Prithviraj Kapoor

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Prithviraj Kapoor was born on November 3, 1906, at Samundri near the town of Lyallpur (now known as Faisalabad in Pakistan). His father Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, was a sub-inspector of police. Hence the atmosphere in the house was strict and Prithviraj Kapoor was forced to study when he was interested in theater and drama. At the tender age of 8 years, Prithviraj played Laxman in a play in Ramayana and also played Harishchandra in another play during school days. At Edwardes College, he got the opportunity to show his talent in acting and direction. His passion for drama was noticed by his college Professor Jai Dayal, in charge of Literature and Drama, who shaped Prithiviraj into a superlative actor. He was the Secretary of College Amateur Dramatics Club. Finally, after graduation, when his father insisted him to complete Law he did a year course and in frustration run away to Mumbai by borrowing some money from his aunt!  He was just 22 years old.

Prithviraj Kapoor got married to Ramsarni Mehra in 1921 when he was just 17 years old. It was an arranged marriage and performed as per Hindu tradition. He had 6 children. Three sons - all famous actors - Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and Shashi Kapoor. His daughters were Ravinder, Devinder and Urmila Sial.

1920

Prithviraj Kapoor faced humiliation in Mumbai

Being a theatre artist and having work experience in acting at Grant Anderson Theatre Company Prithviraj Kapoor was confident of making it big in Mumbai. But he had to face many rejections. Being tall and muscular he was not a ‘hero' material. Hence a famous film magazine of the 30's ‘Film India' ridiculed Prithviraj Kapoor. Angered at the Baburao Patel, Editor and Publisher of ‘Film India', who made fun of Prithviraj Kapoor calling him there is no place for a ‘brawny Pathan' in Bollywood,  Prithviraj Kapoor entered his office and retorted "Baburao, do not provoke this Pathan. If there is no place for me in the Indian films I shall swim across the seven seas to Hollywood and make it there as an actor!!"

Prithviraj Kapoor started his career in Bollywood as an Extra!

In 1928, Prithviraj landed in Bombay (now Mumbai) and was able to meet Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Films Company. He started his filmy career as Extra with the silent film ‘Challenge' which was produced by Imperial Film Co. in 1929. He acted in a few more films like Do Dhari Talwar etc. In the film Cinema Girl, in 1929, he got a lead role. It was at Imperial Films Company that Prithviraj Kapoor did his first Talkie film Alam Ara (1931). He played a supporting role in the film but his good voice and handsome looks were noticed and he got many offers.

1930

Prithviraj Kapoor joined the famous New Theatres Studios

After gaining popularity Prithviraj Kapoor was selected by the famous New Theatres Studios which produced many hit films with Prithviraj Kapoor as the lead actor. The hit films are Raj Rani Meera (1933), Inquilaab (1934),  Vidyapati (1937) Manzil, 1938 and Dushman, 1939 in which he worked opposite legendary K L Saigal. The film Vidyapati was a huge success and won wide acclaim to Prithviraj Kapoor as a competent actor.

1940

Prithviraj Kapoor became a Star after Sikandar

In 1941 Prithviraj Kapoor gave his career's most stunning and powerful performance as Sikandar- The Greek legend also known as - Alexander the Great. Historians praise Prithviraj Kapoor for his dedication and love for acting. They write Prithviraj Kapoor took each of his roles like worship and involved his soul, body, and heart in totality to get him into the skin of the character. For Sikander, says the historian, he toned his body exactly matching the ‘Macho' figure of Alexander by doing strenuous body exercise for many months until he was satisfied with his bodily shape. Besides Prithviraj's charm, grace and screen presence he also delivered a stellar performance opposite the great actor Sohrab Modi, who played Indian King Porous in the film.

Till date, Prithviraj Kapoor's epic Sikandar remains a milestone in Hindi cinema. After the success of Sikandar, Prithviraj Kapoor became a 'Star' in Bollywood.

1950

How Prithviraj Kapoor won the heart of Film Wizard V Shantaram

V Shantaram was known for making social films. In Dahej he exposed the evil ritual of dowry. Prithviraj Kapoor aspired to work with V Shantaram as he was country's top-notch filmmaker. Hence to win V Shantaram's confidence Prithviraj Kapoor invited him to watch his play Shakuntala in which Prithviraj played Dushyant. V Shantaram came to watch his show and was left spellbound by Prithviraj's marvelous performance. He immediately signed him for his film Dhaej!! The film was a huge hit and Prithviraj Kapoor won huge praise for his powerhouse performance.  The film is regarded as one of Prithviraj Kapoor's career-best’

Prithviraj Kapoor and his son Raj Kapoor clashed on the screen in Awara!

The '50s saw the rare combination of ‘Real' life father-son clashing on the ‘Reel' in the film Awara. In this film, Prithviraj Kapoor played a high society lawyer and Raj Kapoor, his wayward son who separates from him in childhood and turns criminal. The dramatic confrontation between father and son made interesting viewing. The film was written by veteran writer K.A. Abbas. Besides an absorbing story, hard-hitting dialogue and towering performance by Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor the film became a hit for its exceptional music. The title song Awara Hoon……became a national craze. The film became such a huge hit around the world that it was dubbed in Turkish, Persian and Arabic. The film was also a major hit in Russia where it was dubbed as Bradyaga (Vagabond).

1960

Prithviraj Kapoor got immortalized as Emperor Akbar in Mughal-e-Azam

In K. Asif's magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam Prithviraj Kapoor played the character of Emperor Akbar with such perfection that viewer for once felt the great monarch had come to life on the silver screen!!!

To live his character so effectively, Prithviraj Kapoor had to pay a heavy price. It's reported when K. Asif approached him in the mid-'50s, Prithviraj Kapoor was a salable star with a muscular built but Akbar's character demanded a ‘gigantic and bulky figure'. Hence Prithviraj Kapoor was in tight-corners, for putting weight meant committing suicide to his blooming career. But Prithviraj Kapoor was so bowled over by the character of Akbar that he decided to sacrifice his hero image as his conscience mattered more than the shine of money. Thus to get into the shape of the mighty emperor he began consuming rich and fatty foods and within months was ready to take on the attire of Mughal emperor. And what's more to bring authenticity into his each scene Prithviraj Kapoor use to arrive on sets hours before the shooting. And closing his eyes meditate chanting " om….om….om…" until he got himself absorbed in the character!  Truly, an eye-opener for the present generation of actors who hop from one studio to another in pursuit of --- NO not perfection ---  but MONEY!!!!

In Sikandar-e-Azam Prithviraj Kapoor played King Porus

After excelling as Sikandar- The Greek legend - Alexander the Great in Sohrab Modi's Sikandar (1941), Prithviraj Kapoor played the role of King Porus in Sikandar-e-Azam (1965). In this film, the role of Sikandar was played by Dara Singh. The film was a hit and had the famous song Jahan Dal Dal Pr Sone Ki Chidiyan Karti hai basera……..

Some other remarkable films that Prithviraj Kapoor did in the '60s were Gazal (1964), Zindagi (1964), Janwar (1965), Aasman Mahal (1965), Daku Mangal Singh (1966), Teen Bahuraniyan (1968) etc.

In '70s the Kapoor clan three-generation came together on screen

After Awara, R.K. Films played another gimmick by bringing the Kapoor clan's three-generation together In Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971). The film had Prithviraj Kapoor, his son Raj Kapoor and his grandson Randhir Kapoor. The film dwelt with the subject of the generation gap. It depicted a dramatic confrontation between grandfather and grandson while the son caught in between both. The film had good music and the theme was also good but the film failed to succeed at box-office.

With Prithvi Theatres Prithviraj Kapoor made theatre immortal

His passion for acting was so intense that he could never shake off his attraction from Theatre, even when winning much success with his films. He formed Prithvi Theatres in 1942 at Juhu in Mumbai. It was a time when the Hindi Theatre world was in the doldrums. But Prithviraj Kapoor gave theater a new lease of life. He toured all over the country with his plays Shakuntala, Deewar, Ghaddar, Paisa, Aahuthi, Kalaakar, Kisaan and Pathan. The list is long. After Prithviraj Kapoor, Prithvi Theatres was taken over by Shashi Kapoor and now is under the supervision of Sanjana Kapoor (daughter of Shashi Kapoor). The legacy of Prithvi Theatres is alive even today.

Prithviraj Kapoor was the first nominated film member of Rajya Sabha

Prithviraj Kapoor was the first nominated film member of Rajya Sabha for eight years. He was a Fellow of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Prithviraj Kapoor and his awards

Prithviraj was awarded Padma Bhushan by the President in 1969. Prithviraj Kapoor was the third recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1972. This was the first occasion that this prestigious award was given posthumously, and was received by his eldest son, Raj Kapoor.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi mourned Prithviraj Kapoor's death

On May 29,1972, Prithviraj Kapoor died. On his death, the former Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi, who was also the Union Minister of Information and broadcasting, had sent the following message "Prithviraj was an artist with a social conscience" on learning of his death.