Untold Tale Of Debut Failures Of ‘Kapoor Khandan’

Armaan Jain, the new Kapoor scion deserves kudos for keeping the ‘Kapoor Flag’ flying high. Readers may wonder have I gone crazy for praising Armaan Jain because his debut movie LEKAR HUM DEEWANA DIL, directed by Arif Ali has been declared a complete washout at the box office by trade pundits. So how come Armaan Jain bring pride to the illustrious Kapoor Khandan? 

Well a keen look down the debuts of Kapoor Khandan will reveal what I mean. Beginning with Armaan Jain’s grandfather, Raj Kapoor, the great Showman of Bollywood to his last cousin Ranbir Kapoor, considered as the new raising superstar of Bollywood, the entire Kapoor Khandaan has had a disastrous debut. If you don’t believe read on the exclusive research made by Raaga.Com 

The Kapoor Khandan consists of Prithviraj Kapoor, who became immortal as King Akbar in MUGHAL E AZAM. He too started with a flop CINEMA GIRL (Silent Movie) in 1929, his first movie as lead hero. Later with Alexander the Great in Sohrab Modi's Sikandar (1941) he became a star. 

His three famous sons were Raj Kapoor , Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor made his debut as a hero in Kidar Sharma’s movie NEEL KAMAL in 1947 opposite Madhubala, who too was introduced by Sharma. But the movie failed and Raj Kapoor had to continue struggle until his home production BARSAT became hit. 

Shammi Kapoor made his debut with JEEVAN JYOTI in the year 1953 opposite Chand Usmani. The movie was directed by Mahesh Kaul and was a huge flop. Shammi Kapoor won stardom after filmmaker Nasir Hussain gave him a changeover of a modern avatar in TUMSA NAHIN DEKHA (1957)

Shashi Kapoor made his debut as child star in his elder brother Raj Kapoor’s movie AAG (1948) but the movie was a failure. As a leading hero Shashi Kapoor was introduced by B.R.Chopra in his movie DHARMPUTRA 1961 opposite Indrani Mukherjee. The movie won National Award as Best Feature Film in Hindi but was a flop at box-office. Shashi won stardom JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE (1965).

The second generation starts with Raj Kapoor’s son’s viz. Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor. 

Interestingly Randhir Kapoor made his acting and directorial debut with KAL AAJ AUR KAL (1971) but despite being produced under R.K.Banner, the movie was a flop. Randhir Kapoor became a star with RAAMPUR KA LAKSHMAN.

Rishi Kapoor made his debut as a child star in R.K.Banner’s most ambitious film MERA NAAM JOKER and yet again, though Rishi Kapoor won Best Child Star National Award, the movie was a super duper flop. Later with BOBBY he became a star. 

Rajiv Kapoor, Raj Kapoor youngest son made his debut with EK JAAN HAI HUM (1983) opposite new actress Divya Rana. The movie was a failure and later with RAM TERI GANGA MAILI he became a star. 

Likewise Shashi Kapoor’s two sons Karan KapFoor with SULTANAT (1986) and Kunal Kapoor (AHISTA ASHITA) failed to click. Shashi Kapoor’s daughter Sanjana Kapoor too failed to click with HERO HIRALAL (1988) opposite Naseerudin Shah. 

The third generation saw Randhir Kapoor’s daughter Kareena Kapoor making flop debut with J.P Dutt’s REFUGEE( 2000) and Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor making a disastrous flop in Sanjay Leela Bhansali SAAWARIYA (2007). 

Thus a close look into the debuts of Kapoor Khandan reveals that except Karishma Kapoor who made her debut with PREM QAIDI in 1991, none of the Kapoors have been a success in their debut movies!