Ranbir Kapoor recalls Diwali at R.K. Studio on KBC festive special
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, currently awaiting the release of his high-profile mythological epic 'Ramayana', revisited cherished childhood memories of Diwali on a festive special episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', hosted by Amitabh Bachchan on Sony Entertainment Television. The actor described how Diwali as a child was anchored around the iconic R.K. Studio in Mumbai's Chembur neighbourhood.
A Diwali Rooted in R.K. Studio
Recounting the family ritual, Ranbir said: 'Diwali ka matlab khushiyan hain... bachpan se jo Diwali hoti thi, pehle hum R.K. Studio jaate the, wahan ek Lakshmi puja karte the, phir hum meri dadi Shri Krishna Kapoor ko milne jaate the, woh hume mithai deti thi, mujhe paise deti thi jo bahut saare paise the' — translating roughly to: 'Diwali means happiness... Since childhood, our celebrations would begin at R.K. Studios with a Lakshmi Puja. Then we would visit my grandmother, Shri Krishna Kapoor, who would give us sweets and me a generous sum of money.'
The studio, established by his grandfather and legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor in 1948, served as both a professional home and a personal pilgrimage site for the Kapoor family every Diwali.
Family Traditions After the Studio Visit
Ranbir also described the rituals that followed the studio visit, saying the family would return home to perform a second Lakshmi Puja. He recalled: 'Jaa ke ghar mein Lakshmi puja karke, papa bahar kuch pataake jalate the, aur phir hum sath mein khana kha ke so jaate the' — 'After going home and performing Lakshmi Puja, Papa would go outside and light some firecrackers, and then we would eat together and go to sleep.' He called this simple family routine his idea of a 'perfect Diwali'.
The Legacy and Loss of R.K. Studio
R.K. Studio was founded by Raj Kapoor in 1948 at Chembur, Mumbai, and stands as one of Hindi cinema's most storied institutions. It hosted the production of classics including 'Awaara', 'Shree 420', 'Bobby', and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. The studio's fate changed irreversibly on 16 September 2017, when a major fire broke out on the sets of the television show 'Super Dancer', causing extensive damage.
Following the fire, the Kapoor family decided to sell the property. In May 2019, Godrej Properties acquired the 2.2-acre site for an undisclosed sum, bringing down the curtain on over seven decades of cinematic history.
Ranbir's Upcoming Film 'Ramayana'
Ranbir's appearance on KBC comes as he prepares for the release of 'Ramayana', one of the most anticipated films in recent Bollywood memory. The KBC festive special, airing in the run-up to Diwali 2026, offered audiences a rare personal glimpse into the Kapoor family's festival traditions beyond the glare of film sets. The episode underlines how deeply the Kapoor legacy — and the memory of R.K. Studio — continues to shape one of Hindi cinema's most prominent families.