The first Kapoor Mr Prithviraj Kapoor came to Bombay (now Mumbai) in `1928 looking for work as an actor. He established himself as a versatile actor very quickly and soon started his own theatre company called "Prithvi Theatres".
My Prithviraj Kapoor had three sons - Ranbir Raj (Raj), Shamsher Raj (Shammi) and Balbir Raj (Shashi).
Mr Ranbir Raj popularly knows as Raj Kapoor was one of the first showmen of India. He was an actor, producer and director. He founded RKFilms. Many of his films have had enormous success and have been critically acclaimed. He married Mrs Krishna Kapoor who was chosen for him by his parents. Krishna's brothers Premnath and Rajendranath were also actors and worked in RKfilms. Her sister married popular villain - Prem Chopra
Shamsher Raj was popularly known as Shammi Kapoor. Shammi was an extraordinary actor. He was one of the first dancing stars of India. He was called the Elvis Presley of India. He married Gita Bali who was one of the stars of her era.
Balbir Raj was popularly known as Shashi Kapoor. Shashi met and married Jennifer Kendal even before his film career took off properly. He was part of a travelling troupe of actors called Shakespearewallahs founded by Jennifer's father. He has worked in many films and had many successes. He started as a child artiste and his career has spanned 59 years. Shashi also restarted Prithvi theatres and has been making plays since. He has three kids - Karan, Kunal and Sanjana. Karan was a popular model for sometime before moving to london to work as a photographer. Kunal works as a creative director in advertising and Sanjana worked in a couple of movies before deciding to take care of Prithvi theaters for her father Shashi.
Raj Kapoor had five kids - Randhir, Ritu, Rishi, Rima, and Rajeev.
Randhir also known as Daboo started acting in films as a young man and had moderate success but later decided to become a producer. Randhir Kapoor married Babita who was also an actor and has two girls - Karishma and Kareena who are both actors. Karishma had moderate success in films before she married and left the industry. Kareena is still active in the industry and is married to Saif Ali Khan also an actor and a Nawab of the princely state of Pataudi. His mother is Sharmila Tagore.
Rishi also known as Chintu was one of the successes of this generation of the Kapoors. He has worked in 147 films and counting. Rishi is married to Neetu Singh one of the most popular actresses of her generation before she quit to marry Rishi. She was married at the age of 22. She had already worked in the movie for 17 years by then. Rishi and Neetu made 12 films together before marriage.
They have two kids - Ranbir and Riddhima. Ranbir is lauded as one of the best talents of his generations. He has tasted moderate success so far but is touted as a great actor and the hope of the future. He has dated two of bollywood's most famous actresses - Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif.
There are various other connections which I will explain in future posts but a brief summary here:
Surinder Kapoor was Geeta Bali's secretary and a distand cousin of the Kapoors. He had four kids - Boney, Anil, Urmila and Sanjay. Boney Kapoor became a very successful producer. Anil Kapoor is one of the most successful actors in BW. Sanjay Kapoor tried his hand at acting before giving up and producing films.
Amitabh Bachchan's daughter Shweta married Ritu's (Raj kapoor's daughter) son Nikhil therby connecting the Bachchan and Kapoor families.
Kareena Kapoor married Saif Ali Khan, son of Sharmila Tagore and the Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan.
- References from various books and articles written about the Kapoor family.
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