Randhir launches a book on Raj Kapoor’s birthday

Raj Kapoor’ sons Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor released the book, The Dialogue Of Awaara: Raj Kapoor’s Immortal Classic by Nasreen Munni Kabir, to commemorate Raj Kapoor’s 85th birth anniversary on December 14. The book features K.A. Abbas’ original screenplay and dialogue.

Randhir Kapoor says, “Awaara is my favourite film. I am happy that Nasreen Munni Kabir has written the book as this is one film that became a cult of sorts across the globe. The music by Shankar Jaikishen is evergreen and people hum those tunes even today.”

Talking about how he debuted with the film, Randhir Kapoor says, “My grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor played Judge Raghunath, my father played Raj and I was introduced in this film too.”

Aawara, in fact, included four generations of the Kapoor family — Prithviraj Kapoor’s father, Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, also worked in the film. Shashi Kapoor played the young Raj in the film.

The Kapoor scion, fondly known as Dabboo, adds, “Recently, when I was invited to Russia, I was touched when I saw 200 kids dressed up like Raj Kapoor. They started humming the title track. It was heartwarming and I called up my mother to tell her about the kind of response he gets even today. Raj Kapoor is indeed immortal — he will remain in the hearts of the people.”