Did You Know? Anil Kapoor’s Family Shares a Deep Connection With Prithviraj Kapoor, Whose Driver’s Quarters His Father Once Called Home

The "Kapoor Family" has an interesting history in Bollywood, looking at thier lineage one might see stalwarts like Raj, Rishi, Kareena, and Ranbir coming from Prithviraj Kapoor's family. And not many might know, but Anil Kapoor, and his siblings also belong to the extended Kapoor family. Anil, Boney, Sanjay, and Reena's father - Surinder Kapoor, was the first cousin to Prithviraj Kapoor. While Anil has witnessed superstardom, his father has had quite an inspiring journey in Mumbai, with Prithviraj Kapoor's help. 

A Helping Hand from Peshawar to Mumbai

Back in 1950, a 27-year-old Surinder Kapoor left Peshawar for Mumbai. He reached out to his first cousin, the towering superstar Prithviraj Kapoor, for guidance. Prithviraj didn't just welcome him; he actively opened doors. The day Surinder stepped off the Frontier Mail train, Prithviraj took him straight to the legendary filmmaker K. Asif, landing him a job as an assistant director on the sets of Mughal-E-Azam.

When Surinder’s wife joined him in the city, the young couple moved into a tiny outhouse above Prithviraj Kapoor’s garage - a space typically reserved for the superstar's driver.

Midnights in the Chawl and Box Office Heartbreaks

The family later moved to a modest chawl in Tilak Nagar, where their four children - Boney, Anil, Reena, and Sanjay were born and raised.

Surinder eventual transitioned from an assistant to a producer, fiercely loyal to those who helped him. He chose to make his debut film, Jab Se Tumhe Dekha (1963), with actress Geeta Bali simply because he had promised her he would, passing up a chance to work with Madhubala.

Unfortunately, it didn't translate to box office numbers. The film flopped, setting off a devastating pattern. As the years rolled on, Prithviraj’s family witnessed stardom, while Surinder faced a mountain of debt and a failing heart.

The Sons Who Rewrote the Script

Seeing their father with financial burden, the Kapoor brothers stepped up to rewrite their family’s destiny. Boney Kapoor took the reins of production. Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor became a popular actor, and later a megastar.

Today, the two Kapoor families stand side-by-side at the pinnacle of Indian cinema.