Asrani, the prominent actor who flourished in the Indian film industry, passed away on October 20, 2025, at the age of 84. As the country mourns the devastating loss, the actor’s long-time friend recalled a significant incident about him, reminiscing about the memories. Chronicling the controversy, he recalled that the legendary Raj Kapoor had a grudge against the actor, vowing to never work together.
The rift between Raj Kapoor and Asrani
While fans are familiar with Asrani’s work and success in the entertainment industry, the actor’s friend Hanif Zaveri mentioned the behind-the-scenes status when the ‘Chhoti Si Baat’ actor was relatively new in the environment, in an interview with Vickey Lalwani. Remembering an instance between Raj Kapoor and Asrani, he recollected that the renowned actor-producer was on the verge of launching his son, Rishi Kapoor, in films. However, the ‘Shree 420’ actor wanted Kapoor to have training in the Poona Film Institute (FTII). “The people in the film industry knew that if anyone taught acting in the Poona Film Institute, it was Asrani,” Zaveri said. However, training in the prestigious institution was only available to those with an educational qualification, such as an HSC. As Rishi Kapoor was rejected in the admission process, Raj Kapoor reportedly called Asrani to help and provide the needful through his connections. Asrani could not do that, leading to a rift between him and the ‘Awaara’ actor. While Kapoor vowed not to cast him in any project, the ‘Dhamaal’ actor decided not to work with him as well.
The friendship between Rishi Kapoor and Asrani
Meanwhile, the friendship between Rishi Kapoor and Asrani bloomed, and they had a great bond over the years. Not only did they work together, but they also had their backs in the critical industry. In ‘Chala Murari Hero Banne,’ the ‘Bobby’ actor suggested that they shoot a scene in the RK studios, as the script required a certain circumstance – and he didn’t even charge a penny for his role. Go to Source
