“Ram Teri Ganga Maili,” fame lead actor and legendary actor Raj Kapoor’s youngest son Rajiv Kapoor dies of cardiac arrest

Fifty eight year old Bollywood actor and the youngest son of doyen of Indian Film Industry Rajiv Kapoor is no more. He died today after suffering from severe heart attack. The “Ram Teri Ganga Maili” super duper hit Raj Kapoor’s film hero Rajiv Kapoor developed acute pain in his chest with severe breathing complications and was rushed to a private hospital in Mumbai by his elder son Randhir Kapoor but could not be saved as he succumbed to the cardiac arrest sending shock waves in entire Bollywood. Kindly recall that his elder brother, renowned actor Rishi Kapoor died on 30 th April 2020 after suffering from cancer. There had been two deaths within in year in Kapoor family.

The youngest son of prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke recipient Raj Kapoor, great grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor and brother of Randhir and Rishi Kapoor n nephew of Shammi and Shashi Kapoor, all renowned Bollywood actors, Rajiv Kapoor had a complicated family life being always unlucky in Bollywood having done few films but never successful as other stars of Bollywood had been, especially despite being the great grandson n son of doyens of Mumbai Film industry Prithviraj Kapoor n Raj Kapoor, who’d made fortunes of several superstars of Bollywood. Married in 2001 to an architect wife, Rajiv divorced her in 2003 n led a life of a lonely man with no children.

Having made debut in Ek Jaan Hain Hum in 1983, handsome Rajiv Kapoor played the leading role in his father’s last directorial venture Ram Teri Ganga Maili in 1985. He acted in several other films with the most notable being Aasmaan  in 1984 , Lover Boy  in 1985, Zabardast  in 1985 and Hum To Chale Pardes in 1988. Rajiv made his last film appearance in Zimmedaaar in 1990 after which he turned to producing and directing.

According Wikipedia he also acted in the film Aag Ka Dariya with legendary actors like Dilip Kumar and Rekha, but the film has not seen the day light. Rajiv Kapoor produced Henna in 1991, directed by his brother Randhir Kapoor, and in 1996 he made his directorial debut with the commercially unsuccessful Prem Granth, which starred his brother Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. In 1999 he produced Aa Ab Laut Chalen which was directed by his brother Rishi Kapoor and starring Rajesh Khanna, Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai. Since then he has not been active in film producing or directing. In 2001, he married architect Aarti Sabharwal, working paralegal at a Law firm in Vaughan. He also made TV serial but could not succeed. Leading a lonely life Rajiv left behind property worth Rs. Thirty two crores.

Extending his deepest condolences eminent actor Raja Murad said that he had a four decade old relationship with him. He then was an assistant with Rahul Rabaul in Gunahgaar n Prem Rog. He used to clean the floor, operate trolley and eat meals with workers not giving an inkling of attitude that he is the son of Raj Kapoor. Usually his elder brother Rishi Kapoor used to scold him in front of workers in the studio but he always obeyed him, never opposed or argued with his brother. Such a gentleman was Chimpu he adeed. His untimely death has hurt him the most as Rajiv n he were close to each other. Praising him Raja Murad said that apart from an actor he was an affable man who worked as a worker with his father during film shoots and eat meals with co workers as a commoner despite his being the son of legendary Raj Kapoor Sahab. He was unlucky and could not succeed to an extent he should have, being the son of a legendary actor like Raj Kapoor. Even ordinary actors rose to heights but not Rajiv. I would say that luck was never in his side. His death is a great personal loss for him said Raza Murad.

Pictures courtsey filmi beat