Raj Kapoor was India's most successful star kid in a four-decade-long career in which he delivered 17 hits as an actor and several more as a filmmaker
The term nepotism has gained traction in the Indian film circles over the last half a decade or so. In the West, actors who come from actor parents are referred to as nepo babies. But India employs a slightly more dignified term called ‘star kid’. But contrary to popular perception, star kids have existed in Indian cinema for decades, ever since the second generation of actors entered Hindi films in the 1940s. And this was also the time India’s most successful star kid made his foray into Bollywood.
India’s most successful star kid
Prithviraj Kapoor was one of the biggest names of Indian cinema in the 1930s and 40s. First as a villain and then as a hero, he carved a niche for himself. In 1947, his son Ranbir Raj – known to audiences as Raj Kapoor – entered the film industry with his maiden film as hero, Neel Kamal. The film was a moderate success. His next few films did not fare well but in 1949 – when Raj was all of 25 – he etched himself in history books. His first big hit that year was the love triangle Andaz, which went on to become the highest-grossing Hindi film. Just a month later, the record was broken by another Raj Kapoor film – Barsaat. RK had arrived!
Through the 50s, Raj Kapoor established himself as one of the three leading superstars of Bollywood alongside Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand. He delivered hits such as Awaara, Shree 420, Chori Chori, and Anari. In the 60s, as his stardom waned, Raj Kapoor turned to direction while occasionally starring in big hits like Sangam and Kal Aaj Aur Kal.
Why Raj Kapoor pips star kids like Aamir, Salman, Hrithik, and Ranbir
Over the course of his career, Raj Kapoor starred in just 63 films, of which 20 were successes. These included five blockbusters and 12 other hits. The hit count is higher than Hrithik Roshan (13), Ranbir Kapoor (11), and Jr NTR (10). And while the two Khans – Salman and Aamir – have more hits, Raj Kapoor’s accomplishments as a director and producer dwarf their stature. Raj Kapoor directed 10 films, of which 7 were either superhits or blockbusters, including all-time classics like Awaara, Sangam, and Bobby. Called Showman of the Millennium, Raj Kapoor also established RK Films, a production house that produced numerous hits from 1948-99. Raj Kapoor passed away in 1988 at the age of 63.
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