Raj Kapoor, a legendary actor and director in Hindi cinema, illuminated Indian cinema’s name worldwide through his films. Celebrated for his acting and direction, Raj Kapoor was also known for his behavior and generosity. He shared close friendships with many prominent Bollywood celebrities. One of his closest friends was Dilip Kumar. Their camaraderie was such that if Raj Kapoor was in London, he would immediately return to India from London upon receiving a phone call from Dilip Kumar.
This revelation about Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor was made by Dilip Kumar’s wife and actress, Saira Banu. In an interview, she compared actors of the past and present, highlighting that earlier actors shared each other’s joys and sorrows and made time for each other, a quality that she feels is lacking in today’s celebrities.
Saira Banu, remembering her late husband Dilip Kumar, shared that Dilip Kumar and the actors of his time respected each other greatly. She added, “Dilip often organized get-togethers for celebrities. Even if Raj Kapoor was in London, he would come back to India with just a phone call from Dilip Kumar.”
Very few people know that Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar were childhood friends. Both legendary actors were born in the same city, Peshawar (Pakistan). Their families also knew each other. Raj and Dilip used to play football together in their childhood.
Both Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar are no longer with us. It has been 36 years since Raj Kapoor left this world. ‘Showman’ Raj Kapoor passed away in 1988. Dilip Kumar passed away in July 2021, at the age of 98.