Iconic RK Studios sold to Godrej

The iconic and landmark RK Studios - that was ravaged in a massive fire - has been sold to realty major Godrej Properties Ltd.

The studio was founded by the legendary showman late Raj Kapoor, a recepient of the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Spread across 2.2 acres, this project will offer approximately 33,000 square meters (approximately 0.35 million square feet) of saleable area comprising modern residential apartments of various configurations as well as a luxury retail experience.

The site is strategically located on the main Sion-Panvel Road and offers an extremely well developed social and civic infrastructure with multiple schools, hospitals, retail malls, residential, and commercial spaces in close proximity.

On the deal, Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairman, Godrej Properties said, “We are happy to add this iconic site in Chembur to our development portfolio. This fits well with our strategy of deepening our presence in key locations across India's leading cities. We will seek to ensure we celebrate the remarkable legacy of this site with the goal of delivering an outstanding lifestyle for its residents.”

Late Raj Kapoor's son Randhir Kapoor, who used to look after the RK Studios said: "This property in Chembur has been of tremendous significance to my family over the many decades that R.K. Studios has operated from there. We are excited to have chosen Godrej Properties to script a new chapter for this location and build upon its rich history."

On September 16, 2017, a major fire broke out on the sets of dance reality show "Super Dancer" at the studio in which its ground floor was gutted. No casualty was reported in the mishap but the sets perished in the inferno.

Incidentally, the studio property sale deal comes barely six months after the late Raj Kapoor’s wife, Krishna Kapoor, passed away at the age of 87, on October 1, 2018.

Constructed in 1948, the RK Studios contributed to the Indian cinema. After the first film “Aag” made at this studio bombed at the box office in 1948, the RK Films – tasted first success with Barsaat (1949). The banner went on to make successful films like Awaara, Boot Polish, Jagte Raho and Shree 420.

Many R.K. Films movies featured Kapoor opposite actress Nargis. Raj Kapoor appeared in 15 R.K. films with Nargis and travelled around the world with her to promote the studio's films.

Thereafter, RK Films produced many films, including Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby(1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), which was Raj Kapoor's last film.

In the seventies, Randhir Kapoor joined his father at the studio, and made his acting and directorial debut with Kal Aaj Aur Kal in 1971, which also starred his future wife Babita, father Raj Kapoor and grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor. He went on to direct two more films with the company Dharam Karam(1975) and an incomplete film left by Raj Kapoor, which he completed after his father's death in 1988 and Henna (1991).

Late Raj Kapoor’s youngest brother Shashi Kapoor also featured in several R.K. films. When Raj Kapoor died in 1988, Randhir took over the studio. His younger brother Rajiv Kapoor directed Prem Granth in 1996 and Rishi Kapoor directed Aa Ab Laut Chalen(1999). After 1999, the Kapoors did not produce films under the RK Films banner.