Appropriately timed discovery of this last interview, posted by DD on his birth anniversary, thirty years since his passing on.
His last interview? His being comes through so very completely, open, genuine humility.
Responding to a comment below the original YT video by
Sim Bim:-
"I'm not sure why Afghans/Pashtuns/Pathans have this misconception that Raj Kapoor was Afghan/Pathan. Kapoors have never said that they are Pathans. They call themselves as Punjabis. Bollywood's first family, the Kapoor family, are Punjabi Hindus of Khatri caste. They are originally from Samundri (a city near Faisalabad in present day Punjab province of Pakistan). Prithviraj Kapoor was born in Samundri, Punjab (now in Pakistan). His father Keshavmal Kapoor was an officer in Imperial Indian Police. He was posted in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) and then to Peshawar and moved his family there. The Kapoor haveli in Peshawar was built during the family's stay in Peshawar in 1920s (Kapoors lived in Peshawar for 4-6 years only). Kapoors lived in Lyallpur, Peshawar, Lahore, and Calcutta before moving to Bombay in 1930s. As a youth, Prithviraj Kapoor used to do theater and formed a traveling theater company 'Prithviraj Theater'. Prithviraj Kapoor moved his family to Bombay because he was offered a role as Sikander/Alexander in a movie that was being made in Bombay. Prithviraj Kapoor was 6 feet 3 inches tall, had blue/green eyes, and fair/light skin which mesmerized the director of the movie and he cast him as the first Indian actor to portray Greek Alexander. The film became a blockbuster. The success of the film made him a mega star. This was the beginning of a legend of Indian cinema whose contributions include everything from filmmaking to acting, direction, production, music, and screenwriting. The rest, as they say, is history. His descendents include Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and Ranbir Kapoor. Shammi Kapoor's wife Geeta Bali and Rishi Kapoor's wife Neetu Singh are also well-known Bollywood actresses. Prithviraj Theater is still run by Shashi Kapoor's daughter. The Kapoors still follow Punjabi customs and traditions of wedding and intermarry within Punjabis only.
Source: I have read autobiography of Shammi Kapoor in which he has mentioned his family's origin."
Saying that they were not pathans is based on a misconception that pathans must be non Hindu, which is silly. Confusing race for faith produces such misconceptions. This clan is, was, much more pink than wheat as far as completions go, and yes one does recall their being called pathans, but it's not relevant if they are or not. Again, it's a racist thinking, chiefly from pakis, that being pathans is superior and being dermis inferior, and pakis openly write comments on internet saying Indians are short, dark and ugly, neither of which fits general facts, but then again paki racism is taught, not natural. There are plenty of dark Punjabi of origin across Sindhu river, even Baloch, and plenty of fair Tamilians (and others of South India or West or East for that matter) with light eyes, and all sorts of varieties across India. First and foremost India values talent, knowledge, honesty and goodness. And no, they dont "intermarry with Punjabi only", silly, there are several obvious counterexamples. Jennifer Kendall married Shashi Kapoor, she was English, one son Karan Kapoor is a blond blue eyed copy of his father, Kunal is a dark eyed dark haired son with his mum's face, and daughter Sanjna is almost photocopy of her Kapoor granny. Then there is Babita, with a Sindhi three quarters and Yorkshire origin maternal grandmother. More variety in the next generation. Jain family, for example, that youngest daughter of Raj Kapoor married into, or the in laws of kareena who are very mixed. Anyway, Kapoor clan not being pathans is based on racist premises, and yes they did say they were, and don't see why not. Gaandhaarie was of Afghan origin, not everyone converted or died.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftcr2F406BY
His last interview? His being comes through so very completely, open, genuine humility.
Responding to a comment below the original YT video by
Sim Bim:-
"I'm not sure why Afghans/Pashtuns/Pathans have this misconception that Raj Kapoor was Afghan/Pathan. Kapoors have never said that they are Pathans. They call themselves as Punjabis. Bollywood's first family, the Kapoor family, are Punjabi Hindus of Khatri caste. They are originally from Samundri (a city near Faisalabad in present day Punjab province of Pakistan). Prithviraj Kapoor was born in Samundri, Punjab (now in Pakistan). His father Keshavmal Kapoor was an officer in Imperial Indian Police. He was posted in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) and then to Peshawar and moved his family there. The Kapoor haveli in Peshawar was built during the family's stay in Peshawar in 1920s (Kapoors lived in Peshawar for 4-6 years only). Kapoors lived in Lyallpur, Peshawar, Lahore, and Calcutta before moving to Bombay in 1930s. As a youth, Prithviraj Kapoor used to do theater and formed a traveling theater company 'Prithviraj Theater'. Prithviraj Kapoor moved his family to Bombay because he was offered a role as Sikander/Alexander in a movie that was being made in Bombay. Prithviraj Kapoor was 6 feet 3 inches tall, had blue/green eyes, and fair/light skin which mesmerized the director of the movie and he cast him as the first Indian actor to portray Greek Alexander. The film became a blockbuster. The success of the film made him a mega star. This was the beginning of a legend of Indian cinema whose contributions include everything from filmmaking to acting, direction, production, music, and screenwriting. The rest, as they say, is history. His descendents include Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and Ranbir Kapoor. Shammi Kapoor's wife Geeta Bali and Rishi Kapoor's wife Neetu Singh are also well-known Bollywood actresses. Prithviraj Theater is still run by Shashi Kapoor's daughter. The Kapoors still follow Punjabi customs and traditions of wedding and intermarry within Punjabis only.
Source: I have read autobiography of Shammi Kapoor in which he has mentioned his family's origin."
Saying that they were not pathans is based on a misconception that pathans must be non Hindu, which is silly. Confusing race for faith produces such misconceptions. This clan is, was, much more pink than wheat as far as completions go, and yes one does recall their being called pathans, but it's not relevant if they are or not. Again, it's a racist thinking, chiefly from pakis, that being pathans is superior and being dermis inferior, and pakis openly write comments on internet saying Indians are short, dark and ugly, neither of which fits general facts, but then again paki racism is taught, not natural. There are plenty of dark Punjabi of origin across Sindhu river, even Baloch, and plenty of fair Tamilians (and others of South India or West or East for that matter) with light eyes, and all sorts of varieties across India. First and foremost India values talent, knowledge, honesty and goodness. And no, they dont "intermarry with Punjabi only", silly, there are several obvious counterexamples. Jennifer Kendall married Shashi Kapoor, she was English, one son Karan Kapoor is a blond blue eyed copy of his father, Kunal is a dark eyed dark haired son with his mum's face, and daughter Sanjna is almost photocopy of her Kapoor granny. Then there is Babita, with a Sindhi three quarters and Yorkshire origin maternal grandmother. More variety in the next generation. Jain family, for example, that youngest daughter of Raj Kapoor married into, or the in laws of kareena who are very mixed. Anyway, Kapoor clan not being pathans is based on racist premises, and yes they did say they were, and don't see why not. Gaandhaarie was of Afghan origin, not everyone converted or died.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftcr2F406BY
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