Boney Kapoor recalls Raj Kapoor’s legacy: He used to eat, drink, and sleep only from his film – Times of India

Filmmaker and producer Boney Kapoor paid a befitting tribute recently to the legendary Raj Kapoor on his birth centenary anniversary while sharing fond memories of the iconic filmmaker during an interaction with SCREEN. Reminiscing about the remarkable legacy of Raj Kapoor, Boney shared memories of one of the director’s most celebrated films that did not even start well at the box office: ‘Mera Naam Joker‘. Though the first setback was not too strong, Raj Kapoor did not lose his zeal for his work. Boney Kapoor says Raj Kapoor is unique as an actor, director, producer, and editor who has been a hallmark of the film industry for more than five decades.
“To begin with, he is the only filmmaker-actor-director-producer-editor who has lasted for five decades and given a blockbuster in each decade,” Boney said. He added that Raj Kapoor was not just a trendsetter but a man who also adapted to the changing times. “He caught up with trends, created trends, and even changed with time,” Boney added. Raj Kapoor’s commitment to his films was all-consuming. He breathed and lived cinema. “He used to eat, drink, and sleep only from his films. There is nobody like him, and there never will be,” Boney reflected. Boney spoke about how Raj Kapoor kept changing with each decade. He said that films like ‘Prem Rog’ and ‘Bobby’ were so vastly different from each other. Many of Raj Kapoor’s works were ahead of his time. “A lot of his thoughts are my thoughts now,” Boney shared, highlighting the influence Raj Kapoor had on his work. Boney recalled how the film ‘Mera Naam Joker’ was one where the legendary filmmaker had placed much hope but it could not connect with audiences when first released.
Even though the film could not do well at the box office, Raj Kapoor did not drop the project. He re-edited the film, and during its post-production, he gave up alcohol—something he was particularly fond of. “Later on, it started doing well. It was a money spinner in the re-rounds. He re-edited the film. A person who was so fond of drinking, he used to give it up when the film was in its final stage. He never used to touch alcohol during that period, till the copy was out. The entire post-production period used to go without him drinking. I was the privileged one who he used to share his most expensive alcohol with, so I know about this really well.” Boney revealed. He shared that he was one of the privileged few who got to taste Raj Kapoor’s most expensive alcohol, providing him with a rare insight into the filmmaker’s dedication.