The famous RK Studio, built from scratch by the legendary Raj Kapoor, is up for sale. The decision was taken by the Kapoor family which includes Raj Kapoor’s wife Krishna Raj Kapoor, his sons Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor and his daughters Ritu Nanda and Rima Jain. The Quint caught up with Randhir Kapoor, who spoke about how difficult a decision it has been for the family, and how the fire that broke out in the studio on 16 September 2017 destroyed invaluable memorabilia.
Yes, (RK Studio) it’s up for sale. We have not decided anything else. It’s not economically viable for us to set up a new studio - we had to dismantle the entire place after the fire. It’s even more an emotional loss than monetary loss. We have lost the entire memorabilia of Raj Kapoor. Whatever Raj Kapoor had built has been burnt down. Everything is gone.Randhir Kapoor, Actor
The veteran actor also added that actors don’t come to the Chembur studio to shoot anyway, so it’s not viable to build it again.
With the state of the roads and traffic today, no actor comes to Chembur to shoot in this studio. They would rather go to Film City. So, with a very heavy heart, we have decided to let it go. My whole family is very sad, but there’s no other way.
From Raj Kapoor’s Awara (1951) to Aa Ab Laut Chalein (1999) directed by Rishi Kapoor, the studio has figured in the production of every RK film. The studio has seen the highs and lows of Raj Kapoor’s fortune at the box-office - it was mortgaged after the debacle of Mera Naam Joker, only to be bought back after the success of Bobby, in which Rishi Kapoor made his debut has a leading man.
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