Raj Kapoor’s magnum opus Mera Naam Joker may have become a cult classic over time, but at the time of its release, the four-hour-long epic left the legendary actor-filmmaker in financial ruin. The film took six years to make and failed at the box office, putting Kapoor in a position where he was forced to rebuild the trust of an industry that had once revered him.In an interview with Filmy Charcha, veteran actor Raza Murad, who frequently collaborated with Kapoor, reflected on the aftermath of Mera Naam Joker’s failure and how it impacted the making of Bobby. “After Mera Naam Joker, he was in tremendous debt,” Murad said. “Things got so bad that distributors refused to buy Bobby without seeing it first. These were the same people who were once desperate to secure the rights to his movies. But after Mera Naam Joker, everything changed.”Raj Kapoor wouldn’t drink until his films got a censor certificateDespite being hailed early in his career and often compared to Orson Welles, Kapoor’s subsequent films faced the burden of great expectations. Murad described him as a deeply passionate filmmaker who sacrificed everything, his time, his health, and even his family, for cinema.“He loved his drinks and meat, but he would quit before getting a censor certificate,” Murad recalled. “He would become absolutely consumed by films. He had the mind of a 14-year-old. He would fall ill a week before his film’s release because he would be so tense about its reception. He was aware that his reputation was at stake. It wasn’t about the money. He would put everything on the line.”
Raj Kapoor was a Shiva devotee and musical geniusRaj Kapoor, who founded the iconic RK Studios and helped define post-Independence Indian cinema, was also deeply spiritual, Murad said. “He was a devotee of Lord Shiva, and frequently referenced the Ganga in his films.”The actor also recalled Kapoor’s exceptional musical instincts: “He could play any musical instrument under the sun without practice.”Faced with skepticism from distributors during Bobby, Kapoor stood his ground. He reportedly refused to show them the full film but eventually agreed to show the songs to generate confidence.With Bobby, Raj Kapoor not only revived his fortunes but also launched his son Rishi Kapoor into stardom, proving once again why he was called ‘The Showman’ of Indian cinema.
