Raj Kapoor was the biggest showman of Indian cinema, he was actor, producer, director, editor, studio owner. At the age of 21, he started his acting career, and at 23 he became a producer/director, and at the age of 25, he established his own studio. One thing people are least aware that the number 9 had special significance in his career.
RAJ KAPOOR-THE MAGIC OF NUMBER ‘NINE’
A Total number of films in his career as actor, producer, and director- SEVENTY-TWO (ie 7+2=9).
B Total ‘EIGHTEEN’ number of films were produced under RK Banner in the lifetime of Raj Kapoor (ie 1+8==9).
C Total of NINE directors directed these 18 films- 1 Raja Nawathe (Aah), 2 Prakash Arora (Boot Polish), 3 Shambhu Mitra & 4 Amit Mitra (Jaagte Raho), 5 Amar Kumar (Ab Dilli Door Nahin), 6 Radhu Karmakar (jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai), 7 Rahul Rawail (Biwi O Biwi), 8 Randhir Kapoor (Kal Aaj Aur Kal and Dharam Karam ) and 9 Raj Kapoor (remaining films- Aag, Barsaat, Awara, Shri 420, Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundram, Prem Rog and Ram Teri Ganga Maili).
D Total ‘EIGHTEEN’ number of films where Raj Kapoor & Shankar Jaikishan worked together (ie 1+8=9). Out of this NINE were outside RK Banner and Nine were under RK Banner. RK Banner films were Barsaat, Awara, Boot Polish Aah, Shri 420, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, and Kal Aaj Aur Kal.
E Out of Eighteen films produced under RK Banner Nine were in Black and White, and NINE were in colour.
F Out of Eighteen films produced under RK Banner, Raj Kapoor played a leading man in NINE films (Aag, Barsaat, Awara, Aah, Jaagte Raho, Shri 420, Jis desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Sangam, and Mera Naam Joker).
G Total ‘Of NINE persons worked as music directors in 18 films of RK Banner (1 Ram Ganguly, 2 Shankar, 3 Jaikishan, 4 Salil Choudhary, 5 Dattaram, 6 Laxmikant, 7 Pyarelal, 8 RD Burman, and 9 Ravindra Jain).
H Total ‘Of NINE members who took birth in the Kapoor family appeared on screen in 18 films of RK Banner (1 Raj Kapoor, 2 Shammi Kapoor,3 Shashi Kapoor, 4 Prithviraj Kapoor,5 Randhir Kapoor,6 Rishi Kapoor, 7 Rajeev Kapoor, 8 Raj Kapoor’s daughter Ritu (guest appearance in Shri 420), and Raj Kapoor’s grand Father (Bisheshwarnath Kapoor in Awara).
I Raj Kapoor was honoured with the highest award in Indian Film Industry (Dadasaheb Phalke Award) at the age of SIXTY-THREE (ie 6+3=9)
J Raj Kapoor’s sad demise was also at the age of SIXTY- THREE (ie 6+3=9)
It looks like Raj Kapoor had a strong connection with number 9. Friends if you know any other incident in Raj Kapoor’s life where number 9 is involved, please do write.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
9th July 202