors Who Conquered Hearts Of The Millions |work=Outlook India |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=16 August 2022 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-actors-who-conquered-hearts-of-the-millions-since-1947-news-215861/amp |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816142138/https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-actors-who-conquered-hearts-of-the-millions-since-1947-news-215861/amp |url-status=live }}

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Raj Kapoor}}

Kapoor had received many awards throughout his career, including 3 National Film Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards and 21 nominations. His films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish (1954) were nominated for the {{Lang|fr|Palme d'Or|italic=no}} at the Cannes Film Festival. His acting in the former was rated as one of the "Top Ten Performances of All Time in World Cinema" by 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.

In June 2011, Noah Cowan, artistic director of TIFF Bell Lightbox, and Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft along with members of the Kapoor family came together to pay tribute to the life and work of Indian actor, director, mogul and legend Raj Kapoor, as presented in partnership by TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), and the Government of Ontario.{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2011-04-06 |title=Toronto Film Fest Sets Tribute for Bollywood Legend Raj Kapoor |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toronto-film-fest-sets-tribute-175713/ |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In 2011, it was announced that Kapoor will be inducted into the Brampton Walk of Fame in Ontario, Canada.{{cite news |title=Raj Kapoor Crescent |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/world/9072919._Raj_Kapoor_Crescent___/ |access-date=19 June 2011 |newspaper=Asian Image |date=9 June 2011 |location=Lancashire UK |quote=The city will also like to induct Shri Raj Kapoor into the Brampton Hall of Fame, having a star placed there in his honour..}}

From December 13 to 15, 2024, a special screening of Raj Kapoor's most famous films were held in 40 cities and 135 theaters across India for his 100th Birthday Anniversary celebration.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Iraa |title=Raj Kapoor Film Festival: Details about 100th birth anniversary event of India's Greatest Showman |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/raj-kapoor-film-festival-details-about-100th-birth-anniversary-event-of-indias-greatest-showman-648075.html |website=Indiatimes |access-date=12 December 2024 |date=11 December 2024}}

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas was a screenwriter and director for a number of Raj Kapoor's best films.[http://www.filmreference.com/Writers-and-Production-Artists-A-Ba/Abbas-K-A.html K. A. Abbas – Films as writer:, Films as director:] filmreference.com

• Awaara (1951)
• Anhonee (1952)
• Shree 420 (1955)
• Jagte Raho (1956)
• Char Dil Char Rahen (1959)
• Mera Naam Joker (1970)
• Bobby (1973)
• Henna (1991)

Shankar–Jaikishan were Raj Kapoor's music directors of choice. He worked with them in 20 films in all including 10 of his own productions from Barsaat until Kal Aaj Aur Kal. (Jagte Raho with Salil Chowdhury and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin with Dattaram, Shankar-Jaikishan's assistant music director, being two exceptions in this period). Only after Jaikishan died, did he turn to a different music director – Laxmikant–Pyarelal for Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prem Rog (later on, his children used Laxmikant-Pyarelal for Prem Granth as well), Rahul Dev Burman for Dharam Karam, and Ravindra Jain for (Ram Teri Ganga Maili and Henna). Raj Kapoor acted in a movie with music by Madan Mohan only once (twice), i.e. Dhoon (1953) & Ashiana (1952), which featured duet Hum Pyaar Karenge by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, the only instance of Hemant Kumar giving playback to Raj Kapoor, and did only one movie with O. P. Nayyar (Do Ustad).

List of films with Shankar–Jaikishan: (18 Films)

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• Barsaat (1949)
• Aah (1953)
• Awaara (1951)
• Boot Polish (1954)
• Shree 420 (1955)
• Chori Chori (1956)
• Kanhaiya (1959)
• Main Nashe Men Hoon (1959)
• Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
• Aashiq (1962)
• Ek Dil Sao Afsane (1963)
• Sangam (1964)
• Teesri Kasam (1966)
• Around the World (1967)
• Diwana (1967)
• Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968)
• Mera Naam Joker (1970)
• Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)

{{div col end}}

Raj Kapoor and Nargis worked together in 16 films including 6 of his own productions.

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• Aag (1948)
• Andaz (1949)
• Barsaat (1949)
• Pyaar (1950)
• Jan Pahechan (1950)
• Awaara (1951)
• Amber (1952)
• Anhonee (1952)
• Ashiana (1952)
• Bewafa (1952)
• Aah (1953)
• Paapi (1953)
• Dhoon (1953)
• Shree 420 (1955)
• Chori Chori (1956)
• Jagte Raho (1956) (cameo)

{{div col end}}

Mukesh was Raj Kapoor's almost exclusive singing voice in almost all of his films. Also, when Mukesh died, Raj had said, Main ne apni aawaaz ko kho diya... (I have lost my voice...). However Manna Dey has also sung many notable and super-hit songs for Raj Kapoor, for instance in Shree 420 and Chori Chori. Examples of such Manna songs are best illustrated by the following list:

• "Laga Chunri Mein Daag" (Dil Hi To Hai)
• "Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo" (Mera Naam Joker)
• "Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala" (Shree 420)
• "Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum" (Chori Chori)
• "Jahan Mein Jati Hoon Wahin Chale Aate Ho" (Chori Chori)
• "Yeh Raat Bhigi Bhigi, Yeh Mast Fizayen" (Chori Chori)
• "Masti Bhara Hai Samaan" (Parvarish)
• "Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh" (Shree 420)
• "Pyar hua Iqrar hua hai" (Shree 420)
• "Chalat Musafir" (Teesri Kasam)
• "Belia Belia Belia" (Parvarish)
• "Lallah Allah Tera Nigehbaan" (Abdullah)
• "Mama O Mama" (Parvarish)

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{{main|Raj Kapoor bibliography}}

• {{cite book |last1=Nanda |first1=Ritu |title=Raj Kapoor: Speaks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnyaW9L6cKYC |date=2002 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-04952-3}}
• {{cite book |first1=Stella |last1=Bruzzi |first2=Pamela Church |last2=Gibson |title=Fashion Cultures: Theories, Explorations, and Analysis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xmjv-IJymZsC&pg=PA181 |year=2000 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-20685-3}}
• Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. London: British Film Institute; New Delhi: Oxford University Press. {{isbn|978-1-579-58146-6}}.
• {{cite book|last=Kishore|first=Valicha|date=1988|title=The Moving Image: A study of Indian cinema|location=Hyderabad|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-0-861-31681-6}}

{{Commons category|Raj Kapoor}}

• {{IMDb name|id=0004292|name=Raj Kapoor}}

{{Raj Kapoor}}

{{Kapoor family}}

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