Mumbai, From Amol Palekar, Sharmila Tagore and Madhuri Dixit Nene to Divyendu, artists across generations honor “visionary” filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor and celebrate his enduring legacy on his 100th birth anniversary.
December 14, 2024 marks the birth centenary of legendary actor, director and producer Raj Kapoor, who during his illustrious tenure made classic films like “Awara”, “Barsaat”, “Shree 420”, “Sangam” and “Mera Naam Joker”. 40 years career. He died in 1988.
Palekar, who played a middle-class hero in parallel cinema in contrast to Raj Kapoor’s grandiose and larger-than-life stories, said he admired the actor-filmmaker’s work in the early stages of his career.
“We only met once, very briefly, but beyond that, never. But I am especially a fan of Raj Kapoor’s early period. He portrayed a common man in a different way, a man who stumbles and makes mistakes.
“His early films were what are seen today as left-oriented thinking… All those films were coming from a common man, an oppressed man criticizing, making comments about the system. So, he It was Raj Kapoor,” the 80-year-old actor told PTI.
Tagore, who died in 2021 at the age of 98, credited Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar for making “acting such a wonderful profession”.
“They all have contributed to cinema, starting with Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. We all are very grateful to our stalwarts. All Raj Kapoor’s films have been restored and are being released in theatres. I “Hopefully people will see it.”
“‘Shree 420’ is still contemporary. It speaks to us. I am happy that there is so much interest in old films and that makes me very happy,” the 80-year-old actor told PTI.
Raj Kapoor’s cinematic legacy is being celebrated on the big screen as PVR Inox Limited and Film Heritage Foundation are organizing the RK Film Festival from Friday.
Ten films of Raj Kapoor are being screened in the three-day retrospective, including “Aag,” “Barsaat,” “Awara,” “Shree 420,” “Jaagte Raho,” “Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahati Hai,” “Sangam, ” Are included. Mera Naam Joker,” Bobby, and “Ram Teri Ganga Maili.”
Dixit Nene described Kapoor as a “passionate visionary” who was willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make great cinema.
“Raj ji was a passionate filmmaker. I have heard that to build the sets he would even mortgage his house or sell his house or do whatever he could to make a beautiful film.
“The number of successful films he has made and the way his family has contributed to this industry is amazing,” the actor told PTI.
The 57-year-old actor worked with Raj Kapoor’s second son Rishi Kapoor in three films “Sahiban”, “Yaarana” and “Prem Granth” and also acted in a song with his grandson Ranbir Kapoor in “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani”. .
“I have never met Raj ji. Dixit said, I once saw him from a distance at the Filmfare Awards ceremony.
For Vidya Balan, exposure to Raj Kapoor’s films came through re-telecasts of his films on Doordarshan.
“I didn’t know who he was. I had seen many of his films at that time. On Doordarshan, they re-telecasted all his films, and my father would sit and watch it, and then I would watch it with him.
“That’s how I came in contact with Raj Kapoor,” Balan, 45, told PTI. I fell in love with her, with that face of innocence.”
Actor Vivek Oberoi was introduced to Raj Kapoor’s films by his father Suresh Oberoi.
“Mainly I used to sit with my father and watch black and white films on the VCR, we would put those tapes on and watch films of Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar. This is the trio of actors whose films were my favorite. Father used to ask to see me,” Oberoi told PTI.
The 48-year-old actor shared a moment from his childhood when he met Raj Kapoor briefly to seek his blessings.
“It was very brief, just to seek his blessings as a child. He’s a legend,” he said.
He said, “I remember going to Moscow and it’s been decades since ‘Awara’ was released, it came out in the 50s or 60s and people still remember the songs and names of the film and that’s the strength of his films. ” ,
“Mirzapur” fame star Divyendu said Kapoor is a “hero of Indian cinema”.
“Raj Kapoor sir is a great person. He was a hero of Indian cinema. The best thing is that because of social media you get old clippings, where you see him participating in a music session, where Lata ji is singing, he is listening, and giving his suggestion, you One realizes that it was not just passion but also that these people had a lot of knowledge of filmmaking,” the 41-year-old actor told PTI.
Veteran actor Dharmendra posted an old picture with Raj Kapoor on social media.
“Dear Raj Sahab, happy birthday to you. We miss you! You will always be remembered with great love and respect,” the 89-year-old posted on Instagram.
Anil Kapoor, 67, said Raj Kapoor’s birthday is special not just for him but for “the entire Indian film fraternity”.
“Raj Uncle’s work inspired me deeply – his aura, artistry and vision were unmatched then and remain unmatched now. On his 100th birthday, I look forward to his timeless films, the moments at RK Studios, the moments spent at his residence in Deonar And remember his incredible legacy.
“Happy 100th Birthday to ‘The Greatest Showman’ Raj Kapoor. Your magic will always amaze me,” he wrote on Instagram.
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