Happy Birthday Raj Kapoor: Lesser known facts about Bollywood Showman

Bollywood is a very small word to say, but many stars and directors have played an important role in making it big and popular. Raj Kapoor has been one of them. Yes, an artist who changed the whole body of the film world. The actor was born on 14 December 1924, that is today. He proved it to be absolutely true that hard work pays off. Let us tell you about the actor's birthday, here about some special things related to him.

1. The showman born in Kapoor Mansion in Peshawar was named Ranbir Raj Kapoor. He was the eldest of 6 children born to Prithviraj and Ramsarani Kapoor - 2 of whom died in childhood.

2. Raj Kapoor enrolled in various schools in cities like Dehradun, Calcutta (St. Xavier Collegiate School) and Mumbai. He first appeared on screen in the film “Inquilab” in 1945, when he was just 10 years old.

3. After acting in many movies for the next 12 years, Raj's big break in the industry was found as a lead actor in Madhubala's opposite “Neel Kamal “(1947). In 1948, at the young age of 24, he opened his studio RK Films to become the youngest director of his time.

4. His directorial debut was with the film “Aag” and his first major success as an actor was “Andaz” (1949). The same year, Rains was his first success as a producer, director and star.

5. He was a member of the jury twice at the International Film Festival in Moscow. Same, “Mera Naam Joker” took 6 years to complete the film which he directed, produced and acted in it.

6. A Russian song also mentions him among the 3 most famous symbols of Indian culture along with Lord Shiva and Yoga. His last acting was seen in a cameo in the 1984 British-for-TV film Kim.

7. Raj Kapoor fainted due to asthma when he was to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and was later taken to AIIMS for treatment.

8. He was ready to direct “Mehendi” before his death on 2 June 1988. Which was later directed and released by his son Randhir. Along with this, a postage stamp was issued by India Post on 14 December 2001 in his honor.

9. His films “Awara” and “Boot Polish” were nominated at the Cannes Film Festival for the Palme d'Or. In 2001 he was awarded the "Best Director of the Millennium" by the Stardust Awards. Also named "Showman of the Millennium" by the Star Screen Awards in 2002.

10. The wedding procession at the stunning wedding of actor Dilip Kumar was welcomed by the late Dev Anand,  late Raj Kapoor, and the late Prithviraj Kapoor.