Watched Raj Kapoor's Phir Subah Hogi with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani after Delhi elections defeat: PM Modi at Kapoor family meet

Narendra Modi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a memory about legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor during his meeting with the Kapoor family ahead of the legends centenary celebrations. The gathering took place as part of the preparations for the upcoming RK Film Festival, commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor. The PM recalled a moment with political stalwarts LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when, after a defeat in the Delhi elections, they watched Raj Kapoor's film, Phir Subah Hogi.

The meeting with the Kapoor family, which included Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, and Saif Ali Khan among other members, was aimed at inviting the Prime Minister to the RK Film Festival. This festival celebrates 100 years of Raj Kapoor’s monumental contributions to Indian cinema.

Prime Minister Modi shared his admiration for Raj Kapoor's work, emphasising the filmmaker's role in establishing the concept of soft power through cinema long before it became a widely discussed topic. He noted, “In our diplomatic world, we discuss soft power a lot. And at a time when this term most likely didn't exist, Mr Raj Kapoor had established its power via his diverse cinema. That is a big service to the country.”

Modi also recalled an instance during his visit to China, where he heard a Rishi Kapoor film playing in the background. He shared this moment with Rishi Kapoor, who was elated upon hearing it.

During the meeting, Ranbir Kapoor humorously mentioned the family’s dilemma about how to address the Prime Minister, to which Modi responded with warmth, saying, “I belong to your family too. You can call me whatever you want to.”

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Alia Bhatt asked if the PM had the opportunity to listen to music. Modi affirmed that he enjoys songs whenever he gets a chance to unwind from his busy schedule. Saif Ali Khan, accompanied by Kareena Kapoor, expressed his gratitude towards the PM, stating, “You're the first PM that I have met in person. Thank you for taking the time to do this. You are doing a wonderful job and I just wanted to thank you on everyone's behalf for being so warm and accessible.”

Ranbir Kapoor extended an invitation to PM Modi for the Raj Kapoor retrospective on December 13, 14, and 15. He mentioned that the entire Mumbai film industry would be present, and the government of India had been very supportive of the event. The festival aims to showcase Raj Kapoor's legacy, bringing together cinephiles and industry veterans to celebrate his timeless contributions.