This iconic star of Bollywood had helped India's cinema to find its footing. Can you guess who was the actor whose performances brought gravitas to the era of experimentation and change in Bollywood?
This actor is no less than a legend in the Indian cinema. With a lineage so powerful, his successors still rule the B-Town, carrying on his legacy. The actor was definitely one of the most iconic stars in Bollywood and can be counted among individuals who set up the foundation for the Hindi film industry as we know it today.
The person being talked about is none other than Prithviraj Kapoor. The actor was born in what is present-day Faisalabad, Pakistan, in undivided India. He was passionate about acting from a young age and landed up in Mumbai (then Bombay) at a young age.
Kapoor did not fail to make a mark even during the silent film era. From India’s first talking film, Alam Ara, to hits like President or Dushman, the actor proved time and again that he had the capability to elevate storytelling in an age when cinema was still finding its footing. He brought the classic theatre charm and discipline to India’s budding cinema industry.
The actor was not just known for his immense talent but also for his kind nature. He was called Papaji by those who knew him. This was perhaps because he never shied away from helping junior artists in need.
But the foundation of the lineage of the Kapoor family wasn’t nearly as glamorous as it is now. Prithviraj Thakur had also seen days when he had to stand outside theaters with a bag in his hand. However, he risked everything to start Prithvi Theatres in 1944.
Back then, the actor struggled a lot financially. He did not earn enough to maintain a living, and whatever he did earn was used up to keep his theater afloat. That is when Pritvoraj resorted to begging, with some kind strangers putting money in his bag. And rest? Well, that’s history as we know it.
The tale of Prithviraj Theatres was a long and impactful one, with it running for 16 years until 1960. The walls of the hall saw over 2,660 shows being played in it, with Kapoor himself in the lead of all of them. However, with Kapoor’s declining health, the playhouse had to close down in the 1960s. The legendary actor passed away on May 29, 1971.
Prithviraj’s story was nothing short of an inspiration for every hardworking and aspiring talent. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which is Hindi cinema’s highest award, in 1972, after he passed away. During his time alive, he had also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1954 and 1956 and the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India in 1969.
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