Raj Kapoor Established India’s “Soft Power” In World: PM To Kapoor Family

New Delhi: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Kapoor family on Tuesday in Delhi and remembered the life and legacy of cinema icon Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor established India’s soft power in the world at a time when that word was not even coined, he said during a candid chat with the Kapoors.

“In the diplomatic world, we talk a lot about soft power. And at a time when this phrase didn’t even exist, Raj Kapoor sahab established India’s soft power all over the world. It was his big service to India,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister met Raj Kapoor’s daughter Rima Jain, daughter-in-law Neetu Kapoor and grandchildren – actors Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Aadar Jain and Armaan Jain.

Alia Bhatt and Saif Ali Khan were also present at the meeting.

Prime Minister, while talking abo the power of cinema, he narrated an incident about former Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.

“In the Jan Sangh era, there were elections in Delhi and they lost the election. So Advani ji and Atal ji said, ‘We lost the elections, what should we do now? So let’s see a movie.’ “They went to see a movie and it was Raj Kapoor’s ‘Phir Subah Hogi’ (1958) and then there was a new morning,” he said.

He also recalled that during one of his China visits, the hosts were playing songs from Raj Kapoor’s movies.

“I asked my team to record it on a mobile and I sent it to Rishiji (Kapoor). And he was so happy,” PM Modi said.