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This Raj Kapoor film took 6 years to complete and was considered way ahead of its time. Can you guess its name? Published: April 15, 2025 7:48 AM IST By was legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s dream project. The multi-starrer film follows the life of a poverty-stricken boy who is compelled to become a joker in a circus.
The deeply philosophical story explores how intensely sorrow hides behind the act of laughter. Mera Naam Joker took 6 years to complete and was considered way ahead of its time. However, when released, it failed miserably at box office, leaving Raj Kapoor shattered and highly disappointed.
The late filmmaker borrowed huge amounts of money to make this film. He put his heart and soul into the project and even roped in big stars like Manoj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Padmini, Dharmendra and Simi Garewal. He even cast his son Rishi Kapoor, who played the younger version of his character.
In an interview, Raj Kapoor’s son Randheer Kapoor revealed that audience felt Mera Naam Joker was not comedy and failed to delve into the deeper aspects. Moreover, the five hour runtime, necessitating two intervals, could be one of the reasons. Made in a reported budget of Rs 1 crore, Raj Kapoor invested much of his fortunes into the film and went bankrupt after its failure.
He even mortgaged his RK studio and other assets at that time. However, things changed when he desired to make a romantic film with his son Rishi Kapoor. Reportedly, he wanted to rope in Rajesh Khanna but didn’t have enough remuneration.
Thus, he cast newcomers Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in the film that became . It became a blockbuster success, and saved him from all the previous losses he suffered due to Mera Naam Joker. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and .
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