Rajiv Kapoor

Rajiv Kapoor
Rajiv Kapoor
	Kapoor in 2016
Born	Rajiv Raj Kapoor; 25 August 1962; Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Died	9 February 2021 (aged 58); Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation(s)	Actor; Film director; Film producer
Years active	1983–1999, 2020–2021
Spouse	Aarti Sabharwal (m. 2001; div. 2003)
Parent	Raj Kapoor (father);
Family	Kapoor family

Rajiv Raj Kapoor (25 August 1962 – 9 February 2021)^[1] was an Indian actor, film producer, film director and a member of the Kapoor family, best known for his lead role in Ram Teri Ganga Maili.^[3] He was the youngest son of Raj Kapoor, a Bollywood actor-director-producer.

His elder brothers Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor were also successful Bollywood actors. Actors Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor were his uncles. Prithviraj Kapoor was his paternal grandfather and Trilok Kapoor was his paternal great-uncle.

Career

Kapoor made his debut opposite fellow debutante Divya Rana in Ek Jaan Hain Hum in 1983. He played the leading role in his father Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture Ram Teri Ganga Maili^[3] in 1985. He acted in several other films, the most notable Aasmaan (1984), Lover Boy (1985), Mera Saathi (1985), Zabardast (1985), and Hum To Chale Pardes (1988). His penultimate film appearance was in the 1990 film Zimmedaaar, after which he turned to producing and directing.^[4]^[5] With legendary actors Dilip Kumar and Rekha, Kapoor also acted in the film Aag Ka Darya, which was completed in 1991 but remains unreleased.^[6]

After his father's death, Rajiv Kapoor assumed the role of producer for the popular film Henna in 1991, which his older brother Randhir directed. In 1996 Rajiv made his own directorial debut with the commercial failure Prem Granth, which starred his brother Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.^[7] He also ventured into television, producing the serial Vansh, which aired on Doordarshan from 1995 to 1996. Three years later he was one of the producers of Aa Ab Laut Chalen, directed by his brother Rishi. This would be the final film he would be involved with for some three decades.

He was set to make a comeback to acting after 30 years with his appearance in the movie Toolsidas Junior, which completed filming shortly before his death^[8] and was finally released on 21 May 2022.

Personal life

In 2001, he married architect Aarti Sabharwal, who was working as a paralegal at a law firm in Vaughan, Canada. They divorced in 2003.^[9]

Death

Kapoor was staying at his brother Randhir's place when he had a heart attack during the early hours of 9 February 2021. Randhir rushed him to Inlaks Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. He was 58 years old.