European Film Star Postcards: Raj Kapoor

18 February 2026

Raj Kapoor

Bollywood actor and director Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) is often celebrated as 'the greatest showman of Indian cinema'. He was a visionary filmmaker whose impact stretched far beyond India's borders. His career spanned several decades and shaped the course of Hindi cinema with groundbreaking films that combined social commentary, romance, and an iconic 'tramp' persona. He was a master storyteller who not only starred in but also directed and produced numerous classics under his label, R.K. Films, leaving an indelible mark on global film history.

Russian postcard.

Russian postcard, no. AB05701.

The lovable, penniless vagabond

Raj Kapoor was born as Ranbir Raj Kapoor in 1924, in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). He was the son of prominent actor Prithviraj Kapoor, who acted both in film and on stage.

His entry into cinema was almost preordained. After apprenticing in the Bollywood studios of the 1940s, the 24-year-old Kapoor made his directorial debut with Aag / Fire (Raj Kapoor, 1948), in which he also starred.

His co-star was Nargis, with whom he had an off-screen romance. Raj, who was already married to Krishna Kapoor, refused to divorce his wife. That same year, he founded his production studio, R.K. Films. The subsequent success of Barsaat / Rain (Raj Kapoor, 1949) solidified his early career.

Kapoor quickly developed his signature screen persona as the lovable, penniless vagabond, most famously portrayed in the megahit Awaara / The Vagabond (Raj Kapoor, 1951). This film earned a Palme d'Or nomination at the Cannes Film Festival and made him an international star. Awaara gained popular acclaim in Russia, where the film and songs were dubbed into Russian.

This was followed by another massive success, Shree 420 / Mister 420 (Raj Kapoor, 1955), which further cemented his worldwide popularity.

Vintage minicard, could be a cigarette or chocolate card. Raj Kapoor in the crime drama Awaara / The Vagabond (Raj Kapoor, 1951). Kapoor's little tramp character, inspired by Chaplin, would be developed in later films such as Shree 420. As Wikipedia writes, "Awaara is considered a milestone in the history of Bollywood." The film was a huge success in the Soviet Union.

East German leaflet, a special issue of Progress Film-Programm. Raj Kapoor in Shree 420 / Mister 420 (Raj Kapoor, 1955). East German title: Der Prinz von Piplinagar.

East German flyer, a special issue of Progress Film-Programm, no. 52-53. Raj Kapoor in Jagte Raho / Stay Alert (Amit Mitra, Sombhu Mitra, 1956). The East German title was 'Unter den Mantel der Nacht' (Under the cloak of the night).

An unrivalled legacy in world cinema

In the 1960s, Raj Kapoor continued to innovate and directed his first colour film, the romantic drama Sangam / Confluence (Raj Kapoor, 1964).

This was followed by his most ambitious, semi-autobiographical project, Mera Naam Joker / My Name Is Joker (Raj Kapoor, 1970), in which he described the life of a clown in three acts. Although the film was initially a commercial failure, it later gained a large following of loyal fans.

In 1973, he successfully launched his son Rishi Kapoor in the popular teen romance Bobby (Raj Kapoor, 1973). Kapoor's last directing project was Ram Teri Ganga Maili / Ram's Holy Ganges (Raj Kapoor, 1985), which was a huge box office success.

In 1987, Kapoor received India's highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Raj Kapoor died in 1988, in New Delhi, India, from complications related to asthma, leaving behind an unrivalled legacy in world cinema. He had five children: Randhir Kapoor, Ritu Kapoor Nanda, Rishi Kapoor, Rima Kapoor and Jain Rajeev Kapoor.

In 2024, R.K. Films, Film Heritage Foundation, NFDC-National Film Archive of India, in association with PVR-Inox and Cinepolis, organised a big retrospective of ten of Kapoor's films, entitled 'Raj Kapoor 100 – Celebrating the Centenary of the Greatest Showman', screened all over India.