Remembering ‘The legendary showman of Hindi Cinema’ on his birth anniversary

Mumbai, December 14: Remember one of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in the history of Hindi cinema? Yes you are correct it’s the great Raj kapoor. A producer, director, megastar, editor, musician and what not, Raj Kapoor aced it all. The late actor was born on December 14, and it is a moment for all of us to remember him for the contribution he has made to the industry. Whether Awara or Mera Naam Joker, the only all-rounder of the industry will forever remain etched in our memory. On his birth anniversary let’s have a glimpse of his cinema journey.

Ranbir Raj Kapoor also known as "the greatest showman of Hindi cinema", was a noted Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema.Born at Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar to actor Prithviraj Kapoor–he was a prominent member of the Kapoor family–that produced several celebrated Bollywood superstars.

He started his film career at the age of ten; he appeared in films for the first time, in 1945's Inquilab. After acting in several films over the next 12 years, Raj Kapoor's big break came with the lead role in Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady. From that era he started giving hits to the Bollywood like Barsaat (1949), Awara (1951), Boot Polish (1954), Shree 420 (1955), Do Ustad (1959), Shriman Satyawadi (1960), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Sangam (1964), Dharam Karam (1975). There is a particular feature about the film Mera Naam Joker is that it is only movie of Bollywood which has two intervals.

As a director he has given best films to Hindi Cinema like Shree 420 (1955), Satya Shivam Sundaram (1978), Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), Prem Rog (1982), Dharam Karam (1975), Bobby (1973), Mera Naam Joker (1970).

To respect his contribution to Hindi cinema The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on him in 1987 by the Government of India.

Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years; he died of complications related to asthma in 1988 at the age of 63. He collapsed at the event where he was to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment. He was hospitalized for about a month before he succumbed to complications arising from his asthma. 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 and Rishi Kapoor and was released in 1991.