Shashi Ranjan, a seasoned actor and director, has always held a deep admiration for the legendary Raj Kapoor, whose influence on Indian cinema is unmatched. Ranjan’s first encounter with the showman of Indian cinema, however, was a defining moment in his life. In conversation with ETimes, Ranjan fondly recalled the warmth and hospitality of the man who had already shaped much of his cinematic dreams.
Reminicising his first meeting with the icon, Ranjan shared, “When I first joined FTII, the very first film personality I met was Raj Kapoor. It was a tradition for him to invite the new batch of acting students, and just six to eight days after joining, we got a message that Raj Ji had invited us to dinner at the Blue Diamond hotel. We were all so excited because he had made Bobby, and we were starry-eyed. We dressed up and went to meet him in his suite. Raj Ji was one of the greatest hosts. There was a buffet with food and drinks, but none of us had the courage to drink in front of him. He was so warm and welcoming, and he looked at all of us, boys and girls, and said, “Anyone can become a Rishi Kapoor or a Dimple Kapadia. You all are good.” That moment was truly historical for me. Coming from Haryana and joining film school, meeting Raj Kapoor for dinner felt like a dream come true.”
Elaborating further, he added, “Over the years, Raj Kapoor has been a huge influence on me as a cinema lover, and I’m no exception. At FTII, we had the opportunity to watch his films like Jagte Raho, Awara, Shree 420, and more. He was revolutionary in his time and continued to be until his last film. His music was extraordinary, and his approach to his heroines was phenomenal. Directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali were influenced by the way Raj Kapoor introduced his heroines.”
But perhaps what set Raj Kapoor apart was his ability to convey deep social messages through entertainment. “During the socialist era in India, films like Awara, Shree 420, Jagte Raho, and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai addressed significant social issues. Bobby was a love story with a backdrop of class and caste conflict. The girl was a poor Christian, and the boy was a rich Hindu. He wrapped these deep messages in such a way that the audience never felt lectured; they were entertained while absorbing important themes. That’s what made Raj Kapoor so unique,” Shashi explained.
Reflecting on Kapoor’s legacy, Ranjan said, “I believe it’s not about carrying on under the same banner, but about the work the Kapoor family members have done. The work of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is an extension of that legacy. They are two of the real superstars of the country, excelling both commercially and with their performances. It’s unfortunate they’re not producing films right now, but I’m confident that Ranbir will be involved in producing in the future. So, the legacy lives on through the work, and it continues to be of the highest quality. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor very well, and Ranbir and Alia are like my kids. I’ve been close to the family, and their passion for cinema shows in their work. However, the new generation isn’t always aware of the work that these greats have done.”
