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In a family where cinema ran in the veins Rajiv Kapoor seemed destined for glory. Born on 25 August 1962 in Mumbai he was the youngest son of the great showman Raj Kapoor. Fondly called Chimpu he grew up in the limelight but often stood in the shadows of his famous brothers Rishi and Randhir. Did Rajiv Kapoor want to be an actor or director? Rajiv dreamt of being a hero on screen but his father Raj Kapoor wanted him to explore direction instead. Torn between his own passion and his father’s advice Rajiv chose acting first. Unfortunately the choice set him on a difficult path where fame remained elusive. Rajiv debuted in 1983 with Ek Jaan Hain Hum but the film failed to click. He went on to try his luck in movies like Aasmaan Lover Boy and Zabardast. Nothing worked until Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) came along. Directed by Raj Kapoor himself the film became a blockbuster remembered for its boldness and music. Rajiv too found recognition—but the spark didn’t last. Why did his bond with Raj Kapoor suffer? Film critic Jayprakash Chouksey once revealed “Raj Kapoor advised him many times not to pursue acting and instead focus on direction.” But Rajiv was stubborn. Choosing quick projects that flopped only deepened the rift. Reports suggest the father-son relationship was so strained that Rajiv even skipped Raj Kapoor’s funeral a wound that never healed. After struggling as an actor he shifted to production and direction. He produced Henna (1991) a project close to his father’s heart directed by Randhir Kapoor. In 1996 Rajiv directed Prem Granth starring Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. Sadly the film bombed. Later he starred in Aa Ab Laut Chalein (1999) directed by Rishi Kapoor but success continued to evade him. What about his personal life? Rajiv’s personal world was equally turbulent. He married architect Aarti Sabharwal in 2001 but the marriage ended in divorce by 2003. After that he lived mostly alone battling alcohol dependence and loneliness. He later bought a house in Pune but eventually moved back to live with Randhir Kapoor in Chembur. Did Rajiv ever make a comeback? Surprisingly yes. His final film Toolsidas Junior (2022) released posthumously and won hearts with its warmth and story. It marked a fitting if bittersweet return for a man who longed to be remembered as an actor. How did Rajiv Kapoor die? On 9 February 2021 Rajiv Kapoor passed away at age 58 after suffering a heart attack at Randhir Kapoor’s home in Chembur. He was rushed to a hospital but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Rajiv Kapoor’s life was a mix of hope heartbreak and missed opportunities. He belonged to Indian cinema’s first family yet remained the one Kapoor who could never shine as bright as his legacy promised. Still his role in Ram Teri Ganga Maili and his final bow in Toolsidas Junior ensure that his name will not be forgotten.