Raj Kapoor: The Legacy of a Four-Generation Kapoor Family

Raj Kapoor, born Shrishti Nath Kapoor on December 14, 1924, in Peshawar, British India, belonged to one of the prominent acting and filmmaking families of Hindi cinema. The Kapoor family has remained associated with Indian theatre and cinema across several generations.

Roots and Ancestry

Raj Kapoor was part of a family with a long history of public service and performing arts. His ancestors included Dewan Murli Mal Kapoor, followed by Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor, who served as a Tehsildar in Samundri. His grandfather, Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, served as an Imperial Police officer in Peshawar and later appeared in Raj Kapoor's 1951 film Awaara.

Raj Kapoor was the son of Prithviraj Kapoor, a prominent figure in Indian theatre and cinema, and Ramsarni Devi Kapoor.

Siblings

Raj Kapoor was the eldest among six children. His siblings included actors Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, along with his sister Urmila Sial. His younger brothers Devinder and Ravinder died during childhood.

Marriage and Children

Raj Kapoor married Krishna Kapoor, née Malhotra, in 1946. She was the sister of actors Prem Nath, Rajendra Nath and Narendra Nath.

The couple had five children: three sons—Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor—and two daughters, Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain.

Through his family and subsequent generations, Raj Kapoor remained an important part of the Kapoor family's long association with Hindi cinema.