Raj Kapoor, originally named Shrishti Nath Kapoor, was born on December 14, 1924, at Kapoor Haveli, a spacious residence owned by his grandfather, located in the Qissa Khwani Bazaar area of Peshawar, British India. He hailed from a Punjabi Hindu family, with his parents being Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Devi Kapoor.
Raj Kapoor made his debut in Hindi cinema at the age of ten with the 1935 film Inquilab. His significant breakthrough occurred in 1947 when he played the lead role in the romantic drama Neel Kamal, sharing the screen with Begum Para and Madhubala. In 1948, he established his own production company, R. K. Films, and made his directorial debut with the musical drama Aag, in which he starred alongside Nargis, Premnath, and Kamini Kaushal. While the film did not achieve significant commercial success, it garnered favorable reviews from critics.
The year 1949 marked a significant turning point in Kapoor’s professional journey. Although his initial film, Sunehre Din, did not perform well commercially, his subsequent project, Parivartan, achieved moderate success and was classified as a semi-hit. His third film, the romantic drama Andaz, directed by Mehboob Khan and featuring Dilip Kumar and Nargis, became a tremendous success, turning into a blockbuster at the box office. The remarkable triumph of Andaz was succeeded by Barsaat, a film that Kapoor both directed and produced. This film surpassed its predecessor, establishing itself as a major blockbuster and the highest-grossing film of its time.
Raj Kapoor initially became aware of Shailendra during a poetry symposium, where Shailendra recited his poem Jalta Hai Punjab. Kapoor expressed interest in purchasing the poem for his film Aag (1948); however, Shailendra refused, stating that he did not compose poetry for financial gain. Subsequently, Shailendra found himself in need of 500 rupees as his wife was expecting their first child. He approached R. K. Studio, where he met Raj Kapoor and requested financial assistance. The actor proposed a position for him as a lyricist within his production company, but Shailendra declined the offer once more. Eventually, he sought a loan again, likely for his mother’s medical treatment. When Shailendra was unable to repay the amount, Raj Kapoor suggested that he write two songs to offset the debt. Consequently, Shailendra was contracted for 500 rupees, and he composed two songs for the R. K. Banner film, “Barsaat,” titled “Barsaat Mein” and “Patli Kamar Hai.”
The collaboration of Raj Kapoor, Shailendra, and Shankar–Jaikishan resulted in the creation of numerous successful songs. Among these, the track ‘Awara Hoon’ from the 1951 film Awaara, with lyrics by Shailendra, gained significant acclaim as the most celebrated Hindustani film song outside of India during that period. Shailendra contributed a substantial number of song lyrics for Raj Kapoor’s films, including the notable Shree 420, which was released in 1955. Every song from this film achieved remarkable popularity and continues to be performed at various events to this day. The enduring appeal and brilliance of Shailendra’s lyrics can be exemplified by the song “Pyaar hua iqaraar hua hai, Pyaar se phir kyo darta hai dil,” which remains a timeless classic in Bollywood.
The two prominent figures of Bollywood commemorate the same date, December 14, which marks both Raj Kapoor’s birthday and the anniversary of Shailendra’s passing. Notably, on December 14, 1966, the film Mera Naam Joker was in production, creating a celebratory atmosphere at R. K. Studios in honor of Raj Kapoor’s birthday.
Their professional collaboration was notably fruitful, but their relationship extended beyond work; they were also close friends. What began with a financial loan has since become a significant part of their shared history, highlighting a connection that encompassed both monetary and emotional ties.
; however, Shailendra refused, stating that he did not compose poetry for financial gain.){kind=link}