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Popular director Rahul Rawail, known for his outstanding films like Anjaam, Yodha, and Arjun Pandit, had the opportunity to work as an assistant director with the legendary Raj Kapoor in several films. On the occasion of Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary, Rawail shared some videos with MayaPuri Group that featured his memories of working with the iconic filmmaker. Here, we present the story behind these videos and share some of Rahul Rawail's cherished memories.
Rahul Rawail Reminisces about Raj Kapoor
Rahul Rawail considers it a privilege to have worked with Raj Kapoor, one of India's greatest film producers. Speaking fondly about his time with Raj Kapoor, Rawail said, "It was an honor, and I feel blessed to have worked with Raj Kapoor, who is one of the greatest filmmakers of India. I worked with him for several years, and observing his work up close was a huge learning experience for me. It even inspired me to write a book about him."
Many books have been written about Raj Kapoor, mostly focusing on his image as a "showman." However, Rawailâs book takes a different approach. According to him, Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work is not about the showman but the "master" who excelled in his craft. "Itâs about how Raj Kapoor was a master at what he didâhis method of working on set, the way he shot scenes, his thought process, his sense of humor, and his personality. Iâve included all of this in the book," Rawail explained.
Rawailâs book also highlights how the lessons he learned from Raj Kapoor influenced his own films, including Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, and Dacoit. The book is deeply rooted in the memories Rawail has from when he first started working with Raj Kapoor in 1968. A young girl named Parnika Sharma helped him write down all the incidents and anecdotes from his time with the legendary director.
Additionally, Rawailâs book has been translated into Russian and will be launched at a film festival in Moscow this month.
Some films that don't do well leave something behind - Raj Kapoor
In one of the video clips shared by Rahul Rawail, there is an interview where Raj Kapoor is asked about his favorite film. The question also touches on the fact that some of his films were big successes, while others didnât perform as well at the box office. Raj Kapoor responded in his unique style, comparing his films to children. He explained that a mother can never choose a favorite child; all of them are equally precious. Similarly, Raj Kapoor considered all his films equally important, regardless of their success or failure.
"Yes, life is like that, and perhaps films too. Some films that donât perform well still leave something behind, while successful films receive a lot of recognition, support, and appreciation. Films that donât do well often become very close to you. One such film for me is Mera Naam Joker. Itâs a film I love dearly, even though it wasnât a big commercial success. Similarly, Jagte Raho didnât perform well either. These films may not have hit the right note with audiences, or maybe they were too ahead of their time. But these are films that either people didnât understand or were just too good for them to appreciate. As Iâve said, motherhood doesnât always correlate with good deeds," Raj Kapoor said.
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Raj Kapoor's Russian Fans
One of the most interesting anecdotes shared by Rahul Rawail involves Raj Kapoor's immense popularity in Russia. Once, while Raj Kapoor was in London, he had to fly to Moscow but discovered that he didnât have a visa. Despite this, the Russian people welcomed him with open arms. Raj Kapoor was waiting for a taxi at the Moscow airport when fans started gathering around him. As they recognized him, the fans lifted his taxi onto their shoulders to help him move forward. This heartwarming incident was shared by Rishi Kapoor during an event. Raj Kapoor's films Awaara and Shree 420 created a massive sensation among Russian audiences, earning him a huge fan following.
Raj Kapoor was also famous for often singing the iconic song "Kal Khel Mein Hum Ho Na Ho, Gardish Mein Tare Rahenge Sada" from his famous film âMera Naam Jokerâ during interviews.
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âI Am Your Father, Not Your Secretaryâ
Rishi Kapoor, in one of his interviews, talked about his relationship with his father, Raj Kapoor. He said that their relationship wasnât just that of a father and son; it was more professional, driven by Raj Kapoor's dedication to his work. Rishi Kapoor recalled that his father believed his duty was only to give him a break in the industry and then leave the rest to him. He explained, "He used to say, 'Iâve given you your break. Now, youâll have to find your own way. Youâll fall, youâll rise, and youâll learn to take care of yourself. Thatâs how youâll learn the true meaning of life.' He also told me, âI am your father, not your secretary.â"
Rishi Kapoor added, âWhen people asked me where I learned acting, I always told them that there is no better institution than Kapoor.â
Although Raj Kapoor is no longer with us, his films, his memories, and the many stories from his life continue to inspire. His work has imparted life lessons that we may never learn in school or college, but they remain valuable teachings from the greatest showman of Indian cinema.
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