Hyderabad: Bollywood actor and filmmaker Rajiv Kapoor has breathed his last at 58. He was the youngest of late legend Raj Kapoor's three sons and the younger brother of Randhir Kapoor and late Rishi Kapoor. Though his father had all the resources to push Rajiv's career, he was made to taste the struggle before getting the comforts of being working under their home banner R. K. Films.
Rajiv made his acting debut with 1983 film Ek Jaan Hain Hum and after three years he was introduced as a leading man in the blockbuster Ram Teri Ganga Maili, which was Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture. In Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, Rajiv had appeared with his brother Rishi and the two talked about a range of topics from sibling rivalry to failure of Rajiv's directorial debut Prem Granth.
When asked if he felt that he had to face more struggle compared to his brothers, Rajiv had said that unlike Rishi and Randhir, he always wanted to be a director and he became an actor by chance because he was the last son of Raj Kapoor.
READ | When Rajiv Kapoor had opened up about what went wrong in his career and personal life
Talking about his struggle, Rajiv had shared, "Of course, I did not work in my first film with him (Raj Kapoor). I did work outside with FC Mehra and his son (Rajiv Mehra). My father wanted me to do that as he wanted me to do the same thing as he did and would say, 'Why don't you go out and fend for yourself and why do you want Raj Kapoor to come and give you everything on a platter?'"
He also said that ultimately his identity as Raj Kapoor's son is bigger than the one that he created for himself as an actor and filmmaker. "Ultimately, it did happen that if today I was recognised is because of Ram Teri Ganga Maili because that was the only successful film I had," Rajiv said.
He had also admitted that after the passing of his father, his brothers were his biggest support system who left no stone unturned to give him everything that he wanted.
Rajiv was the youngest among three brothers and two sisters -- Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain. His eldest sister Ritu Nanda and brother Rishi passed away in January and April last year. Randhir has revealed that Rajiv died due to a heart attack on Tuesday at about 1.30 pm in Mumbai.
