Raj Kapoor revealed colourful details of dad Prithviraj Kapoor’s romance with ‘very beautiful’ Leela, mom Ramsarni turned a blind eye: Bina Ramani

Actor Raj Kapoor with his father Prithviraj Kapoor and mother Ramsarni Kapoor. (Photo: Express Archive)

Speaking to ANI, Bina reminisced about her conversations with Raj Kapoor and casually recalled, “There was another lady called Leela something—his father had a romance with Leela. Very beautiful, like Devika Rani from that era, maybe a little younger. And the things he would say… he said, ‘I was young and I saw my father…’ and then he would describe the kind of romance and the depth they shared.”

According to Bina, the relationship was an open secret. “He said the husband knew about it and supported it because he saw a certain truth in it. Papa ji’s wife—his mother—would also look the other way. The descriptions were so vivid, it was like watching a movie screen.”

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Bina didn’t reveal who Prithviraj Kapoor’s paramour was. In his long and storied career, he worked with both Leela Mishra and Leela Chitnis but they were never romantically linked.

Leela Mishra with Moped Raja in film SANJOG. (Photo: Express Archive)

Leela Mishra is best remembered by contemporary audiences as the iconic Mausi from Sholay. She shared screen space with Prithviraj Kapoor in films such as Awaara (1951), Aah (1953), and Lootera (1965). However, in all these films, Mishra appeared in supporting or character roles, making the possibility of a romantic association less certain.

The other name, Leela Chitnis. A star or her time—she rose to prominence at a time when Bombay Talkies—known for its bold and controversial subjects—was struggling commercially. The studio’s fortunes turned with Kangan (1939), a controversial yet hugely successful film that cemented Chitnis’ stardom.

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A major star of her time, Chitnis famously replaced Devika Rani as the leading lady of Bombay Talkies and went on to deliver several box-office hits opposite Ashok Kumar. Her pairing with him in films like Bandhan, Azad, and Jhoola proved immensely successful.

Actress Leela Chitnis. (Photo: Express Archive)

Her impact extended beyond cinema. In 1941, Leela Chitnis created history by becoming the first Indian film star to endorse Lux soap, a privilege until then reserved exclusively for top Hollywood actresses.

Leela Chitnis played Prithviraj Kapoor’s wife in Awaara (1951), the iconic film starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

The personal lives of the two Leelas also differed significantly. Leela Mishra was married at the age of 12 to Ram Prasad Misra and remained with him for 68 years. Leela Chitnis, on the other hand, married Dr Gajanan Yeshwant Chitnis at 16; the couple had four sons before eventually parting ways. A graduate by education, Leela Chitnis worked as a teacher before finding her calling in cinema.

While the identity of the “Leela” Raj Kapoor referred to remains unconfirmed, the anecdote offers a rare, human glimpse into the private life of Prithviraj Kapoor.