Why Raj Kapoor Could Not Walk Up To Stage To Collect His Dadasaheb Phalke Award

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s most prestigious honor in cinema, has been awarded to only a select few legendary actors over the years. Recently, Mithun Chakraborty was conferred the award for his immense contribution to Indian cinema. Despite having a fractured hand, Mithun attended the ceremony to receive this rare recognition.

This moment brings to mind the 1988 ceremony when Raj Kapoor was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his outstanding filmography. Tragically, Raj Kapoor suffered a severe asthmatic attack just before his name was announced. In an extraordinary gesture, President R Venkataraman broke protocol and personally walked over to the ailing actor to present him with the award. Raj Kapoor passed away a month later, at the age of 63.

During a previous interview with Filmfare, Raj Kapoor’s daughter Rima Jain recounted the incident. She shared, “Somewhere, I believe, Papa ordained his death. He was to be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on May 2, 1988, in Delhi. He left from Mumbai on April 30. There was a dust storm in Delhi. As soon as the door of the plane opened, he was greeted with a violent gust of wind. Being an asthma patient, it affected his lungs.”

Despite experiencing difficulty in breathing, Raj Kapoor decided to attend the ceremony, arriving at the venue with an oxygen cylinder. However, when the pivotal moment came wherein he was expected to walk to the stage to receive the award, the actor was unable to even stand up. “He kept pressing my mother’s hand hard to show his discomfort. Finally, when his name was announced he couldn’t get up. There was hulchul (commotion),” noted Rima.

President Venkataraman, sensing Raj Kapoor’s discomfort, came down to him to present the award. Later, he was taken to the hospital where he was put on a ventilator. “In a way, he prepared the family that he was going,” she added.

Raj Kapoor is celebrated as the “Greatest showman” for his unparalleled contributions to the film industry. Born on December 14, 1924, Raj Kapoor explored a variety of genres including romance, drama, and social issues. Some of his most notable movies include Awaara, Shree 420 and Anari.