Krishna Raj Kapoor: Dignity was her middle name 

I met Krishna Raj Kapoor only once, and that too briefly. But her grace dignity and warmth left a lasting impression on me.

Mrs Raj Kapoor was by far the most awe-inspiring star-wife in the Indian entertainment industry. In fact to even refer to her as a star-wife, or worse, Mrs Raj Kapoor is an insult to a woman who was the true power behind the RK throne.

Krishna Raj Kapoor had seen it all: she was witness to all the great Raj Kapoor movies that he created and she was the first ally and collaborator he consulted every  time any new idea propped up in his restless head.

It is believed by many who knew this remarkable lady closely that she allowed her ‘Showman Husband’ to take her for granted. If we look at the passionate affairs that Raj Kapoor had right under his wife’s aquiline nose, then yes,  she could be seen to be  passive and docile.

But a family friend who knew the couple very closely says there was a valid reason for  Mrs Raj Kapoor’s acquiescence.

“The children,” explains the friend. “Krishna Bhabhi bore with Raj Saab’s passion for  Nargisji because she did not want her children Randhir, Reema, Ritu, Rishi and Rajeev to suffer the consequences of a broken marriage. Krishnaji conducted herself with immense dignity with Nargisji whenever they ran into each other. No, they were not friends. But being the wife, Krishnaji never allowed the ‘other woman’ to feel unwanted. It took great courage and dignity to give grace to such a murky situation. However when Raj Saab ignited a similar passion  for Vyjanthimala, Krishanji put her foot down and simply walked out with the children until her husband apologised and came back.”

Dignity under duress was Mrs Krishna Raj Kapoor’s mantra to survive. She was Raj Kapoor’s ultimate ‘Lady In White.’ The filmmaker made all his heroines dress in his wife’s favourite colour. As she grew older after her husband’s death Krishnaji continued to cook her sumptuous Sunday meal for all her children and grandchildren. For her , the children were her world.

How disturbed she would have been to know that her favourite son Rishi was ailing seriously. That she went before she got the bad news about her son was for the best. All her life she protected her children from hurt. Now it was their turn.