Secrets of Famous Kapoor Clan of Bollywood

Late Krishna Raj, wife of Raj Kapoor was sister of noted actor Premnath. His other sister is married to Prem Chopra.

Alam Ara

Starting off as an extra, the Kapoor patriarch appeared in a supporting role in the first Indian talkie Alam Ara (1931). His first lead role was in Sohrab Modi's Sikander in 1944.

Raj kapoor started his career as a clapper-boy.

Raj's real name was Ranbir, shared by his grandson. Raj was the middle name of all the Kapoor brothers. Shammi's real name was Shamsher Raj and Shashi was really Balbir Raj.

Kapoor Clan

Raj Kapoor first wanted to become a music director before making it big as an actor. He became the youngest film director at 24.

He set up R K Films in 1948. The first film from the banner was Aag, directed by Raj Kapoor, the first movie starring himself and Nargis.

Barsaat was the first success of the banner, and a scene featuring Nargis, Raj and a violin became the RK Films's logo.

The success of Barsaat allowed Raj Kapoor to buy R K Studio in Chembur. The first scene shot in the studio was the dream sequence from Awaara.

The scene where Rishi meets Dimple in her house in Bobby was inspired by the real life meeting between Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

Shammi Kapoor, Prithviraj's second son, wanted to be an aeronautical engineer before he joined the theater and then films.

The song Tum ne mujhe dekha from Teesri Manzil was shot soon after the death of Shammi Kapooor's wife Geeta Bali. Director Nasir Hussain kept the set ready for three months so that Shammi could shoot whenever he was ready.

Shashi Kapoor, started out as a child actor in his father's famous travelling theater. He made his film debut as a child star in brother Raj's hits like Aag and Aawaara.

Shashi Kapoor and Utpal Dutt acted in theater together as part of Shakespearean, the theater group run by Shashi's future father-in-law Geoffrey Kendal.

In the mid 70s, Shashi Kapoor signed almost every film that came his way, in order to raise money for Prithvi theater shows. He had so many films at one point of time that he was constantly shuttle between film sets for shoots, and was nicknamed Taxi by elder brother Raj.

Rishi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor's second son, made his debut as a toddler in the hit song Pyaar hua ikraar hua from Shree 420. Brother Randhir and sister Ritu also appear in the song.

20 new actresses, from Dimple Kapadia to Divya Bharti, made their debuts opposite Rishi Kapoor

Karisma was to be launched opposite Bobby Deol in Barsaat but a delay in production led to her being cast Prem Qaidi.

Karisma almost didn't get the Raja Hindustani. It was meant to be Aishwarya Rai's debut, and Karisma only got the role after Aishwarya dropped out for her Miss World commitments.

Ranbir Kapoor chose to study at the Lee Strasberg Institute because it was the alma mater of his favourite actor Al Pacino.

Ranbir, who shares his grandfather's real name, has a montage of Raj Kapoor's photos in his room.