Rima Jain recalls Kapoor family's Ganpati tradition, rooted in Rishi Kapoor's birth
Synopsis
Rima Jain has revealed that the Kapoor family's legendary Ganpati tradition — which turned RK Studios into a festival landmark — began the day Rishi Kapoor was born, initiated by Krishna aunty at the family's Chembur home. A devotional legacy that outlived RK Studios itself.
Key Takeaways
Rima Jain , daughter of Raj Kapoor , revealed the origins of the Kapoor family's Ganpati tradition in a conversation with cousin Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor .
The tradition was started by Krishna aunty at the family's home in Chembur, Mumbai around the time of Rishi Kapoor's birth.
The celebrations at RK Studios and the Kapoor home began simultaneously, eventually becoming a cultural landmark in Mumbai.
The tradition travelled to Delhi and Nagpur as family members married and relocated.
Rima personally vowed to bring Ganpati Bappa to her own home after marriage, continuing the family legacy.
Rima Jain, daughter of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, has shared a heartfelt account of how the iconic Ganpati celebrations in the Kapoor family began — a tradition that would eventually become synonymous with RK Studios in Mumbai. The revelation came during a candid conversation with her cousin and actor Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor, surfacing memories of a devotional legacy stretching back decades.
How the Tradition Began
According to Rima, the Ganpati celebrations trace their origins to the family's home in Chembur, initiated by Krishna aunty — a close family matriarch — around the time of Rishi Kapoor's birth. 'Ganpati ji's tradition started from her house in Chembur, in our house and in our family. Krishna aunty started it when Chintu was being born. When Chintu, Rishi Kapoor, was born,' Rima recalled, with Jatin corroborating the account.
She further noted that the celebrations at RK Studios and the Kapoor home began simultaneously around that period. 'And simultaneously, celebrations at RK and Home started. And then from there, we kids grew up,' she said.
A Tradition That Travelled Across Cities
The Ganpati tradition was not confined to Mumbai. Rima described how her elder sister carried the practice to Delhi after marriage. 'When Chintu grew up, my elder sister said, if I get married, I will take him to Delhi. So, for 10 days, she took Ganpati Bappa to Delhi,' she said.
When Rishi Kapoor eventually moved away from Chembur, the celebrations followed him too. 'When Chintu shifted from Chembur, she also took Ganpati ji to her house for five days,' Rima recalled. Jatin further noted that the tradition even extended to Nagpur when his mother got married and relocated there.
Rima Jain's Personal Vow
Rima shared a deeply personal memory tied to her own wedding, recounting a vow she made to Ganpati Bappa before her marriage. 'When I got married, I also told Ganpati Baba, 'Baba, when I get married, I will take you to my house.' So, he came to my house,' she said, reflecting the family's abiding faith in the deity.
The Legacy of Kapoor Family's Ganpati Celebrations
The Ganpati festivities at the Kapoor household and RK Studios were once celebrated with considerable grandeur and were widely regarded as among the most hospitable in Mumbai's entertainment circles. The tradition drew devotees, celebrities, and fans alike, becoming a cultural landmark tied to the Kapoor family's legacy in Indian cinema.
'Ganpati ji's grace is always with us. We can never forget RK, Ganpati. We can never forget Chembur, Ganpati, Krishna aunty, Raj Kapoor,' Rima said, as the cousins concluded their conversation with the traditional chant, 'Ganpati Baba Morya.'
The reminiscence comes during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 season, lending the account particular resonance as families across India mark the festival.
Point of View
Drawing together cinema royalty and the public in a way few private traditions did. Rima Jain's recollections are a reminder that the grandeur of RK Studios was inseparable from the family's devotional identity, one that preceded the studio's own fame. With RK Studios since sold, these oral histories become the only archive left of a Mumbai cultural institution. The entertainment industry rarely pauses to document such lineage; this conversation is a rare exception.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kapoor family's Ganpati tradition begin?
The tradition began at the Kapoor family's home in Chembur, Mumbai, around the time of Rishi Kapoor's birth, initiated by a family matriarch known as Krishna aunty. According to Rima Jain, the celebrations at RK Studios and the family home started simultaneously from that period.
Who started the Ganpati tradition in the Kapoor family?
Rima Jain credits Krishna aunty with starting the Ganpati tradition at the family's Chembur residence when Rishi Kapoor — affectionately called 'Chintu' — was born. The tradition then expanded to include RK Studios.
How did the Kapoor family's Ganpati celebrations become famous?
The Ganpati festivities at the Kapoor household and RK Studios were celebrated with significant grandeur and hospitality, making them a well-known event in Mumbai's entertainment circles. They drew celebrities, fans, and devotees alike over the decades.
Did the Kapoor family's Ganpati tradition extend beyond Mumbai?
Yes. Rima Jain recalled that the tradition travelled to Delhi when her elder sister married and carried the celebrations there for 10 days, and to Nagpur when another family member relocated after marriage.
Who is Rima Jain in the Kapoor family?
Rima Jain is the daughter of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the sister of the late Rishi Kapoor, making her Ranbir Kapoor's aunt. She recently shared the history of the family's Ganpati tradition in a conversation with her cousin Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor.
