RIP Rajiv Kapoor: From Being In Spotlight With ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ To Helming An Experimental ‘Prem Granth,’

The unfortunate news of Rajiv Kapoor’s demise came out as a shocker for B-town and his beloved fans. Celebrated filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor’s youngest son, Rajiv Kapoor was 58 and died following a heart attack. Seemingly, the only star in the Kapoor family who stayed away from the spotlight and his struggling case as an artist will always remain relevant for ages.

The showbiz world which is bound to provide the audience with escapism comes at an emotional cost for its artists. Similarly, late actor Rajiv Kapoor had to live up to the expectations and the legacy of the Kapoor khaandan. Rajiv struggled quite hard in the industry and entertained his fans with some interesting movies under his name, be it as an actor or a director.

Watch the superstar Manoj Kumar‘s movie Pehchaan on ZEE5 in HD.

And there’s no better way than to remember the late star through some of his best performances as an actor and his enticing views on cinema as a filmmaker. So here’s remembering Rajiv Kapoor’s understated cinematic journey. 

Take a look:

The Milestone ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’

The last directorial venture of  Raj Kapoor, the 1985 film Ram Teri Ganga Maili turned out to be a milestone for Hindi Cinema. The film was appreciated for its bold and interesting storyline and hence turned out to be the biggest box office hit of the year. Rajiv played the role of Narendra Sahay and grabbed everyone’s attention with his great performance alongside Mandakini.

Though Rajiv had acted in four films before Ram Teri Ganga Maili, this film turned out to be a milestone for his career and within no time he was a well-known star of the industry.

A Comeback With ‘Zalzala’

After impressing everyone in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Rajiv went on to act in many films which remained underrated at the box office. However, the actor starred alongside superstars Dharmendra and Shatrughan Sinha in the 1988 film Zalzala which turned out to be a big break for Rajiv. His character of Bholey was well received by the masses in this action-adventure drama.

Director’s Cap In Prem Granth

After his fall as an actor, Rajiv Kapoor turned towards the direction with the 1996 film Prem Granth which featured Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. Though the film turned out to be a flop at the box office, many movie buffs consider it as a cult film that explored the social stigma surrounding rape. Prem Granth is definitely an underrated gem you should not miss out on watching.

Backing Aa Ab Laut Chalen

Later in 1999, Rajiv turned a producer for the film Aa Ab Laut Chalen which was helmed by his brother Rishi Kapoor. The film featured Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles and the story shed a light on modern-age problems, especially the differences between the two generations. While the movie received a lukewarm response at the box office, it was a family entertainer nonetheless.

Rajiv’s last appearance on the big screens will be in Ashutosh Gowariker’s upcoming film, Toolsidaas Junior. The late veteran star remains to be the understated Kapoor of Hindi Cinema and a perfect tribute to this artist can be to carry forward his legacy through his contribution to Indian Cinema.

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