A look at the Kapoor clan: Part 4 -Randhir, Rishi, Rajiv

Randhir Kapoor----Check out the unseen facts and trivia of the 3rd generation of the Kapoor Khandaan!!Next in the list is none other than the ‘Daboo', fondly called by family and friends, ‘Randhir Kapoor unlike his father and grandfather, however failed to cement his foothold in the Bollywood Industry.The actor was born on 15th February 1947, to parents Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor. The eldest grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Mehra. Being a true punjabi Randhir Kapoor was a big foodie and had a habit of regular drinking. His name 'Daboo' was given to him by his grandfather. He too gave his daughters similar sounding names. Lolo (Karisma Kapoor), and Bebo (Kareena Kapoor).The actor not only launched himself with his first film but also directed the three generations of ‘Kapoor Khandaan' in “Kal Aaj Kal” starring his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor, father Raj Kapoor. Though the filmw failed to generate the expected success, but amazingly, the film went on to be the first ever Bollywood flick to have maximum number of family members, including Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, and Babita Kapoor (wife of Randhir Kapoor).Soon after Randhir Kapoor gave two big hits like Jawani Diwaani opposite Jaya Bachchan and Rampur ka Laxman opposite Rekha. Some of his other hits include, Chacha Bhatija, Kasme Vaade (with best friend Amitabh Bachchan). The one and only movie that was a hit and had Randhir as the lead was Jawani Diwani. All his other hits saw him either in supporting roles or as a secondary lead.Randhir had everything - charm, looks, big name, background, while Babita was pretty, chirpy, and talented. With such strikingly opposite personalities, Randhir and Babita came close and their beautiful courtship soon turned into a blissful marriage despite opposition from families of both sides. Babita is veteran actress Sadhna's niece. She and Randhir were childhood sweethearts. Being the dominant one in their relationship, Babita gave an ultimatum to Randhir to go in for the next step, that is, marriage. Randhir also played it nice and the plan was to bring her close to the Kapoor family. He smartly signed Babita opposite him as the female lead in his debut ‘ Kal Aaj aur Kal' . He hoped that by making his father and wife share the same frame, it might bring them closer. Though on a professional front Raj Kapoor didn't mind sharing screen space with Babita but on a personal note he thought that ‘Daboo' was going out of his way. But soon the families gave in to their constant pressure and the couple got married in 1971. The couple was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Karisma and Kareena. As per the Kapoor family's tradition, married daughters and wives never worked in the film industry, to which Babita agreed to before her marriage, but it seemed all this was way too much for her, hence she left the Kapoor mansion and took away Kareena and Karisma with her. Sensing his own inability to create a charm, the ‘Ponga Pandit' actor quit acting and stuck strictly to directing. After the sudden death of his father Raj Kapoor during the making of ‘Henna', he along with his brother Rishi Kapoor, completed the movie as a tribute to their father's last work. In later years he tried his hand at producing films, like ‘Prem Granth' starring his uncle Shammi Kapoor, and brother Rishi Kapoor, and ‘Aa Ab Laut Chalein' starring Rajesh Khanna in supporting role. Both his daughters Karisma and Kareena went on to become Bollywood's most sought after heroines. In an interview, Randhir admitted that his younger daughter was a tantrum thrower and resembles Babita. Babita later admitted in another interview that one of the reasons for the separation, was Randhir's uncontrollable drinking. The couple never divorced but had been living separatley. Recently in 2007, after Randhir Kapoor fell ill, the couple reconciled together.Rishi KapoorChintu Ji! How can one forget the cute, chubby guy of ‘Mera Naam Joker', a character that fantisizes his teacher, played by Simi Garewal. The boy had already marked his space and with a hit like ‘Bobby', the industry opened its arms for the next big thing ‘Rishi Kapoor'. The song ‘Hum Tum Ek Kamre mein Band Ho', is still the biggest grosser of all time. The film was a debut for both Rishi and Dimple Kapadia.The actor, born on 4th September, 1952, to Raj Kapoor, was the 2nd most desirable actor after superstar Rajesh Khanna of those times. Rishi Kapoor was an instant hit among the youth. Many female fans wrote him letters and proposed him for marriage. All his life he played roles of romantic heroes. Most of them were opposite co-star Neetu Singh. Except in ‘Agneepath', 2012, where he played a negative role of ‘Rauf Lala' for the first time. Rishi Kapoor made his debut with ‘Mera Naam Joker' in 1970, while Neetu Singh made her debut with ‘Do Kaliyaan' in 1960.Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh were a couple that was a known fact in the Bollywood industry. Rishi belonged to a Punjabi family, while Neetu Singh belonged to a Sikh family. The couple too, like their elders, had to face opposition from both their families. The fact is that in most of her films Neetu Singh has starred opposite either husband Rishi Kapoor, or uncle Shashi Kapoor. Once Rishi Kapoor was gravely ill and was suffering from high fever, but still he went to Neetu's father and asked her hand in marriage. His effort and love didn't get unnoticed and the families gave in to the couple's wish and got them married in 1981. At the time of their marriage Rishi Kapoor was 29, while Neetu Singh was 21.The marriage of Rishi-Neetu was the most talked about affair across India. It is said that father-in-law Raj Kapoor got Pakistani singer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan especially to perform for Neetu Singh's Sangeet ceremony. After performing for the entire night the singer was widely popularized in the industry as the new singing sensation.During the marriage preparations it is said neither Neetu nor Rishi were concerned about details as both were busy shooting for their respective films and the work was left for their families to finish. Both got married at the peak of her their career. Neetu Singh was the top actress that time and she left her career for the Kapoor Khandaan's tradition where daughters and daughter-in-laws never worked in Bollywood. However, she clearly rubbished such reports, saying “It was my personal choice. I want to be a housewife for Rishi.”Rishi -Neetu had a fall. While riding the ‘Ghodi', a tradition in Indian marriages, Rishi Kapoor fainted because he couldn't cope with such crowd around him. While Neetu Singh too fainted during the ‘Varmaala' rites, as she was wearing a heavy lehenga and the ambience made her feel exhausted. Krishna Raj Kapoor was very fond of favorite ‘bahu' Neetu. Neetu, even before her marriage used to visit her prospective mother-in-law often. It is also said that once Neetu Singh was finishing off a song sequence with Amitabh Bachchan in Kolkata, she was missing ‘Chintu' very much. On seeing her in an upset mood, Amitabh called the director and asked Neetu to immediatly go and meet Rishi Kapoor. Amitabh Bachchan finished the song with solo shots.Not only Krishna Raj Kapoor, Neetu was also very much close to her brother-in-law Rajiv Kapoor. It is said that Rajiv Kapoor was also her best friend and admirer. During her fights with Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor would eveytime took sides of her favorite ‘Bhabhi'.Ask her about the most memorable moment with husband ‘Chintu', Neetu says she loves the moment when Rishi Kapoor had to dress up like a girl and dance along her in the movie, ‘Khel Khel Mein'. She envied him to be the cutest girl she ever saw. The couple are proud parents of Bollywood hottie Ranbir Kapoor, and Ridhima Kapoor Sahni. Their daughter Ridhima Kapoor is married to Bharat Sahni. The actor went on to give some all time Bollywood hits, Bobby (with Dimple Kapadia), Chandini (with Sridevi), Rafoo chakkar, and Khel Khel Mein (with wife Neetu singh), Amar Akbar Anthony (with Amitabh Bachchan), Karz (Tina Munim), Prem Rog (Padmini Kolhapure) etc.Rajiv KapoorThe youngest son of Raj Kapoor, ‘Chimpu' aka Rajiv Kapoor was the most sincere child as per his mother. The Li'l star of Kapoor Khandaan made his debut with ‘Ek Jaan Hai Hum' opposite actress Divya Rana, also starring his uncle Shammi Kapoor and Pran. Raj Kapoor re-launced his son's career with the flick ‘ Ram Teri Ganga Maili' in 1985. Though it was Raj's last film but this went on to be the highest grosser of the year. Rajiv Kapoor, unlike his brothers, Randhir and Rishi, couldn't survive in Bollywood for long as an actor. He retired after acting in 13 films. His first and the biggest hit of all time was ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili' opposite Mandakini, which also marked her debut in the industry. The film was seen as the boldest film of Bollywood after ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram', starring his uncle Shashi Kapoor, and directed by his father Raj Kapoor.Soon after he joined his elder brother Randhir and started producing and directing films. After their father's death, Rajiv assisted Randhir Kapoor and completed ‘Henna'. With little experience in directing, he went on to direct a full-fledged film, ‘Prem Granth' starring, Shammi Kapoor (Uncle), Rishi (Brother), and Madhuri Dixit. The film was a box-office debacle, and he vowed never to direct any film again.He chose to remain unmarried all his life, but not many people know that in 2001, he got married to an architect, Aarti Sabharwal. The marriage soon ended in a divorce within a year and a half. Till date he remains single.Rajiv Kapoor, or ‘Chimpu' was closest to his sister-in-law Neetu , and remains her best friend till date.