Raj Kapoor Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Real Name: Ranbir Raj Kapoor

Nickname: Showman of Bollywood

Profession: Actor, Producer and Director

Date of Birth: 14 December 1924

Age (at the time of death): 63 Years

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Peshawar (Pakistan)

Religion: Hinduism

Marriage Date: May 1946

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EDUCATION

School: St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun

Educational Qualification: 6th Fail

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters – 170 cm in meters – 1.7 m in feet inches – 5’ 7”

Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 85 kg in pounds – 187 lbs

Eye Colour: Hazel

Hair Colour: Grey

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Father – Prithviraj Kapoor (1906-1972) Mother – Ramsarni Devi Kapoor (1908-1972) Brothers – Shashi Kapoor (1938-2017) Shammi Kapoor (1931-2011) Nandi Kapoor (Died:1931) Devi Kapoor (Died: 1931) Sister – Urmila Sial Kapoor

Marital Status: Married

Affairs/Girlfriends: Nargis (Hindi movie actress) Vyjayanthimala (Hindi movie actress and dancer) Padmini (Hindi movie actress and Bharathanatyam dancer)

Wife: Krishna Kapoor

Children: Sons – Randhir Kapoor Rishi Kapoor Rajiv Kapoor Daughters – Ritu Nanda (married to industrialist Rajan Nanda) Rima Jain (married to investment banker Manoj Jain)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Debut: Film: Inquilab (1935) (Child Actor)

OTHER INFORMATION

Date of Death: 2 June 1988

Place of Death: New Delhi, India

Death Cause: Cardiac Arrest (after suffering from Asthma)

Favourite Food: Biryani, Chicken Curry, Pao, Eggs, Moori (puffed rice) with Peanuts, Small Samosas, Caramel Custard

Favourite Actor: Dilip Kumar

Favourite Musical Instrument: Accordion

Favourite Actress: Nargis

Favourite Film: Mera Naam Joker

Favourite Drink: Johnny Walker Black Label Whisky

Favourite Musician: Shankar, Jaikishan

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Raj Kapoor, a luminary in the Indian film industry, was known not only for his cinematic genius but also for his captivating personal life. Born into the illustrious Kapoor family, he was the son of Prithviraj Kapoor, who ventured to Bombay in 1930 to pursue a career in acting. The family’s path through the film industry was marred by tragedy, as Raj lost two of his brothers, Devi and Nandi, in 1931. Despite these early hardships, Raj made his acting debut as a child artist at just ten years old in the film ‘Inquilab’ (1935). Initially aspiring to become a music director, he started his career as a clap-boy under the guidance of renowned filmmaker Kidar Sharma, where a humorous incident involving a fake beard highlighted the sometimes tumultuous beginnings of his career.

By 1948, at the age of twenty-four, Raj Kapoor founded RK Films, marking the beginning of a prolific directorial journey with his first film, ‘Aag.’ His illustrious career soon flourished with a string of superhit movies, including ‘Awaara’ (1951), ‘Shree 420’ (1955), and ‘Jagte Raho’ (1956), to name a few. His films, often infused with themes of patriotism and social relevance, garnered him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including 11 Filmfare trophies, three National Awards, and prestigious honors like the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award. His work left an indelible mark on cinema, with ‘Awaara’ even earning acclaim at international film festivals like Cannes.

Despite his notable achievements and status as the “Showman of the Millennium,” Raj’s personal life was complex. He married Krishna, his cousin, with whom he had a close-knit family that included sons Randhir and Rishi, the latter revealing in his autobiography the affairs his father had with various actresses, including Vyjayanthimala. Raj was known to indulge in smoking and drinking, often reminiscing about his late girlfriend in emotional moments. His affinity for family was evident in his deep bond with his grandchildren, especially his favorite, Ranbir Kapoor, for whom he brought back suits in every color imaginable from his travels.

As a director, Kapoor had a profound impact on the careers of many, including Dimple Kapadia and Zeenat Aman, whom he discovered when she impressively arrived at his office in traditional attire. His dedication to the craft was unwavering, even during health struggles that culminated in the film ‘Henna,’ which was eventually completed by his sons after his passing. Renowned for his collaborations with legendary music directors Shankar-Jaikishan and lyricists like Shailendra, Kapoor’s films continued to resonate with audiences long after their release. Following his demise in 1988 due to multiple organ failure, his legacy lived on through the accolades and tributes that celebrated his immense contribution to Indian cinema, including a stamp issued in his honor by Indian Postal Services in 2001 and a statue at Mumbai’s Walk of the Stars in 2012. His ancestral home in Peshawar has even been earmarked for transformation into a museum, ensuring that the story of Raj Kapoor, the quintessential showman, continues to inspire future generations.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.