Reigning with style and exuberance : The Kapoors
31 October 2006 | Actors | No Comments
They ruled like kings, but never forgot their humble beginnings. Bollywood's first family of Indian cinema, the Kapoors, reigned over the Indian cinema industry for more than five decades with their talent, sex appeal and onscreen charisma. Each Kapoor sibling had their own way of making a name for themselves. From the early 1940s to the mid-1990s, the Kapoors successfully made film after film. The most famous, Raj Kapoor, was known for his direction, writing and acting. Presently, the grandchildren, Kareena, Karishma and Ranbir Kapoor, are carrying on the family tradition.
It's no wonder, then, that film journalist Madhu Jain decided to write a book devoted to the Kapoors. "The Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema" (Penquin Books, $21.95) made publishing news with its recent U.S. launch at the Sundaram Tagore gallery in New York City. The book was released last year with much fanfare in India, with the Kapoors' blessings. "It took seven years to write the book and yes, it's a total labor of love," said the New Delhi-based writer. Jain interviewed many people, including several members of the Kapoor family, to find out how they dominated the Indian film industry for so long. "The Kapoors in a nutshell were amazing showmen," she said. "Everything they did, they did with style and exuberance. It was what they were know for." Jain chronologically goes through each generation, starting with the late Prithviraj Kapoor, the father of Raj, Shashi and Shammi. Prithviraj started in movies in the early 1940s and founded Prithvi Theaters. He as also the star of the Bollywood classic "Mughal E-Azam," with the legendary actor Dilip Kumar. Decades later, the eldest son Raj formed the film banner RK Studios and produced some of his own classical hits, such as "420" and "Shri 420." ….read more
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