I had and will always have the highest regards for Raj Kapoor, the film maker, but some how to my misfortune, bad luck or call it what you may my personal encounters with him were of a very strange kind. I had seen him being treated like a spoilt brat by my 'guru', Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. He was like any other human being in that simple apartment which was Abbas Sahab's office and whenever he was face to face with Abbas, the man who was responsible for making him popular as the tramp, the symbol of the disillusioned man struggling his way even after independence and all the lofty promises made by all the mahaan leaders.

But it was only after I came out of the world of Abbas Sahab that I realized what the magic of Raj Kapoor, the showman was all about. I heard the story about his grand party and how some of the most popular celebrities were willing to loose anything to be a part of them. I had also heard of the grand Holi celebration at his famous R. K. Studios. I tried to imagine what they would be like and was inquisitive more than interested. I wanted to be a part of them atleast once. And my opportunities came and what a way they came!

I was very excited when I was sent to cover the Holi celebrations which was a common job for all trainee reporters. I hated the festival but I decided to go because first of all it was my job that mattered and secondly because I always wanted to have a feel of what the most talked about Holi celebration in Bombay was all about. I reached the gates of R. K. Studios and before I could look up I was welcomed with three buckets full of coloured water. I did not expect this, I was almost blinded when Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and two other man carried me and flung me into a pool of coloured water. I stumbled and turned thrice in the pool, gasped for breath and called out for help but no one was listening. I was finally pulled out by Rishi Kapoor who pushed two bottles of beer in to my hands which I finished in twenty minutes flat and then nothing mattered. I was a brave man willing to face any problem. Raj Kapoor was sitting with his wife, Krishna, completely drunk before noon, all covered with colour of every kind, embracing people whoever they were, dancing with the well-known Kathak dancer, Sitara Devi and generally having a good time with all the women around. I went up to him to seek his blessings. He embraced me and ruffled my hair without knowing and caring to know who I was then called for man and asked them to throw me into the pool again. I wanted to cry but the beer inside me gave me all the courage this time. I was not scared, in fact I was thrilled to know that I was celebrating Holi at R. K. Studios with Raj Kapoor and the entire industry. It was only the next morning when I felt my entire body ache and my body shivering with fever that I decided not to have anything to do with the Holi at RK. I later celebrated Holi with Subhash Ghai and Amitabh Bachchan but I never went back R.K. I had developed some kind of a Holi phobia when it came to celebrating it at a place where I felt I could have almost died so many years ago. Then Raj Kapoor died in 1987 and there has been no Holi celebrations at R. K. after his death. That pool still stands there as a witness to some great moments of joy and a day I can never forget in my life.

Some time later Bombay was playing host to the International Film Festival of India. Filmmakers, artists and technicians from all over the world had descended in Bombay. I was not interested in the festival and I was not invited to Raj Kapoor party, after all, who was I to be invited? But I wanted to be at the party some how. I thought of various ways of getting or gate crashing into the party even though I knew it was a very big risk. As luck would have it, I was invited to the shooting of a film called 'Phaansi' at R. K. Studios. I was told that the studio would close down for all work at two pm because of the party to be held that evening. I decided to stay put at the studios. I knew how Raj Kapoor treated gate crashers at his party. I heard the story of how he beat up and physically pushed out people who were not his guests I still decided to take my big risk. Hectic preparations were being made for a royal feast in the night. I mingled with the crowd of workers. It was 6 pm and Raj Kapoor himself entered the studio to supervise the final touches being given to his arrangements. I panicked. I did not know what to do next. But before I could think any further, he spotted me and called me towards him with the sign of his little finger. I knew it was the beginning of the end for me. I still walked upto him, resigned to my fate. He looked at me from head to toe and then asked me where I had come from. I don't know what got into me but I just mumbled the name "Kumtakar Kumtakar I am his assistant, he is on his way". I know Kumtakar my boss was very close to Raj Kapoor. They were not just the showman and a poor journalist. They were more than just that. The name Kumtakar worked wonders for me "Kumta, Kumti, my dear friend and you are his man, come on sunny, go ahead and enjoy your self" he said and I felt as if I had found a ticket to paradise. I really took him seriously and had one of the greatest nights of my life. The entire crowd of famous faces fascinated me, there was rich food, the menu consisting of food from all over the world, the liquor just flowing on and on. I ate, I drank, I made friends. I was celebrating everything in life but more than anything I was celebrating my being spared the wrath and temper of the showman, something everyone who knew him was scared of.

Then I had another close encounter with the showman. It was at a party hosted by the lyricist, Anand Bakshi on his Birthday. Raj Kapoor entered with his secretary, Mr. Harish Debra. He was already drunk. Soon he was the Emperor and everyone who walked in had to bow before him or touch his feet. No one could over look him, he was the showman, after all. I was introduced to him by Kumtakar again. He shook and then as I was moving ahead, he called me back and said, "Do you know who you were standing before just now. It was the Raj Kapoor and you had the guts to stand before me with your hand on your side. No one has dared to stand before me like that till this day". I tried to explain that it was a spontaneous action, but he refused to understand, it was only after Kumtakar and Anand Bakshi came to my rescue that I realized what had happened to me that evening.

Almost a similar incident happened at the grand reception Shammi Kapoor and Manmohan Desai hosted to celebrate the marriage of Shammi's daughter Kaanchan and Manmohan Desai's son, Ketan. The entire industry was present at the naval grounds in Colaba. I was enjoying myself when I suddenly heard a voice on the microphone. "Mr. Ali Peter John, if you are any where around Mr. Raj Kapoor would like to see you immediately". I wondered what made me so important in such a large crowd. I decided to take it lightly but soon found people looking for me. I was then led to his highness. (He was already very high) and he instantly burst out, so you are the man who is going to report the coming of naval trucks filled with whisky into prohibited ground. I am also told that you carried the news on the front page. If you do anything like that, I will not only see the last of you but also close down all your newspapers. You don't know the power of Mr. Raj Kapoor." Again I tried to explain my position but the showman was not a man in any condition to listen to anything. I got drunk that night and forgot all about it and he too must have forgotten everything because nothing happened after that.

My strange encounters with the showman continued even after he died. I was part of the mammoth funeral profession when I suddenly saw two police men coming towards me. They asked me how I was related to Raj Kapoor. I told him I was a journalist covering the event. "Aisa sab log bolten hai", one of them said and just took me aside and asked me to stand in a corner till the funeral procession was over. I did not know why I was singled for such a harsh treatment when I had come to pay my last respects to the man who never gave me a chance to know him like I have known almost every one in this industry.

More about Raj Kapoor-

Raj Kapoor studied only upto the 8th standard and failed but the English he spoke, his style and his sophistication was something that was beyond admiration. His command over various subjects was also unbelievable.

Raj Kapoor was a family man. He held his father Prithviraj Kapoor in the highest respect and loved his brothers Shammi and Shashi and the entire family.

He was a great lover of music and could play any instrument without any efforts.

He loved the people who worked for him and all of them worked till the very end.

He built his studio on a piece of land which he got very cheap. He built his studio which became the pride of Bombay. A time came after the disaster of "Mera Naam Joker" when he had to think of mortgaging his studio but thankfully that did not happen.

He loved good food whether it was continental Chinese, Indian or food even from the 'dhaabaas' and Udipi hotels in Bombay.

Drinking the best whisky and smoking the best cigarettes were his major addictions. He loved both and ultimately even died because of them.

He did eighteen films with Nargis. They were madly in love till Nargis played the role in 'Mother India' which marked the end of one of the most famous leading pairs of Hindi Cinema.

The greatest man he met and was inspired by was Charlie Chaplin who became his source of inspiration.

He loved good poetry and was a great fan of all the great Urdu poets whom he treated and honoured with respect.

He always loved the best of clothes but was most comfortable in his white pant and shirt with matching white chappals and always travelled in a white Ambassador.

He was a very good boss to his staff and looked after all their needs. He lived a dramatic life and even spent the last moment of his life in a dramatic way when he collapsed and the president of India had to walk down to present him with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.