Rahul Rawail - Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work

RAJ

KAPOOR

RAJ

KAPOOR

THE MASTER AT WORK

RAHUL RAWAIL

as told to PRANIKA SHARMA

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First published in India 2021

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Copyright Rahul Rawail, 2021

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This book is dedicated to Chintu, my truest friend, my rock, my brother. You not just pushed me into putting together this book but also showered me with abuses whenever I would get lazy about the writing. Chintu, you were truly my champion since our childhoodfrom the classroom to movie sets to the culmination of this book. My regret is that you could not read it but I know that wherever you are, you are cheering me on. I miss you immensely and look forward to seeing you on the other side!

Bobby: Episode 1

Bobby: Episode

Bobby: Episode 3

Bobby: Episode 4

Bobby: Episode 5

Bobby: The Finale

I consider myself very fortunate to be writing the forward to this book that talks about my father, Raj Kapoor, and the relationship he shared with his films. Its something that has never been documented before, and if there is someone who could share my fathers facets as a filmmaker, it is Rahul Rawail, his erstwhile assistant director.

You see, making films is not a science, it is intuitive; it is a creative art that comes from within. Sure, there is some science involved, but unless it comes from the heart, it does not make a good film. Mechanically, anyone can write a film, but there are very few people who have the right passion and zeal to bring these stories to life. This was the first lesson my father taught me.

I still remember the day he narrated the story of Prem Rog. He had told me that this would be a poignant love story but the story which he narrated was of a young widow and the relationship between her and the patriarch of her marital family, the elder brother of her father-in-law. This story did not have a role for the hero, so where was the love story? I asked. He laughed and said, How can there be a love story without a hero? Who toh aajayega, film toh banne do. As it happened, the hero did arrive and the film turned out to be a memorable love story. Thats how he made his films. Everything was plotted out in his mind and this was his way of working.

Raj Kapoor had his own brand of filmmaking. His thoughts about the film he was making were translated by him into celluloid. He worked on any film with complete conviction and the credit for a hit film or a flop film was his completely, and he took all feedback very gracefully and never had regrets if his film flopped. I accept responsibility for a films success or failure. A film fails because of errors of the director.

His ideas were always ahead of his time and his films reflected that. Mera Naam Joker was one such exampleit was a major flop when it released but, with time and people understanding what the film was about, it is now recognized as one of Raj Kapoors most appreciated films and a major profit point in my organization.

My misfortune was that I only got to observe Raj Kapoor, the director, but never work with him. Rahul, on the other hand, was not only fortunate to have worked with him but also become his favourite assistant. He took his work very seriously and followed Raj Kapoor to a tee. He had imbibed a lot of my fathers way of working in him and translated those in his own ways in his films. I am so glad that this book bares open the creativity, eccentricities, obsessions and techniques of Raj Kapoor, and will lead people to know that my father was a man who lived for cinema and worked relentlessly to bring his visions to life.

Randhir Kapoor

Mumbai, October 2021

At the outset I pay homage to:

the matriarch of the Raj Kapoor family, Krishna Aunty; his daughter, Ritu Kapoor Nanda; and his youngest son, Rajeev (Chimpoo) Kapoor.

To the three of them along with my late friend, Chintu, to whom this book has been dedicated, and Randhir Kapoor (Daboo Sahab), Rima Kapoor Jain; were the pillars of strength who made me take this step to honour my Guru, Shri Raj Kapoor.

When the thought of writing this book was planted in my mind, I first spoke to the Kapoor family to inform them about the narrative style I would adopt. They were all really excited about the same and Krishna Aunty told me, You must write this book! You are the only living person who has worked with my husband and observed his work from such close quarters. You are aware of the aspects that contributed to his being an extraordinary filmmaker. If you dont write this book, then an entire lesson in creativity will be lost.

Thus started my efforts into jogging my memory to recollect all that I could about the extraordinary genius, Raj Kapoor. I did not want this book to appeal only to people associated with cinema, but a narrative that would appeal to one and all those who have watched his films and those who have not as well.

As I progressed, I remembered more and more of my time spent on the sets of his films. My wife, Rita, was extremely patient in the time spent over Zoom calls with Pranika, who has not only written my narration but has huge contribution in the style of writing.

Shantanu Roy Chaudhary, a well-respected editor in the publishing world, egged me on and gave me the strength when I was losing hope. Thank you, Shantanu. I hope I have lived up to your expectations.

My friend, Rahul Mitra, never wavered in his faith in the book, so much so that he went the extra mile to ensure the book reaches readers in all four corners of the world. Thank you for that, Rahul.

To the readers, which I hope are plenty: this is not just a book about a showman but my tribute to a filmmaker, the one man who taught me everything I have learnt. It hopes to put you in the front row seat to understand the mind of the greatest filmmaker India has ever known. This book encapsulates his eccentricities, his obsessions and his techniques of filmmaking in vivid detail, and I hope that it helps you see the filmmaker in a light that he has never been seen in before.