Raj Kapoor one of India's greatest showman in the silver screen is remembered once again on 2nd June on his 18th death Anniversary.
Kapoor entered the film industry as a clapper boy and went on to become one of the shining icons of the Indian silver screen.
Here's a look at the journey of one of the greatest showman of Indian Cinema.
Known as Showman of Hindi Cinema, Raj Kapoor was born on 14 December 1924, in Peshawar, now in Pakistan.
He started his acting career at the age of 11 with the film Inquilab.
He made it to the big league with his lead role in Neel Kamal in 1947.
At the age of 24 in 1948, Raj Kapoor established his own studio, RK Films, with his first directorial venture, "Aag".
Raj Kapoor directed several films and acted in most of them.
He became immensely popular in Russia after "Awaara" and "Shri 420" as the movies achieved unprecedented success in that country.
With "Awaara", Raj Kapoor created for himself the image of a Chaplinisque tramp, an allegory for the innocent post Independent Indian.
This caricature was used once again in "Shri 420".
The Chaplinisque image was used again in his magnum opus "Mera Naam Joker" in 1970, which was about a clown, who laughs at the outside world and cries within.
This most ambitious project of his flopped at the box office.
After "Mera Naam Joker", Raj Kapoor's films took a turn toward sensuality, and he bounced back with "Bobby" in 1973.
Raj Kapoor depicted the story of common man in his films and they appealed to every section of the society.
While his "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" examined physical beauty versus Inner Beauty, "Prem Rog" was based on widow re-marriage.
Music was the soul of Raj Kapoor's films, and they became popular not only in India, but abroad too.
He won many awards during his career in Hindi movies.
In 1985, his "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" won him the best movie and best director awards.
He was nominated for the 1953 Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for "Awaara".
In 1971, he got the Padma Bhushan, and in 1987, he won the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his invaluable lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
Raj Kapoor died on 2nd June, 1988 due to Kidney failure.
At the time of his death, Kapoor was making "Heena".
The script was ready but he was not there to direct it.
His son Randhir Kapoor took over the task, and the film, was a major commercial success. - DDNews India
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