Actor Rajiv Kapoor, the youngest son of Bollywood legend the late Raj Kapoor, passed away on Tuesday due to a cardiac arrest. ‘Chimpu’ started his career with a supporting role in the 1983 release Ek Jaan Hain Hum, following the Showman’s footsteps.
He subsequently starred opposite actor Mandakini in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, adding a new dimension to his career. The film garnered a fair deal of attention because of the effective screenplay and gripping presentation. A few feathers were, however, ruffled due to the bold scenes. Rajiv eventually turned producer, beginning a new chapter in life. Here is a look at five popular movies that defined his career.
Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
Ram Teri Ganga Maili, the last directorial venture of Raj Kapoor’s career, revolved around the journey of a young woman from Gangotri while highlighting her bond with a charming young man. The romantic drama emerged as a big hit while receiving positive reviews. It featured the highly controversial ‘transparent saree’ scene, which was quite ahead of the times.
Zabardast (1985)
Zabardast, the last film of ace director Nasir Hussain’s illustrious career, was an actioner that created a fair deal of buzz among the target audience. It saw Rajiv act alongside versatile actor Sanjeev Kumar, Sunny Deol and Jaya Prada.
Zimmedaaar (1991)
Rajiv's last film Zimmedaaar featured him in the role of a cop. The cast included Anita Raj, Vinod Mehra and Rajendra Nath.
Henna (1991)
Rajiv served as the executive producer for the critically-acclaimed romantic drama Henna, which featured Rishi Kapoor and Pakistani actor Zeba Bakhtiyar in the lead. A commercial success, it was India’s official entry to the Oscars but failed to earn a nomination.
Prem Granth (1996)
Rajiv decided to deal with the sensitive issue of rape in Prem Granth, his first and only film as director. The hard-hitting movie proved to be a commercial failure despite featuring a strong cast headlined by Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.