Prithviraj Kapoor is one of the biggest figures in the history of Indian cinema. He was among the founding members of the IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association) and was the one who established the Prithvi Theatre back in 1944. Almost everyone is aware of his illustrious acting career and his family tree, which consists of some of the biggest superstars of Indian cinema. However, one thing that people often wonder about Prithviraj Kapoor is what kind of father he was to his six children, Raj, Shammi, Shashi, Urmila, Nandi, and Devi.
Today, we are going back in time to shed some light on Prithviraj Kapoor's daughter-in-law, Neila Devi's old interview with a leading publication. For the uninitiated, Neila Devi was Shammi Kapoor's second wife after the latter's first wife, Geeta Bali, passed away in 1965 due to smallpox. In her rare interview with ETimes, the iconic actress and bahu of the Kapoor family talked about her father-in-law, Prithviraj Kapoor.
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The doting daughter-in-law, Neila Devi opened up about her father-in-law, Prithviraj Kapoor's fatherly side by recalling an incident that had happened at Randhir Kapoor's wedding. Neila revealed that during Randhir Kapoor's wedding with Babita Hari Shivdasani, Prithviraj Kapoor danced in front of his son's baraat. Neila shared that her father-in-law was suffering from cancer, and he was seeking treatment at the time when Randhir was getting married to Babita.
Not only this, but Neila Devi also added that Prithviraj Kapoor also had a high fever at that time, but because he was so happy as a father, he danced his heart out at Randhir Kapoor and Babita Shivdasani's wedding. Over the decades, we have heard a series of incidents like this, which have proved that Prithviraj Kapoor was a doting father. Another incident that proved the same is related to Raj Kapoor.
Raj Kapoor made his father, Prithviraj Kapoor proud so many times in his life, and one of the major moments was when the former established RK Studio at the mere age of 24. According to a report in the Indian Express, Shashi Kapoor and Deepa Gahlot's book, The Prithviwallahs, Shashi recalled a special incident when Raj Kapoor gave a blank cheque to their father, Prithviraj Kapoor after he had gained some success in his career.
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Shashi Kapoor explained that his brother, Raj Kapoor, wanted to make their father, Prithviraj Kapoor, feel special. As a result, Raj Kapoor gave his father a blank cheque so he could buy a luxury car for himself. However, the doting father never used that cheque and kept it with him until the end of time. Shashi further shared in the book that the cheque was so special for his father that whenever someone used to come to their home, the latter flaunted the blank cheque with so much pride.
What are your thoughts on Prithviraj Kapoor's bond with his children and the kind of father he was? Let us know.
Also Read: Kapoor Family's First Hero, Popular Than Raj Kapoor, Highest Paid Actor, Never Became A Superstar
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