Legend Leader Prithviraj Kapoor's 104th Birth Anniversary

His affair with cinema is a legend all by itself. Prithviraj Kapoor, one of the pioneering members of the Hindi film industry, is best remembered today for being the patriarch of the 'Kapoor khandaan, the first family of the Hindi film industry. This is a family, four generations of which have been a part of the industry. The thespian's sons, Raj, Shammi and Shashi Kapoor, each had a very successful career, followed by grandson Rishi, who made quite a name for himself as a romantic hero and continues to delight audiences, even today.

Prithviraj's great grandchildren, Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor, are among the leading actors of the day. Of course, it all began with the grand old man, Prithviraj Kapoor, who would have celebrated his 104th birthday, had he been alive today.

The thespian, who began his career in the silent era of Indian films, was initiated into acting and theatre during his college days in Peshawar from where he graduated as well, which is more than any of his sons or grandsons ever studied. Since Prithviraj was always inclined to theatre and acting, he shifted to Mumbai in 1928, where he played an extra in his first film and a leading man in his third movie.

He was also part of the historic 'Alam Ara', the first Indian talkie in 1931. Thereafter, the actor, who was known for his handsome personality and powerful voice and performances, went on to act in many films. But the ones where he stood out were 'Vidyapati', 'Sikandar', 'Mughal e Azam', 'Awaar', 'Dahej', 'Asmaan Mahal' and 'Kal Aaj Aur Kal'.

Despite his filmi sojourns, Prithviraj's first love remained theatre and in 1944, he was able to open his own theatre company, whose maiden production was Kalidasa's 'Shakuntala'. Prithvi Theatre was a travelling troupe which staged plays all over India. In the 16 years of its existence, the company staged 2,662 shows and Prithviraj played the lead in each and every one of them.

By this time, his sons, Raj, Shammi too started their acting careers and were quite successful. By the late fifties, interest in theatre started dwindling and it was no longer feasible for to travel with large troupes like Prithvi Theatre. Films had become the rage of the day and so Prithviraj quit theatre and merged his company with Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendall's Shakespeareana.

Today's Prithvi Theatre, which was inaugurated in November 1978 and named after him, is run by his granddaughter, Sanjana Kapoor. The experimental theatre has come up on the same place which housed a cottage where Prithviraj and his wife lived out the last years of their life. Both had contracted cancer and died within a month of each other. While Prithviraj passed away in May, his wife followed him 16 days later.

The thespian was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1954, the Padma Bhushan in 1969 and was a nominated member of the upper house of Parliament for eight years. After his death, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Today, 39 years after his death, Prithviraj's legacy lives on, in the life and accomplishments of his children, their children and their children, making it four generations of the Kapoor khandaan, truly the first family of Bollywood?