A FATHER REMEMBERS WHEN his wife was expecting their first child, Prithviraj told her it would be a boy. He wrote the name chosen by him for the boy on a slip of paper and put it under her pillow :Ranbirraj. The name stuck. Even today, says Prithviraj, some elderly ladies of the family refer to Raj as Chisto, short for Srishtinath the name they selected for him. Reminiscing about Raj's early years, Prithviraj recalled a lovely child with blue eyes and ruddy cheeks, the eyes probably inherited from its great-great-grandfather. And the cheeks were so markedly ruddy, Rama (Mrs. Prithviraj Kapoor) would unbelievingly rub them with a wet cloth on the assumption that it was dust settled on the Child s face”. ‘Let me tell you an interesting sequel". Prithviraj continued. “Years later, all three of us were in Moscow. Raju was a juror at the film festival. 1 was shooting for ‘Pardesi’ and my wife was with me. Raj was being mobbed by Russian girls at the festival hall and when I extricated him at my wife's bidding and brought him to her, she again wiped his cheeks. This time the colour did come off — it was all lipstick”!
At Peshawar, where Raj was born, and places like Samundari, where he would go on family visits, the child was popular with everyone at home and outside. “He was, what is the expression, the apple of everyone’s eye,” Prithviraj said. “Even the tradesmen enjoyed making him dance. They wouldn’t take money for some little thing he wanted from their shops”. Prithviraj spoke of a day in Bombay when Raj was about 7. "He came to the studio where I was shooting one evening accompanied by a servant, and said that Bindu, his brother, was ill. He wouldn’t say a word more. But since his mother had sent him in a taxi which was normally a luxury for us those days, I immediately sensed something serious had happened”. Four-year-old Bindu (Ravindranath) had gone to play in a neighbour’s garden in the suburb of Khar where the Kapoor family then lived. His mother called him for his bath. He came up, choked and died in her arms. The doctor surmised it was a case of snake-bite. Later, the theory gained ground that the child had accidentally swallowed one of the sweetened pills the neighbour used for killing rats. Tragedy again struck the family, within a fortnight. Another child, Devendranath, younger to Bindu, took ill with high fever and died. Prithviraj has never forgotten the faces of those children or of Raj as he came to the studio that day. Raj failed to matriculate. Prithviraj says the boy was actually a rather good student, ' tops in English”, and an all-rounder, acting in and directing school plays and winning prizes in elocution competitions. What was probably his undoing was his weakness in arithmetic and Latin. A year before Raj should have matriculated, his father called him for a “man-to-man” chat, complimenting him for his attainments in extra-curricular activities but warning him that he should make up for his weakness in certain class-room subjects. Prithviraj’s own father had just asked him to meet the principal of the school and “put in a word” on behalf of Vishi, Pri- thvi’s step-brother (actually, the veteran does not use the word step’ to refer to either his mother or brother). Vishi was not expected to get his form for the matriculation examination. Prithviraj had a distaste for in- lluence-mongering, but this was something I had to do because it was a request from my father”. But he had no intention of similarly interceding on behalf of his own son and he said so to Raj. "Promise me that you will get your form yourself and never ask me to get it for you”. Raj promised. There came the day when Mrs. Prithviraj- Kapoor came to her husband saying that it was doubtful if Raj would be allowed to sit for his matriculation and that Prithviraj should meet the principal.
Prithviraj swallowed, smiled and told her, “Of course, I will do it. Only, let Raj come and ask me himself”. Raj never did. The father looks back on the incident as a pointer to his son’s future character. Though as a reigning star 'those days, Prithviraj could have provided his sons with many luxuries, he never did. He remembers one rainy morning when his wife asked permission to send Raj to school in the family car. The boy attended the Antonio DeSouza School at By- culla. From Matunga where the family lived, he took a tram normally like the other boys. Prithviraj told his wife, “You know everyone has some priceless experiences. On a rainy day like this, there is a great thrill in walking the streets, dodging the showers, stepping across puddles, doing a sort of ‘nritya'. You reach your tram. Perhaps there are people, temporarily dry, getting off it and they hate you brushing past them. Then you find a seat and someone next to you hates you and your wet clothes. The tram chugs along and you keep watching the drama of life on the streets. Maybe you reach school late and the teacher gives you a ‘Punish’ as boys call it. It is all fun.” “But today, of course,” he concluded hastily, “it is raining hard and Raju is getting late, so let him take the car.” Raj was within hearing. He told his father, “No, sir, I will take the tram.” As the parents stood watching the boy off, from their balcony, Prithviraj nudged his wife and said, “Don’t worry about the car. Here is a boy who has just booked himself cars much fancier than any his father has or will ever want to have.” After the fiasco of the matriculation examination, Raj went to his father for a “man-to-man” chat, this time on his own initiative. “I can, of course, continue my studies,” he said. “But all I’ll learn is how to wear clothes in style and perhaps get a degree after which I will again come to you asking you to get me a job.” Instead of which the youngster wanted to start working rightaway—in films. Prithviraj smiled, remembering the hue and cry raised in his own family when he took to films. He gave his son some 300 rupees and told him to visit all the family units at such places as Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sa- mundari and Dehra Dun. “When you return, if you still want to join films, I will help you to get started.”
“All our relatives welcomed Raj with great affection,” Prithviraj recalls. “He was always fond of eating. They plied him with all sorts of delicacies as a result of which he got dysentery. Raju survived this as well as the opposition put up against a film career. He came back and told me he hadn’t changed his mind.” Prithviraj Kapoor spoke to Chandulal Shah and got a jab for Raj Kapoor at Ranjit Studios. Two conditions were laid by the father. One, that Raj should not be paid any salary. The other was that he should be treated like any other worker at the studio and not as Prithviraj’s son. At home, the father briefed the son: “Your monthly pocket allowance will now be increased from Rs. 15 to Rs. 30. To get ready for your working life, you will please ask your mother to stitch as many white pants and shirts as you need. Go in the morning wearing white and return in the evening with your clothes full of the red dust of the studio.” Raj’s daily lunch would not be sent him at the studio. The young man, if he so chose, could have a packet made at home in the morning, to be carried by himself. Or he could eat at any hotel near the studio, paying for it from his own pocket money. At Ranjit, Rai worked as an assistant to director Kidar Shar- ma who later was to give him his first break as a leading man in “Neel Kamal”. He did odd jobs. If he so much as peeped into the camera lens, cinematographer G. K. Mehta would bawl at him. Later the cameraman would corner Prithviraj and ask him, “Why do you make us behave so strictly with your son? We all like him!” Prithviraj was shooting for “Gauri” then, and Raj got a brief scene in the film. This was not his very first appearance.
Earlier, when Prithviraj was working in Calcutta, the noted film-maker Debaki Bose had used Raj, then just a boy, for a small appearance in “After the Earthquake.” Subsequently, Gul Hamid, the actor-director, Prithviraj recalls, took Raj away from home for some shooting but Prithviraj has lost track of what he did. Prithviraj says he didn’t want to make a child star of Raj. He did not want any of his sons to go through what Jackie Coogan did — early glory followed by difficulties in later life. After about a year at Ranjit, Raj joined Bombay Talkies, following an advertisement from the studio for applicants in both its acting and production departments. Raj was a salaried employee here. Prithviraj, when he met Devika Rani, his son’s employer at Bombay Talkies, once again insisted that Raj was to be treated as an ordinary employee. Raj set to work with his usual enthusiasm. But after a period of work at the studio, Raj, disappointed at not being able to get a starring role (all that came his way were one or two brief appearances in films), asked his father’s permission to join the latter’s famous Prithvi Theatres. It was granted.Raj worked as a general assistant in all departments. His father fixed his salary at Rs. 201 a month, a token rupee more than his salary at Bombay Talkies, by way of en cour agement. At the theatre, Prithviraj recalls, Raj’s younger brother Shammi got an acting break earlier than Raj. Raj got his with “Deewar.” “All the pent-up force of years was released,” Prithviraj says, recalling his son’s performance on the opening day.Raj proved a revelation to all. Chandulal Shah, coming upstage for a speech, said only two things. “We haven’t seen anything like this before.” “And” — turning to Prithviraj, “Please give me Raj Kapoor!”
That was the beginning. Though much of his son's subsequent life and career are an open book to the public, Prith- viraj says, his musical talent is not so well-known. When he was quite young, Kaj gave what could be his first major public performance, singing two songs from the film “Hamari Baat”, at a variety show at the hill station of Murree, on the Frontier. This went down well and Raj was subsequently much in demand. His songs in “Deewar” were recorded but the discs probably never reached the market. “I have forty odd years of memories,” Prithvirai said. “I could talk of Raju for as many years perhaps and still not exhaust my stock!” HE HIT ME TWICE RAJJI is the only member of our family who ever hit me. In fact, he hit me twice! The first time was when I used an unparliamentary word in the presence of my mother— I was quite a horrid little boy then. Rajji gave me a thorough walloping which sent me crying to the terrace. After an hour he came up to console me.gave me an outing: a Chinese meal and a film show. That was the first time I went to the Eros and it was almost like going abroad. The second time was during Diwali. He had come back home to sleep tired after a night shooting. Despite a request from Bhabhiji (Mrs. Raj Kapoor), I went on exploding those noisy ‘bombs' near the staircase. Then Rajji burst in. The same scene, and after about an hour, the same sequel—he stood me another treat outside. Talking of Rajji sleeping, I have never been able to understand that curious cycle of his —working till late at night and sleeping till late afternoon. can anyone bear to miss the best part of the day—those golden morning hours? My brother gave me a role in “Aag" and never paid me. When he offered me “Awara”, I declined with much hurt dignity. But he said he would pay me this time. In the middle of the film, I fell ill with appendicitis. I remember his calling at my bedside with a get-well-soon offering. I can still get the smell of the new leather-case—it was a Bell & Howell 16 mm camera. When “Jagte Raho” and “Ab Dilli Dur Nahin” were being filmed, I was working at R. K. Studios behind the scenes, learning the ropes. I think Rajji's real ambition was to see me as a director. My favourites among his own acting roles are “Aag”, “Bar- saat" and the after-marriage part in “Sangam”. I think he was tops in the comedy role of '“Dastan”.
He is a fantastic showman. And he wholeheartedly believes in everything he does. He can play almost any musical instrument and has an excellent sense of rhythm. I have known him come home late at night, wake up Ritu (his daughter) and ask her to play some tune he has in mind for a film song, and to write the notation. Talking of his children, his work hasn't given him much time really to be with them. Almost all the credit for bringing them up goes to Bhabhiji. She is a Super. She has the Midas touch. And that, shall I say, includes my brother too? HEYGRANDPOP! The first thing that strikes you about Raj Kapoor is his effervescence. No matter how passive you are, he elevates you mentally. There is never a dull moment with him. I think of him as The Bubble. This quality is apparent in his acting too. He doesn't make an effort, it comes to him naturally.On the sets, senior as he is to me, I always found so much understanding help and correlation. With people who are shy, he has a knack of putting them at ease, without seeming to do so. He is also very discreet about other people's problems, in films or outside. He never gives advice unless asked to. As a film-maker, he is, of course, a superb showman. There is a certain totality of effect in his productions, the result of various elements like publicity and production, and I don't think people are ever disappointed with him. As an actor, he has a certain grade which keeps going up, not counting certain quickies he may have appeared in. Though he is not really shorter than I, while shooting for “Anari”, he decided that he was. If he had to run up a slope with me ahead of him, this amusing complex would become acuter, and with mock-earnestness, he would urge the director to watch out on his behalf. That is Raj Kapoor for you! Film people are normally very secretive about their work. Not so Raj. He doesn't mind showing his films before release to quite a few people, not worrying about who will copy which set or costume. Once, while shooting with him in Kashmir, I found him giving a public rendering of a choice tune he had hit upon for a film. I was apprehensive and, sure enough, someone copied this tune and put it in a film before Raj could even record his song. Once on a set of “Anari”, a Russian delegation came on a visit. Raj made us stand in line and coached us to say “Dasvi- daniya” as each visitor passed How Raj and kid brother Shashi at the premiere of “Papi”.
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