Raj Kapoor, a cinematic legend whose legacy continues to inspire, is being celebrated on his 100th birth anniversary today, December 14, 2024. Born in 1924, Raj Kapoor’s influence as a filmmaker, actor, and producer remains unmatched, even four decades after his passing in 1988. To mark this milestone, the Kapoor family hosted a grand celebration, with Bollywood stars, directors, producers, and members of the film fraternity coming together to honour his remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. Special screenings of his iconic films are being held across the country in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation and NFDC.
100 Years Of Raj Kapoor: A Tribute To Kapoor Family Legacy & Its Lesser-Known Women
The celebration saw every member of the Kapoor family in attendance, along with other actors, directors, producers, and notable figures from the film industry. On this special occasion, we take a look at the Kapoor family tree and also highlight some of the lesser-known women of Raj Kapoor's family.
The First Genration
The Kapoor family, one of the most iconic and influential families in Indian cinema, has a rich legacy that spans several generations. It all began with Prithviraj Kapoor, born in Punjab in 1906, who became the first member of the family to step into the entertainment industry. At the young age of 17, Prithviraj married Ramsarni Mehra, who was only 14 at the time. Together, they had three sons- Raj Kapoor, Shamsher (Shammi) Raj, and Balbir (Sashi) Raj—who would go on to make their own marks in Bollywood.
The Second Generation
The second generation of the Kapoor family saw the rise of some of the most renowned names in the Indian film industry. Raj Kapoor, often referred to as the “greatest showman of Indian cinema,” married Krishna Malhotra in 1930 and continued the Kapoor legacy through his work in films. Meanwhile, his brothers, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, made their own significant contributions to the industry.
The Third Generation
The third generation of Kapoors further expanded the family’s influence in Bollywood. Raj Kapoor’s sons- Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, and Rajiv Kapoor—all pursued successful acting careers, while their sisters, Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain, chose to stay away from the limelight.
Shammi Kapoor’s children, Aditya Raj Kapoor and Kanchan, followed their father’s path in the entertainment world, while Shashi Kapoor’s children, Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor, also carried forward the family’s legacy.
The Fourth Generation
The Kapoor family continued to flourish with the fourth generation, which includes some of Bollywood’s brightest stars. Randhir Kapoor married actress Babita in 1971, and their daughters, Karisma and Kareena Kapoor, both made their mark in the film industry. Karisma, who was previously married to Sanjay Kapoor, is now divorced, while Kareena married actor Saif Ali Khan.
Rishi Kapoor married actor Neetu Singh in 1980, their son, Ranbir Kapoor, is another leading actor in Bollywood, married to actor Alia Bhatt, while their daughter, Riddhima Kapoor, is married to jewelry designer Bharat Sahni.
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Rajiv Kapoor married Aarti Sabharwal in 2001, but the couple separated in 2003 and did not have any kids.
Ritu Nanda, who was married to businessman Rajan Nanda, has two children, a son, Nikhil Nanda, who is married to Shweta Bachchan and a daughter Nitasha Nanda.
Rima Jain, married to Manoj Jain, has two sons, Armaan Jain and Aadar Jain, both of whom are aspiring actors. Armaan Jain married to Anissa Malhotra in 2020. Aadar Jain is engaged to Alekha Advani.
Fifth Generation
Karisma Kapoor has two children, Samaira and Kiaan, while Kareena Kapoor has two sons, Taimur and Jeh Ali Khan. Ranbir Kapoor has a daughter, Raha, and Riddhima Kapoor also has a daughter, Samara.
Nikhil Nanda has two children, Navya Naveli Nanda and Agastya Nanda, who made his acting debut last year.
Meet The Lesser Known Women Of Raj Kapoor’s Family
While many women from Raj Kapoor's family made their mark in the entertainment industry like Babita, Neetu Singh, Karisma, Kareena, Alia, and Riddhima, a few chose to stay outside the limelight, carving their own paths in different fields. One such example is Ritu Nanda. Ritu, an entrepreneur, passed away in 2020 at the age of 71. She remained away from the public eye for most of her life and was married to Rajan Nanda, the son of H.P. Nanda, the Chairman and Managing Director of Escorts India. They tied the knot in Bombay on February 1, 1969.
Ritu’s sister, Rima Jain, also led a life away from the glitz and glamour of Bollywood. She married businessman Mohan Jain, and there have been mentions that Rima was once engaged to actor Kumar Gaurav, though the engagement was later called off.
Another woman in the family who remained away from the public eye is Nitasha Nanda, Ritu’s daughter. While Nitasha, also known as Tashu, shares the Kapoor legacy, she prefers to live outside the spotlight. A successful businesswoman, she holds shares in RNIS, her mother’s company, and has worked with several corporate giants like ANZ Grindlays Bank, Price Waterhouse, Hewlett Packard, and Escorts Finance. Eventually, she joined her mother to establish Rimari Corporate Art Service, continuing the family's legacy in a different realm.
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