Will Randhir strike back?

Randhir today remains the most ignored member of the Kapoor khandaan, writes Manjulaa Negi.

Whether he admits it or not, it is Randhir Kapoor’s misfortune that he was born (on February 15, 1947) of an illustrious, enormously successful father Raj Kapoor, and then happened to father the two most saleable actresses of our times, Karisma and Kareena.

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For despite a filmography (of 45 films and counting) that boasts of box-office successes like Jawani Diwani, Dharam Karam, Kal Aaj Aur Kal and Rampur Ka Laxman, Randhir today remains the most ignored member of the Kapoor Khandaan (second only to his younger brother Rajiv Kapoor), only making news when one of his daughters does.

None since his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor and subsequently, Raj Kapoor - not to miss his successful brothers Shashi and Shammi and second son Rishi – has there been another actor (among the males in this family) who has been seen as the comic buffoon in spite of a serious intent behind the act. Randhir’s short-lived stint in Hindi cinema has remained unacknowledged and most certainly unrewarded.

Not that he seems to mind it, but he does acknowledge in sundry interviews that it was his father’s success that led to his being lazy. In an interview given to a film magazine prior to his last released film, Armaan (by Honey Irani) Randhir acknowledged that “growing up with Raj Kapoor made me laidback. We lacked nothing. It wasn’t as if making movies would help keep my kitchen fires burning. There wasn't any compulsion and I didn’t feel the need to make anything. Looks like we Kapoor brothers have achieved nirvana. We don’t aspire for anything in life. We’re like Aamir Khan. He doesn’t know what to act in and we don't know what to make!”

It is this candidness that has kept the 58-year-old actor cum father cum scion of the Kapoor family complete as a human being. Nothing has been allowed to get in the way of living life kingsize. He has the classic Kapoor sense of humour but guards his privacy jealously. He may not acknowledge that Kapoor wives and daughters-in-law aren’t allowed to step out of homes to continue with their careers but there can be no denying that his own daughter Karisma has gone and done the same thing. She has quit working post-marriage. Today, Randhir looks after the business empire that his father had built, but there was a time when Randhir had the world at his feet and couldn’t make the most of it.

He did, however, began his career ambitiously at the age of 24 with Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971). Not only did he bring together three generations of Kapoors in this family drama, Randhir apart from acting in the film was also producer and director for the film. However, save for the songs, the film failed to work magic at the box-office. It was only a moderate success and it had Babita Kapoor as the heroine. This was also the film where Randhir had wanted to take as music director his childhood friend Rahul Dev Burman but his father put his put foot down choosing instead the tried and tested Raj loyalists Shanker-Jaikishen.

However, for almost every subsequent film that Randhir was associated with, he ensured that none other Pancham (as R D was known as among friends) gave the music - and very successfully too. Those were the days when anything that R D touched turned to gold. Beginning with Rampur Ka Laxman (1972), the duo went on to work together in successful films like Jawani Diwani (1973), Dil Diwana (1974), Dharam Karam (1975), Bhanwar (1976), Kasme Vaade (1978) and Harjaee (1981).

However, his not so brilliant career as actor and director was cut short when he began doing forgettable films. His track record includes unknown numbers like Sawaal (1982), Mother (1999). He continued to be associated with his father on projects like Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) but was largely behind scenes. Randhir returned to direction with Henna in 1991 when Raj Kapoor passed away after a prolonged illness and in the middle of the project. The film didn’t work – split as it was between the visions of two filmmakers. He has since worked as a producer for mediocre fare like Prem Granth (1996) and Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999).

Anyway, in Randhir’s own words “showbiz is like gambling. Sometimes you win a hand, sometimes you lose a hand.” He may be down but he certainly isn’t out planning as he is another film. But given his kingsize, laidback lifestyle, one wonders when it’ll materialise.