The Kapoors are certainly the First Family of the Indian film industry. Legends like Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor have produced one superhit after another.
But while the Kapoor family has been a part and parcel of Bollywood down the ages, the last few generations have not seen too many Kapoors making it big in the film world.
Ranbir Kapoor, son of superstar Rishi Kapoor, may be very excited before the release of his debut film.
But he must also be somewhat tense, especially because it has been a while since a male Kapoor made it big at the box office.
The downslide began with Raj Kapoor launching his youngest son Rajiv in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. The movie was a hit but Rajiv had almost nothing to show for it.
The film was a hit for its songs, its story and the lead actress Mandakini. Rajiv starred in 12 other films after that but none did well.
The second Kapoor to come a cropper was Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kapoor’s son Kunal. He flopped at the box office but featured in some memorable parallel films like Vijeta, Junoon, 36 Chowringhee Lane and Trikal.
Kunal’s brother Karan was a successful model who couldn’t replicate his success in Bollywood. He acted in multi starrers like Sultanat, Zalzala and Loha before the audience turned their backs on an actor whose looks were more suited for Hollywood.
It is now Ranbir’s turn to try his luck at the box office. The 24-year-old is the first male from the current generation of Kapoors to enter Bollywood.
He will be hoping to come out a winner, not just for his own sake, but for that of his clan, which changed the way India went to movies.