Deepti Naval has cemented herself as a versatile actress with films like Chashme Buddoor, Goldfish, Ankahee, and Firaaq, among others. However, back in the early ’70s, she was just a student at the University of New York, Hunter College in midtown Manhattan, who hosted a radio show called Rang Mahal. The musical program played old, soulful Hindi tracks for the NRI community in the city. Eventually, Deepti started inviting Indian celebrities who were visiting New York on it, and Sunil Dutt was her first guest. She then went on to enjoy the great fortune of having the late Bollywood legend, Raj Kapoor as a guest as well, and she recently opened up about the experience.
Deepti Naval recalls Raj Kapoor as being very endearing when he appeared as a guest on her radio show
Actress, Deepti Naval has been a massive fan of the late Bollywood showman Raj Kapoor since she first saw his film, Jagte Raho, as a child. His movies, Shree 420, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, and Mera Naam Joker, also left a long-lasting impression on her for propagating the right Indian values while being commercial entertainers. Thus, Deepti’s excitement was through the roof when she managed to connect with the legendary actor-filmmaker when he was visiting New York, and he agreed to appear on her radio show.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Deepti recalled heaving a bulky tape recorder and arriving with a few college friends for the interview. The NH10 actress fondly remembered the late actor as being a ‘man of music.’ Deepti recounted that during the one-hour radio interaction, which was peppered with some of his iconic numbers, Raj Kapoor was very ‘endearing’ and easy to talk to. In Deepti’s words:
“He was so endearing, so easy to chat with, so open to talking about his life and work, what had inspired him and what mattered to him.”
Deepti regretted not having any copies of the interview now. However, she stated that her first meeting with ‘Raj ji’ was a ‘delightful event’ that she would remember for the rest of her life. The actress further named O Basanti Pawan Pagal and O Mere Sanam from Raj Kapoor’s Sangam as her two favourite songs.
Deepti Naval says Raj Kapoor was always ‘very affectionate’ towards her despite them not working together
Deepti Naval was able to meet Raj Kapoor yet again when she came to Mumbai. By then, Deepti had entered Bollywood and starred in a few films herself. When Deepti ran into Raj Kapoor, she was in the company of his distant relative and actor, Anil Kapoor. The actress also recalled feeling touched when Raj Kapoor’s youngest son, Rajiv told her that his father had highly appreciated her work in Ek Baar Fir, Chashme Buddoor, and Saath Saath. Deepti said:
“I never got to work with him, but I value the few times I met Rajji. He was always very affectionate towards me and he was the chief guest at my birthday celebrations once. I’m very proud and touched that he came to my apartment, which I had newly bought and not even done up until then, to wish me. My father was also there on the occasion,” she remembers.
Deepti Naval recalls barging in when Raj Kapoor’s funeral rites were being performed
Deepti Naval painfully recalled her last meeting with the legendary figure at his cremation. When the actress learnt that Raj Kapoor was no more, she ran to where his last rights were being performed from wherever she was then. She recounted accidentally breaking the family’s rules to bid him a final adieu and said:
“Jahan cab mila, I took a cab, jahan auto mila, I took an auto, and just barged in. His last rites were being performed and the pyre was already burning. I stood there, silent and devastated, remembering the man I had first met as a young girl. Suddenly, it struck me that I was the only woman present there and realised that women were not allowed by the family at the funeral beyond a point. But unknowingly, I had breached even this divide to bid Rajji a final goodbye.”
What do you think about Deepti Naval’s fond recollection of Raj Kapoor?
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