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When Raj Kapoor Narrated The Story Of Mera Naam Joker While The Heroines Were Seated On His Lap (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Legendary actor-director-producer Raj Kapoor is known for his glorious contribution to Indian cinema. However, some of the aspects of his personal life often appear to be scandalous to people. Did you know that actor Ranjeet who was known for his villainous roles in Hindi movies had once recalled a rather bizarre incident about the script reading session of the 1970 film, Mera Naam Joker?

For the unversed, Mera Naam Joker starred Raj Kapoor in the lead role and was also directed by him. According to a report in Bollywood Shaadi, in an interview with Ani, Ranjeet recalled how Kapoor would narrate the story of Mera Naam Joker to the heroines of the film while they were seated on his lap. The actor said, “Mera Naam Joker picture thi na… uski...

Raj Kapoor Burnt Himself With Cigarette Butts After Nargis And Sunil Dutt’s Marriage ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Legendary filmmaker, actor, and producer Raj Kapoor’s 100th birth anniversary was recently celebrated on a grand scale by his family and many film fraternity members. The ‘greatest showman of Hindi cinema’ left behind a rich legacy through his work. However, his personal life also garnered a lot of attention, especially his controversial romantic relationship with actress Nargis.

Raj Kapoor And Nargis’ Relationship

Raj Kapoor and Nargis started a romantic relationship on the sets of their 1955 film Shree 420. While Kapoor was already married to Krishna Raj Kapoor, Nargis was only 16. But that did not stop their whirlwind romance that lasted for around 7 years. However, they eventually separated because the Awaara actor could not divorce his first wife and marry the Mother India actress. Reportedly, Nargis’ brother was also one of the reasons behind their separation.

Raj Kapoor Held A Huge Box Office Record For 10,959 Days Straight! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

The showman of Indian Cinema who made us believe—Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan, Iske Siwa Jaana Kahaan—the great Raj Kapoor was born exactly 100 years ago. As the Kapoors celebrate his 100th birth anniversary, we decided to take a quick recap on an insane achievement of his career.

He was the greatest – Shashi Kapoor & Shammi Kapoor’s brother, Randhir, Rishi, and Rajiv Kapoor’s father, Babita and Neetu Kapoor’s father-in-law, Karisma, Kareena, Ranbir, Riddhima Kapoor, Adar & Armaan Jain’s grandfather, Taimur, Jeh, Navya Naveli Nanda & Agastya Nanda’s great-grandfather! The legacy he left was imbibed by the youngsters of the Kapoor – Nanda family.

Raj Kapoor’s First Step In Cinema

Raj Kapoor holds an impeccable box office record that was unbeatable for 20 long years. He made his debut in 1943 with a film called Gauri, which...

During a meeting commemorating the director’s centenary, actor Ranbir Kapoor shared personal stories about his grandfather, famed filmmaker Raj Kapoor.

Speaking with director Rahul Rawail, Kapoor paid a heartfelt homage to one of Indian cinema’s most significant artists. He remembered childhood memories of the famed filmmaker’s lighter side, such as Raj Kapoor gathering his grandchildren to sing the popular song “Awaara Hoon” from his 1951 film.

Beyond personal memories, Kapoor emphasized his grandfather’s dedication to social commentary. “If you watch ‘Awaara,’ it was based on casteism. ‘Shree 420’ was about greed and the impoverished,” he explained. This revelation demonstrated Raj Kapoor’s capacity to approach complicated social concerns through movies.

The discussion also underlined the filmmaker’s perseverance. Despite the commercial failure of “Mera Naam Joker” in 1970, which caused him financial hardship—even to the point of mortgaging his house—Raj Kapoor launched “Bobby” in 1973, starring entirely new talent.

Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor shared personal memories and professional insights about his grandfather, pioneering Indian filmmaker Raj Kapoor, during a discussion with director Rahul Rawail at the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa, where Kapoor’s centenary is being celebrated.

“My memories of him are very personal,” said Kapoor, recalling his grandfather who passed away when he was six. “He used to take us to his room, and he used to hide these caramel toffees in his fridge. He used to make us stand in a line – all the cousins, Kareena, Karishma, my sister, myself – and ask us to do ‘Salaam’ and to sing ‘Awaara Hoon’ [from “Awaara,” 1951].”

Discussing Raj Kapoor’s filmmaking, the younger Kapoor noted his grandfather’s ability to tackle varied social themes throughout his career. “If you see ‘Awaara,’ it was based on casteism. ‘Shree 420’ [1955] spoke about greed and the underprivileged. In his latter films,...

Piyush Thakur is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii). His student short film, “The Real Millionaire”, was nominated for the International Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and travelled globally to more than 75 film festivals, winning multiple awards. He was selected from India for the International Student Film Camp Serbia. Post Ftii, he worked as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the film ‘Bajirao Mastani‘. He was selected from India for the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab in Japan and Platform Busan at the Busan International Film Festival. His latest short film, “The First Film“, had its world premiere at Festival de Cortos de Bogotá – Bogoshorts in Colombia and was recognized as a ‘Short Film Market Pick’ by the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and ‘Film Bazaar Recommends’ by Nfdc Doc Film Bazaar. It won ‘The German Star of India – Audience Award...

In his over half-a-century-long Hindi film career, he sang more than a thousand songs, but just three serve to demonstrate his position in the industry’s scheme of things – the madcap “Ek Chatur Naar” where Kishore Kumar beats him; the enchanting qawwali “Na to karvaan ki talash hai” where Mohammed Rafi emerges triumphant eventually; and the classical contest “Ketaki gulab juhi”, where he beats Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

This was part of the misfortune of Prabodh Chandra ‘Manna’ Dey, born on this day (May 1) in 1919 in Calcutta. His classical training, innate talent, and “masculine” voice made him perfect for all shades of songs – romantic (including those for the vintage-aged), folk ballads, philosophical musings, and more, but he was never deemed a top-notch singer.

A nephew of gifted blind singer-composer Krishna Chandra Dey, who paved his way into music and films, Manna Dey’s forte was challenging, classical-based songs, especially those that his contemporaries considered difficult,...

Popular rapper and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh gave a Moroccan spin to his song ‘Lungi Dance’ from the 2013 film ‘Chennai Express’. Honey Singh, who seems to be shooting in Morocco, took to Instagram, where he shared a video.

In the clip, the rapper is seen in a traditional Kaftaan and is singing the lines of the track, which is originally picturised on superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, mixed with the sounds of Morocco.

He captioned the track: “Lungi dance in Morocco.”

Honey Singh then crooned ‘Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala’ from ‘Shree 420’ but added the same Moroccan zing to it.

The ‘Blue eyes’ hitmaker captioned the clip: “Dil ka haal in Morocco. Arab love.”

Honey Singh did not share why he was there. However, going by his Instagram story it seems he is on a work trip.

He shared a picture of his dressing room and wrote: “Shooting time Morocco.

Popular rapper and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh gave a Moroccan spin to his song ‘Lungi Dance’ from the 2013 film ‘Chennai Express’. Honey Singh, who seems to be shooting in Morocco, took to Instagram, where he shared a video.

In the clip, the rapper is seen in a traditional Kaftaan and is singing the lines of the track, which is originally picturised on superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, mixed with the sounds of Morocco.

He captioned the track: “Lungi dance in Morocco.”

Honey Singh then crooned ‘Dil Ka Haal Sune Dil Wala’ from ‘Shree 420’ but added the same Moroccan zing to it.

The ‘Blue eyes’ hitmaker captioned the clip: “Dil ka haal in Morocco. Arab love.”

Honey Singh did not share why he was there. However, going by his Instagram story it seems he is on a work trip.

He shared a picture of his dressing room and wrote: “Shooting time Morocco.

Mumbai, Aug 30 (Ians) Writer K.A. Abbas did not take much notice of the nondescript-looking man accompanying Raj Kapoor to his house to hear the story for a film.

After listening quietly to the over two-hour-long rendition, this man only said that it was a good story. Is that all, asked Kapoor noticing the bemused Abbas.

“Gardish mein hoon, aasman ka taara hoon,” he then responded.

Abbas, taken aback, told Kapoor that he had spent two-and-a-half hours telling his story and his unknown visitor had perfectly summarised it in one phrase.

The “nondescript man” was Shailendra, whose 100th birth anniversary falls today (August 30). Just one film old at this meeting, he would go on to become Hindi cinema’s most exemplary, innately-gifted yet self-effacing lyricist, whose songs like “Awaara hoon”, “Mera joota hai Japani”, and “Hothon pe sachai rehti hai” that made Indian film music popular across the world.

While his...

Just days ahead of the release of the official trailer for ‘Jawan’, Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has released the full version of the song ‘Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The upbeat dance track sees King Khan rocking it out on the stage alongside south superstar Nayanthara.

The song features booming production with great sound design, letting all the instruments shine though there is a specific focus on the bass which is by far the loudest. Mixing up electronic, techno, film music, Edm, a bit of folk and even the flair of item numbers, ‘Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ is a pure dance on the floor track.

Srk is seen dancing on the floor with actress Nayanthara and a bunch of other backup dancers really going at it, just having fun and is in a pure mood for joy, celebration and bring-the-house-down kind of partying, dancing with all the...

"Bhagne ki koshish mat karna. Humne tumhe chaaron taraf se gher liya hai. Bhalai isi mein hai ke tum apne aap ko kanoon ke hawaale kar do," or its near variants, became the template for the denouement of scores of action Hindi films from the 1950s to the 1980s, as a pistol-toting Iftekhar, usually accompanied by a squad of policemen, reached the spot to rescue the hero and heroine and/or round up the villains.

While his near-contemporary Jagdish Raj (Khurana) holds the record of maximum outings as a police officer in Hindi films (144), Iftekhar was not far behind with 75-odd such roles, playing an Inspector/Dsp/Sp/Commissioner in top films like "Ab Dilli Dur Nahin" (1957), "Guide" (1965), "Teesri Manzil" (1966), "Do Dooni Char" (1968), "Ittefaq" (1969), "Johny Mera Naam" (1970), "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" (1971), "Zanjeer" (1973), "Majboor" (1974), "Fakira" (1976), "Don" (1978) and "Krodhi" (1981), among others.

His performances were so convincing that several times, he was saluted...

Saiyami Kher’s new look from an upcoming film is inspired by late veteran star Nargis Dutt.

In the monochrome pictures of Saiyami, which are from an upcoming film, her look is inspired by the legendary Nargis Dutt. She is seen wearing a simple cotton saree, with a bindi and plaited hair. The look is inspired by Nargis’ character from her 1958 film ‘Lajwanti’.

Saiyami says, “Nargis Dutt is a legend and just mere comparison with her is the biggest compliment I have got and the comparison feels like such an honour. She was just perfect in any form, be it acting, beauty, grace.”

“I have loved most of her movies, ‘Shree 420’, ‘Aag’ and ‘Mother India’ are my favourite. I always wonder how it would have been to live in that era and do films then. I love black and white pictures and films. It’s actually a dream for...

During the school times the first-hand experience of enacting the role of a teacher on the Teacher’s Day (5th September) was an anticipated day as on this day we got a chance to play the role of a teacher. While preparing for that day had a palpable excitement, the occasion during those school times also underlined how did the Teachers enacted their role in moulding the future of the children day in and day out. Hindi cinema has also over the course of 75 years of its journey time and again touched this unique institution and reminded the citizens of the country about the important role a teacher plays in the life of an individual!

Evolution of the character of Teacher on the silver screen has been a study in motion. It has evolved from being an idealist and non-compromising one to being a teacher with his or her human fallibilities as well.

By numbers, her work in the Hindi film industry seems quite scanty — at 33 films in around a decade and a half. But the statistics fail to reveal that, save around five, all were box-office hits, and some of them broke new ground, making her one of the most popular and successful actresses of all times — and a fashion icon too.

Though she struck gold right from her debut as female lead, and went on to become an “in demand” actress for everything, from frothy romances to tear-jerkers, Sadhana is most remembered for her trademark hairstyle — the famous “Sadhana cut” of fringes or short bangs (itself inspired by the elfin and charming Audrey Hepburn) — and pioneering form-fitting kurtas and churidar pyjamas.

But in her comparatively limited outings, Sadhana, who was born on this day in 1941, showcased her acting prowess. She could essay roles of a rich heiress to a village belle...

Bollywood star and popular member of India’s celebrated movie dynasty

Rishi Kapoor, who has died aged 67 of bone marrow cancer, starred as a leading man in almost 100 Bollywood films and was a member of the remarkable Kapoor family of actors and film-makers.

The son of the great director, producer and actor Raj Kapoor, Rishi started as a child actor, aged three, in his father’s hugely popular film Shree 420 (1955). But his proper debut came in Raj’s 1970 film Mera Naam Joker, playing the younger version of his father’s leading role. Rishi said that his father only gave him the part as he was unable to pay for a recognised star, and the film was not a commercial success in any case. The movie that gave Rishi stardom was his next, Bobby (1973), the story of a love affair between Raja, a rich Bombay teenager, and a poor girl,...

Rishi Kapoor, one of India’s most loved film actors, best known for his romantic roles, has died. He was 67.

Kapoor was admitted to a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday. “He is suffering from cancer and he has some breathing problem, so he has been admitted to the hospital,” his brother Randhir told Indian media on Wednesday.

Kapoor died on Thursday morning, a day after the disappearance of another Indian star, Irrfan Khan.

Kapoor was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and received treatment initially in the U.S., before returning to India late in 2019. He has been hospitalized in India several times since with a variety of complications.

Despite his health problems, Kapoor recently announced that he would co-star with Deepika Padukone in a remake of Hollywood hit “The Intern.” But his regular social media activity has gone quiet since the beginning of April.

After a cameo in his father Raj Kapoor’s 1955 “Shree 420,...

Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor took a trip down memory lane on Thursday evening as they took part in a very special event at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House.

The stellar duo, who are the stars of Umesh Shukla’s upcoming film, 102 Not Out spent the evening interacting with the media, reliving infamous moments from their earlier movies together such as the dazzling 1977 film Amar Akbar Anthony, which won Bachchan the award for Best Actor, and the hilarious 1981 action comedy Naseeb.

Those lucky enough to be in attendance at the glorious Opera House were not left disappointed, as the actors continued to show why they have been so loved and admired for many years, sharing many heart-warming anecdotes that brought smiles on everyone’s faces.

102 Not Out will be the first film both legends have appeared in together for 27 years, and both actors were full of praise...

October 31st is Halloween, when kids (of all ages) dress up to go trick-or-treating. Then, of course, there are the cool adults getting in on the costume fun to go to Halloween parties. Since we are all Bollywood buffs, okay fanatics, we thought it would be fun to poll our writers to see who they would love to dress up if we had a Bollywood Halloween – Bollyween Ball. Boy oh boy were we flooded with amazing and inventive ideas.

Some of these costumes you could probably put together easily. However, some might need extra help from family, tailors, costume designers, stylists, costume engineers and even Oscar winning makeup artist Greg Canoom (transformed Srk in Fan and Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire)!!

Check out how the excellent team of BollySpice would celebrate Halloween Bolly-ish style.

“Dress as Madhuri in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and wear that gorgeous purple outfit.” Because who...

Witness the glorious Technicolor, energy and exuberance of Indian cinema as Absolute Bollywood Live presents its lavish onstage spectacle; 50 Years of Bollywood on Sunday 22nd November 2015 at London’s destination entertainment venue Eventim Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6 9Qh. Showcasing the best in Bollywood music and dance over the past five decades, 50 Years of Bollywood is set to take its audiences on an all-singing, all-dancing outing, encapsulating the vivacity and joy of Bollywood – one of the world’s largest and most successful commercial film industries.

Absolute Bollywood Live will indulge audiences with a carnival-esque retrospective of Indian cinema’s greatest musical hits over the past five decades, featuring popular playback singers, Ash King and Jonita Gandhi. The dynamic duo will be singing hits from oldie goldies such as Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua (Shree 420), Roop Tera Mastana (Aradhana), Laila (Qurbani) and Jumma Chumma (Hum) to the most iconic songs...

Hindi films are known for their romance and it is one of the reasons so many people fall in love with the heroes, the heroines and the films! We asked our writers to tell us what moments in Bollywood define love or romance to them, be it a song, a line, a look, or anything that makes you sigh thinking that is Love! So for Valentine’s Day we present what we think is Romance Bollyishstyle!

The One with the Tune and the Recording

We could not pick just one scene from the great Dil Toh Pagal Hai starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Karishma Kapoor and Akshay Kumar. However, the two that stand out for our writers are:

That moment when Madhuri and Shah Rukh are in adjoining changing rooms in a clothing store, and Madhuri hears him whistle a tune. She later hears it again and knows it was meant to be!

We all know that a Bollywood film is incomplete without a few songs being thrown in with them. It is sort of like bread and butter, you can’t enjoy one without the other. Combining them together makes it all the more delicious. Over the last 100 years of filmmaking, the world has been exposed to some of the most iconic Bollywood numbers that we cannot erase from our minds and consider them to be eternal classics. As part of our mini-feature, BollySpice presents to you 15 songs that have changed Bollywood forever. Enjoy!

1. ‘Aayega Aane Wala’ from Mahal (1949) – Though this song won’t be as well known amongst the younger generation, the song ‘Aayega Aane Wala’ from the chilling film Mahal, is important for one major reason. This song made India’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar a nationwide superstar and she went on to sing for Bollywood films for another six decades.

Eminent actor, producer and director Randhir Kapoor turns 67 on February 15. Glamsham.Com extends him birthday greetings and takes a peek into his early days when he rebelled against the Kapoor clan to marry his lady love, actress Babita.Randhir Kapoor, the eldest son of legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor made his debut in films at a young age as child actor in Shree 420 and later in Do Ustad, in which he played the role of young Raj Kapoor.Subsequently,...

There is very little on this planet to rival the sheer magnetism of three Kapoors in one room. When Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh Kapoor landed in New York City for the Besharam promotional tour, they bowled over fans and media alike. Joined by newcomer co-star Pallavi Sharda, producer Himanshu Mehra and Reliance executives, they entertained reporters at the press conference in typical Kapoor fashion- with e′lan, flamboyance tempered by humility and the charm always, always turned up a trillion notches.

BollySpice brings you snatches of the conversation with the Besharam team in New York.

What was your favorite memory of being on the sets with your respective fathers?

Rishi Kapoor (emotional): I’m very fortunate to have worked in three films with my late father Raj Kapoor – Mera Naam Joker, Bobby and Prem Rog. I cannot single out one memory of him, because with your father,...

Films are said to be the mirror of society, which is quite true because filmmakers portray what they perceive in the society. A look down at bygone era movies reflects that since the birth of cinema in India, many serious & sensitive filmmakers have dealt with themes concerning the woes and problems of our society.Films like Mother India (on oppression of the farmers by the landlords), Pyaasa (social reality of material world), Shree 420 (on corruption), Do Ankhen Barah Haath Read More...

Films are said to be the mirror of society, which is quite true because filmmakers portray what they perceive in the society. A look down at bygone era movies reflects that since the birth of cinema in India, many serious & sensitive filmmakers have dealt with themes concerning the woes and problems of our society.Films like Mother India (on oppression of the farmers by the landlords), Pyaasa (social reality of material world), Shree 420 (on corruption), Do Ankhen Barah Haath...

As part of our look at a century of Indian cinema, here are some of our all-time favourite classic film soundtracks

Barsaat (1949)

Tragic love story Barsaat (Rain) was 25-year-old actor Raj Kapoor's first hit as a director and launched Bollywood's greatest playback singer Lata "Nightingale of India" Mangeshkar (who went on to record thousands of film songs over a career spanning seven decades and counting). Kapoor may have made finer films (Awaara, Shree 420), but Barsaat's songs (marking the debut of music directors, Shankar Jaikishan) of vulnerability, innocence and heartache, captured newly independent India's fragile imagination. Many consider Barsaat to have the greatest film songs of all time.

Pakeezah (1972)

Pakeezah (Pure) is the story of a courtesan, or a wronged woman with a good heart, in the Mughal era. Lata is on playback duties for heroine Meena Kumari (who died just after its release) and the combination of real-life...

To celebrate the Indian film industry's centenary year, here are 10 essential movies – from a silent film about the life of the Buddha to a violent gangster epic

Prem Sanyas/The Light of Asia (Franz Osten, 1925)

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Among the few silent films that remain are three Indo-German co-productions that predate the arrival of the German technicians and directors who worked in the Bombay Talkies studio in the 1930s. The Light of Asia was shot in India but edited and processed in Germany and intertitled in English. The script was adapted from Sir Edwin Arnold's epic poem The Light of Asia (1861) while the opening credits proclaim it was "Shown by Royal Command at Windsor Castle, April 27 1926" and that it benefited greatly from help offered by the Maharaja of Jaipur. The film shows westerners touring India (Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi) who come to Bodh Gaya, the site of Gautam Buddha's Enlightenment.

Mumbai, June 1: Raj Kapoor was legendary and deserved more fame than he recieved, says filmmaker Imtiaz Ali ahead of the late actor-filmmaker's 25th death anniversary Sunday.

"He (Raj Kapoor) was a legendary director. He deserved much more fame than how much he is famous," Imtiaz said here.

Raj Kapoor was only 24 when he launched his own studio, R. K. Films, and became the youngest director of his time with "Aag" in 1948.

He went on to taste success by producing, directing and acting in successful movies like "Barsaat" (1949), "Awaara" (1951), "Shree 420" (1955), "Chori Chori" (1956).

He also made "Satyam Shivam.

Those who are devoted Bollywood fans will probably be aware of the fact that 2013 is an important year for the film industry, since it will be celebrating 100 years since the first moving picture was made. Well for anyone who is keen on acquiring a piece of memorabilia which marks this historic occasion, then look no further. A unique 2013 diary titled A Sideways Glance at Hindi Cinema has recently been published by Penguin Books and has been devised by the eminent UK based documentary filmmaker and writer Nasreen Munni Kabir. She has spent decades in ensuring that the history of Hindi cinema has been well documented by interviewing and writing about numerous actors, filmmakers, singers and musicians. These include figures such as the pioneering filmmaker Guru Dutt, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and India’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar.

This carefully produced diary contains spellbinding images of film props, film posters, costume designs...

Anyone who is a devoted Bollywood fan knows the name Kapoor. The eminent Kapoor clan is considered to be one of the most powerful dynasties in the Bombay film industry. They are a dynasty which is full of talent and over the past eighty years, their cinematic presence has been seen by generations of audiences. The majority of the actors and actresses to have emerged from the Kapoor family have had immensely successful careers and have starred in some of the finest films India has produced. They have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest directors and production houses in the country. It can be asserted with confidence that Bollywood is not complete without the presence of at least one Kapoor figure within the industry! We now take a look into the history of the Kapoor khandaan(family) and how their contribution to films has made them...

Ranbir Kapoor is all set to light up the big screen on the 14th September with his next film release Barfi.

The romantic comedy directed by Anurag Basu sees Ranbir Kapoor paired opposite Priyanka Chopra, for the second time, and sees southern actress Ileana D’Cruz make her Bollywood debut.

Bollyspice.com caught up with Ranbir Kapoor who was recently in London promoting the movie. The actor told us all about working on Barfi, reviving the Rk Banner and revealed an unusual phoebe.

What attracted you to the script of Barfi?

Anurag Basu, the director, he really had a story to tell. He has this really childlike, infectious quality about him, which really translated in the script, in the story he was trying to tell. I was really, very impressed by that. I think that has always been my criteria to signing a movie, of course the script and the character has to excite me,...

For his role in Anurag Basu's Barfi!, Ranbir Kapoor takes cues from grandfather's Chaplinesque look Remember Raj Kapoor's legendary roles as a happy-go-lucky tramp in Awara (1951) and Shree 420 (1955)...He had apparently taken inspiration Hollywood great, Charlie Chaplin, to play these characters, sporting the now famous ill-fitting trousers and floppy hat. And now, 57 years later, his grandson Ranbir Kapoor has taken pointers from his late grandfather for his...

Ranbir Kapoor's look in Barfi! was reportedly styled on his famous grandfather Raj. The actor plays the hearing- and speech-impaired title character who becomes involved in a love triangle. A source told the Hindustan Times: "When Anurag [Basu] was designing Barfi's look, he wanted a very innocent and loveable appearance. He instantly thought of [Raj] Kapoor sir in Awara and Shree 420 and his look was also believed to be a take on Chaplin's. "But since we have already seen Kapoor sir in Indian cinema, the audience would connect to him. Plus, Ranbir's familial connection with Kapoor sir made it (more)...

There was a time when no film was complete without a rain song and dance, and most patrons of memorable vintage Bollywood films will always have fond memories of the same, and one of the many important props was an umbrella. Amongst the top few songs that come to mind are, 'Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua' (Shree 420), 'Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai' (Chaalbaaz) etc. Umbrellas were also used in important action sequences and one just cannot forget the edge-of-the-seat acti...

Mumbai, June 2: Ranbir Kapoor was all of six when his legendary grandfather, Bollywood actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor passed away in 1988. On the latter's 24th death anniversary Saturday, the young actor shared vivid memories of being pampered by him with toffees.

"Raj Kapoorji passed away when I was very young. I was six years old. My favourite film of his is 'Shree 420'," Ranbir said here.

Ranbir has some 'sweet' tales to tell.

Last month while attending a Bollywood event at the London School Of Economics, Rishi Kapoor, never known to mince words, got into a heated argument with Rachel Dwyer - yes, the same Bollywood expert who has researched extensively on Hindi films and actors. Apparently, the well-informed lady argued with Rishi Kapoor over a vital question: which is Rishi Kapoor's first film? Every record of his achievements states it is Mera Naam Joker. But Rachel Dwyer with her vast storehouse of knowledge on Hindi cinema insisted it was Shree 420 where Rishi along with his brother Randhir and sister Reema made a fleeting appearance. Apparently, the question blew up into a heated argument between the actor and film historian with neither willing to concede defeat. Rishi doesn't deny that he took on Ms Dwyer. "How can she claim Shree 420 was my debut? I was just a 2-year old kid...

Peter Whitehead, via Occupy Cinema

"One of last year's best films, Ken Jacobs's Seeking the Monkey King is showing Saturday at Anthology as part of a program presented in support of Occupy Wall Street," writes J Hoberman in one of the last pieces he'll turn in at the Voice. "Covering 500 years of American history, this furious beatnik analysis makes a people's historian like Howard Zinn seem like a Chamber of Commerce booster, particularly as delivered amid [Jg] Thirlwell's industrial-strength rhapsodic noise drone, against the seething apocalypse of melting glaciers and crystallized lava that soon becomes an ongoing Rorschach test." See, too, David Phelps's essay. Seeking the Monkey King is "showing with several of Jacobs's short works (19th-century stereopticon slides treated as material for a cyclotron) and excerpts from his 3D footage of Zuccotti Park. Other films showing in the series are An Injury to One (2002), Travis Wilkerson's lucid,...

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is screening an eight-film series, "Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema," from January 6-16.

Raj Kapoor, known as the Great Showman, is regarded as the father of Indian cinema. He was one of the biggest Indian movie stars of the decade following India's independence and also a director and producer. He started his own production company, R.K. Films, in 1948. He was known for his tramp screen persona, and his films explored themes of socialism, patriotism, Indian identity in a globalizing world, and social barriers to love. His films were wildly popular in the former Soviet Union.

Kapoor had a long romantic relationship with his frequent co-star, Nargis, a renowned actress. His performance in 'Awaara' (1951), opposite Nargis, was ranked by Time magazine as one of the "Top 10 performances of all time."

The films to be shown...

The Dirty Picture is due to set screens alight on Dec 2nd, when audiences can be transported back to the 80s when item girls stole the hearts of the nation. In the Balaji production, Vidya Balan plays the role of Silk, an up and coming item girl of southern cinema and follows her rise to fame. Although current actresses like Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat have lit up screens in item songs in recent years, Ekta Kapoor looks to the 80s for her next film production where item girls were considered ahead of their time. Lets take a look at some of those item girls of indian cinema who inspired the rising 80s stars and and those who inspired the makers of The Dirty Picture.

Helen (Richardson Khan), of Anglo-Burmese origin, was both October 21st 1939 and is best remember as the Bollywood item dancer of the 60s and 70s. During...

Today marks a very special Indian Independence day. Why? Well, it is the first Independence anniversary since the Indian cricket team became world champions. However, if one thinks that is the only thing the sub-continent is famous for, then one would be very mistaken. Indian cinema is celebrated worldwide and what better way to acknowledge the day than to take a look at the patriotic songs that the filmi world has given us through the years.

Yeh Des Hai Mera – Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

Vande Mataram – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Ghar Aaya Pardesi – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Desh Rangila – Fanaa

Title track – Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Title track – Rang De Basanti

Aisa Desh Hai Mera – Veer-Zaara

Title track – Swades

Dil Diya Hai – Karma

Jahaan Paao Mein Paayal – Pardesi Babu

I Love MyIndia– Pardes

Mera Joota Hai Japani – Shree 420

Title track – Chak De India

Title track – Jis Desh...

A retrospective of the films of the legendary Raj Kapoor – the first in nearly three decades – has been organized by the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff), and to launch the event, Tiff, in collaboration with Iifa, held a tribute event in honour of the great showman last Sunday. Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema is designed to carry on the work begun by Iifa in Toronto, showcasing not only many of Raj Kapoor’s finest films (including Barsaat, Awaara, and Shree 420), but also some of the finest films to come out of Indian cinema starting in the 1950s.

Noah Cowan, artistic director at the Tiff Bell Lightbox, noted that “Tiff has a long-standing commitment to South Asian programming which we’ve demonstrated during our annual film festival, in our year-round programming, and we’re honoured to be presenting a tribute to the legacy of the legendary...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...

Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films have been a feast of cinematic excellence and are extremely popular not only in India but worldwide. Now, the organisers of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) want North Americans to understand the work of the genius. Tiff, in association with the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa), is organising a Raj Kapoor retrospective in which a total of 15 of his iconic films will be screened including Aag, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam. “We have long believed at Tiff that Raj Kapoor is one of the most under- recognised filmmakers in North America. His contributions have ...