Biography of Raj Kapoor

(December 14, 1924 - June 3, 1988)

Raj Kapoor was born in 1924. His actual name was Ranbirraj. Kapoor, the son of the famous thespian Prithviraj Kapoor.

He began his career as a general factotum on the sets of Jwar Bhatta', Dilip Kumar's first film. Then he assisted Kidar Sharma and even swept the set floors and acted as a dapper boy. Kidar Sharma gave Raj his first break as a hero in the film 'Neelkamal' in 1947. Raj Kapoor's first directorial venture was the film Aag, made in 1948. However, it was with the film ‘Andaaz', made in 1949, that Raj Kapoor tasted success and stardom.

The films, Awara' and 'Shri 420, put Raj Kapoor on a wave of success and fame. ‘Awara' was a stupendous success not only in India but also in Russia. He made his directorial ventures with films like ‘Anari', ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai', 'Mera Naam Joker', ‘Prem Rog', 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili'. Raj Kapoor died in 1988, a short time after receiving the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.