Priceless memorabilia and costumes of RK Films lost in the fire at RK studios

Even though the major fire that broke out at the iconic RK Studios (in Mumbai) didn’t result in any casualties or serious injuries, several memorabilia and costumes of famous RK films were lost in the fire.

Rishi Kapoor took to Twitter to express his sadness over the loss. He said “A studio can be built again but the loss of irreplaceable memorabilia and costumes of all RK Films, is tragic for all. Fire took it away.”

“Raj Kapoor’s iconic Mera Naam Joker mask, and costumes worn by all RK banner heroines – from Nargis to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – among the memorabilia lost in the fire at RK Studios. The jewellery worn by Padmini in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai was also stored here with a lot of love. There were spears, sabres, artefacts, furniture and other regalia used for the various shoots,” says Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor shared a few more interesting facts about the studio and Raj Kapoor.

• In 1951, Raj Kapoor had constructed just four walls on Stage One, which didn’t even have a proper roof because he used natural light to shoot.
• In 1970 when Mera Naam Joker flopped, Raj Kapoor had to mortgage the studio.
• Raj Kapoor didn’t buy a home for his family until Bobby’s success. He put all his earnings into the studio because cinema was his religion.
• Towards the end of his life, Raj Kapoor sold two stages of RK Studios for a paltry sum. But even after Raj Kapoor’s death, his sons never contemplated selling any part of the property.

“My father shot the famous dream sequence in ‘Awaara’ here. At that time there were just four walls and no roof. The entire dream sequence was shot after sundown because Chembur got electricity only in the nights in the 1950s. During the day, my father toiled for other filmmakers as an actor…and then at night he put his earnings into his own film,” says Rishi Kapoor.

“My own journey at the RK Studio started at the age of two when I shot with my elder siblings, Randhir and Ritu, for the song Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua from Shree 420. I kept crying because I had to walk through heavy rain and Nargisji bribed me with a Cadbury chocolate, promising to give it to me if I did what my father asked me to do”, says Rishi.

The iconic revolving stage in Karz was shot here.

Several celebrities expressed their sadness over the damage and loss.

RK Studios was set up by showman Raj Kapoor in 1948. Some iconic films such as “Aag”, “Barsaat”, “Awaara”, “Shri 420”, “Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai”, “Mera Naam Joker”, “Bobby”, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, and “Ram Teri Ganga Maili” were made under this banner. However, no film has been shot here after “Aa Ab Laut Chalen” (1999).