Do you know Somy Ali searched for Karz actor Raj Kiran for 20 years but couldn't find him: "I promised Rishi Kapoor I’d never stop looking"

Somy Ali and Rishi Kapoor

Bollywood has always been a land of glitz, drama, and unforgettable stories. Among them, the tale of actor Raj Kiran’s mysterious disappearance stands out — not only because of the unanswered questions but also due to the unwavering commitment of actress and social activist Somy Ali, who spent two decades trying to find him.

Raj Kiran Mahtani was a celebrated actor from the 1970s and 80s, known for his impactful performances in films like Karz, Arth, Baseraa, and Ek Naya Rishta. He began his career with Kaagaz Ki Nao, directed by BR Ishara, and soon rose to fame with over 100 film appearances. In addition to his movie roles, he also appeared in popular television shows like Reporter, Aakhir Kaun, and Aahat.

Despite his fame, Raj Kiran vanished from the public eye after his career took a downturn. He reportedly fell into depression, and as personal struggles compounded, he disappeared from the industry — and from his family. His vanishing left a void in Bollywood and sparked decades of speculation.

Among the few who refused to give up on finding him was Somy Ali — a former Bollywood actress and ex-girlfriend of Salman Khan. Today, she is better known for her social work, particularly through her US-based non-profit No More Tears, which supports victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

According to a report by BollywoodShaadis.com, Somy took it upon herself to search for Raj Kiran after learning about his case from actor Rishi Kapoor. “I promised Rishi Kapoor I’d never stop looking for Raj Kiran. I travelled to different states trying to find him, so Chintu ji could rest in peace,” she said. “He and another actress also tried, but we couldn’t locate him.”

Somy spent over 20 years on this personal mission, reportedly using her own savings and even borrowing money from her mother to fund the search. “Sadly, despite searching for 20 years—spending her own money and even borrowing from her mother—she couldn’t find him,” the report stated.

Raj Kiran had been married to Roopa, and the couple had two daughters — Rishika and Mannat Mahtani. During his active years, the family lived a quiet life, mostly away from the public eye. But after Raj’s disappearance, Roopa reportedly remarried and now goes by the name Roopa Mashruwala.

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In 2011, Raj Kiran’s daughter Rishika Mahtani broke the family’s silence in an emotional public statement. She denied rumors that her father was being treated in an Atlanta hospital. “The family had been searching for him for over eight years, involving the New York police and even hiring private detectives, but with no success,” she clarified.

She described her father as a “loving father who had shown signs of mental illness before he went missing,” and added, “We wanted to handle this privately, but false reports made me speak out. It’s completely unfair to my mother.”

This tragic mystery not only highlights the emotional toll such disappearances take on families but also showcases rare loyalty in Bollywood. Somy Ali, despite moving on from the industry and her past relationships, remained devoted to a promise she made to a friend.

Somy, who acted in a few Hindi films and starred opposite Salman Khan in Bulund, revealed in a previous interview that she played a role in breaking up Salman and Sangeeta Bijlani. “Sangeeta and Salman were about to get married but that’s when she caught Salman red-handed with me at her apartment,” Somy admitted.