The Kapoors are widely considered the most prolific Bollywood family to have ever graced the screens, with four generations of actors, producers and directors. Actor Randhir Kapoor, who is the son of Raj Kapoor, once shared stories about his early days in the film industry and how his father, the great Raj Kapoor, influenced him.
During an appearance on Kapil Sharma’s comedy reality show, the Ram Teri Ganga Maili actor shared the values and beliefs his father possessed and wanted to instil in his kids. According to Randhir, Raj Kapoor refused to hire him as a director and sent him to be an assistant to director Lekh Tandon, saying, “Maalik ka beta apne yaha kaam nahi kar sakta.” Raj Kapoor would make Randhir leave the keys to the family car, as he wanted him to travel by bus and understand the struggle of commuting to work.
“I travelled by buses and trains, and I used to drive my father’s car during the holidays. Then I became an actor, and I started earning some money, so I used to drive around in a small car until one day a beggar came up to me and made fun of my car. He said, ‘You drive such big cars in films, and in reality you drive around in such a car,’ and I went straight home and asked my wife Babita how much money she had saved up. I even asked for advances from my producers and bought myself the latest car.”‘
Randhir also shared his father’s true-to-form reaction when he saw the new car for the first time. “I showed my father the car, and he said he was very happy and congratulated me. I suggested that even he should have a car like that and that Raj Kapoor should have a vehicle matching his status. He replied, ‘Son, even if I travel by bus, people will say, Look, Raj Kapoor is sitting in a bus. It is you who needs it so that people see both the car and you.’”
Randhir Kapoor, the eldest of five siblings, married actor Babita Kapoor back in 1971. Together the couple have two daughters, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor, who both have had stellar runs in the film industry.
