India's most successful star kid gave ' ₹2000 cr film' at 27, was lauded at Cannes; not Ranbir Kapoor, Salman, Allu Arjun
This piece explores the history of the Kapoor family in Bollywood, focusing on Raj Kapoor's early success as a child actor and director. It highlights his massive commercial achievements in the mid-20th century, specifically the global success of his film 'Awara'.
Why it matters
It provides historical context on the evolution of Indian cinema and the concept of 'star kids' within the industry.
The term ‘nepo baby’ may be a modern Hollywood invention, but back home, India has used ‘star kids’ for the same group - children or relatives of people from the industry who have had a foot in the door. Many of these star kids have gone on to have successful careers, most before the term ‘nepotism’ was a buzzword on Reddit and Twitter. Examples of successful star kids exist in every language and across industries, but one of them surpassed even his illustrious father, and very early in his career.India’s most successful star kidIn the 1920s, Prithviraj Kapoor began his career as an actor, working in plays in Lahore. In 1928, as he moved to Bombay, he moved into cinema acting. By the 30s, Prithviraj was considered one of the leading actors in Hindustani cinema.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in