Entertainment News Desk – Raj Kapoor was born on 14 December 1924. Now we are in 2024. That means it has been 100 years since he came into this world. The Kapoor family is celebrating it in a grand manner. His films have been shown in theatres. Film festival has been organized. On this occasion, the entire family of Raj Kapoor including Ranbir, Alia, Kareena also met PM Narendra Modi. The video of their conversation had gone viral. Today we will talk about some interesting stories related to Raj Kapoor.
How did Raj Kapoor get married?
Raj Kapoor’s marriage also took place in a very interesting manner. It is said that Prithvi Raj Kapoor had gone to Rewa with his drama company. His two sons Shammi and Raj were also with him. At that time the IG of Rewa was Kartar Nath Malhotra. He was responsible for the security of Prithviraj. Because of this, IG Saheb and Prithvi came closer. The friendship between the two deepened. They decided to turn their friendship into a relationship like in Bollywood movies. Prithvi gets Raj married to Kartar’s daughter Krishna. They got married in 1946. Despite being married, the love stories of Raj Kapoor and Nargis are very famous. You must have also heard it. We will talk about this in detail some other time.
When the director slapped Raj Kapoor hard
Raj Kapoor was the son of Prithviraj Kapoor. Who could touch them? But wait, let me tell you an incident about his slapping. Actually, Raj used to assist Kedar Sharma as a clapper boy. He used to walk with his hair well combed. He felt that if the camera accidentally caught him, he would look dashing. This is about the shooting of the film ‘Vish Kanya’ (1943). Prithviraj Kapoor was also working in this film. One day, after combing his hair, Raj came in front of the camera to give the clapper. While doing this he went very close to the actor. Accidentally the clapper board got stuck in the actor’s beard. It is said that due to this the actor’s beard fell out. After this Kedar Sharma got enraged. He slapped Raj Kapoor in front of everyone.
The director who slapped him signed him in the film
Now the amazing thing is that if it had been today, a person would have felt bad. He would say something and there would be an argument. This is the case of any normal person and he was the son of Prithviraj Kapoor. But Raj Kapoor did not say even a word. He got busy with his work. The matter is over. Kedar also felt bad. It is said that Kedar Sharma, who later slapped Raj, gave him a film named ‘Neel Kamal’. Even before this he had worked in films. But this was Raj’s first film as a hero. This was a big break for him. It is heard that when Kedar gave him this film, he started crying. Kedar said, “You did not cry when I hit you. Why are you crying now?” Raj’s response was, “I’m going to be a hero. These are tears of joy.”
Wanted to make Lata Mangeshkar a heroine
When Raj Kapoor was making his film ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’, he wanted to make Lata Mangeshkar the heroine. Shocked, right? Lata was also shocked in the same way. He said, “Me and the heroine, no baba na.” Lata herself told this. After this there was talk of taking Hema Malini in the film. But she did not agree with the heroine’s outfit in the film. Ultimately Zeenat Aman did this film. Actually ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ was written based on Lata. That’s why Raj wanted to cast him in the film. So that both his voice and face are in the film. But Lata refused. However, later Lata lent her voice for it. You all know the rest.
Rishi Kapoor was offered on the dining table
Film Rishi Kapoor did not become an actor on his own. Raj Kapoor had brought him forcefully. He has written this story in his book ‘Khullam Khulla’. He was already seen in the song ‘Pyaar Hua Iqrar Hua’ of ‘Shree 420’. In this, Nargis got him to act by luring him with chocolate. Now don’t know whether he got chocolate or not. Forget about joking. Anyway, Rishi considers ‘Mera Naam Joker’ as his real film. Only after this he decided to enter films. He has written in his book that one day while eating at the dining table, Raj Kapoor handed him the script of ‘Mera Naam Joker’. After this he took permission from his mother. She agreed on the condition that working in films would not affect Rishi’s studies.
A film made by risking everything
‘Mera Naam Joker’ is the film which Raj Kapoor made by risking everything. Even though it is called a classic today, the film was a flop at the time of its release. He was financially ruined. He even mortgaged his house and studio for this film. After this he made ‘Bobby’ with Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia. The film was a hit. Only then was his house and studio saved.
Raj Kapoor could have won the election of President of Russia
An entire book can be written on Russia and Raj Kapoor. Such was his popularity in Russia. It is said that if he had contested the presidential election there, he would have won. Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov once said, “When Raj Kapoor’s film was released in Russia, kilometer-long queues of people would form to watch it. His popularity in the fifties was such that if he had been the President of Soviet Russia, Had he contested the elections, he would have won there too.”
“I will have to bow before the government.”
Today filmmakers talk about censorship and government interference in films. Raj Kapoor also did this. But in a very controlled manner. This shows that Raj Saheb was a self-aware person. He knew what to do and what not to do. His statement to Kabir Bedi is an example of this. Raj Kapoor once told Kabir, “No matter how big a filmmaker I become, I will have to bow before the government, because censorship is something that can ruin any film. And if a filmmaker wants So that his films are not ruined, he has to make films which the government likes. By this he did not mean that film makers should not make films which the government does not like, it is everyone’s right, and In a democracy they must do so.