Deepti Naval Reflects on Her Bond with Raj Kapoor: From College Days to His Last Rites
Deepti Naval vividly recalls her first encounter with Raj Kapoor, describing him as warm, approachable, and eager to share his life experiences. This meeting occurred during her college days in the early 1970s when Deepti, a student at Hunter College in New York, hosted a radio show called Rang Mahal.
The Beginnings of Rang Mahal
Rang Mahal was a musical program that played beloved Hindi songs for New York’s small Indian community at the time. “The Indian community was much smaller back then, unlike today when every other person on the streets of New York is Indian,” Deepti recalls. As her confidence grew, she began inviting visiting Indian celebrities to the show. Her first guest was Sunil Dutt, who turned the interview into a friendly conversation about her life before sharing his own.
Meeting the “Showman”
By the time Raj Kapoor visited New York, Deepti had gained some experience. A devoted admirer of his work, she marveled at films like Jagte Raho and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, which entertained while upholding Indian values. She fondly remembers Jagte Raho, a poignant tale of greed and corruption, as well as the iconic music of the film, from Mukesh’s “Zindagi Khwab Hai” to Lata Mangeshkar’s “Jaago Mohan Pyare.”
Her admiration extended to Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, a film inspired by social activist Vinoba Bhave’s call for dacoits to surrender peacefully. Its memorable tracks, including “Aa Ab Laut Chalein” and the patriotic “Hoton Pe Sachai Rehti Hai,” left a lasting impression on her.
When Deepti finally interviewed Raj Kapoor, accompanied by college friends and a tape recorder, she found him to be endearing and open. Their conversation, filled with anecdotes and music, remains a cherished memory. “He was so easy to talk to, so forthcoming about his inspirations and values,” she shares, lamenting the loss of those recordings.
A Lasting Influence
Deepti credits Raj Kapoor’s films, particularly Mera Naam Joker, with shaping her understanding of relationships and life. The three-part narrative’s unique take on love and heartbreak, especially the iconic “Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan” sequence, taught her that “the show must go on.”
In later years, she met Raj Kapoor again in Mumbai, once with actor Anil Kapoor, and another time when he attended her birthday celebration as the chief guest. “It meant so much to me that he came to my apartment, which I hadn’t even furnished yet, to celebrate with my father and me,” she recalls.
A Heartbreaking Goodbye
Deepti’s final encounter with Raj Kapoor was at his cremation. Devastated by the news of his passing, she rushed to his last rites. Unknowingly, she became the only woman present at the funeral, breaching the family tradition that excluded women beyond a certain point. “I stood there, silent and overwhelmed, remembering the man who had left such a mark on my life,” she reflects.
Deepti Naval’s memories of Raj Kapoor, from their initial meeting to her unintentional act of defiance at his farewell, are a testament to the enduring impact of the legendary filmmaker and his artistry.
