Randhir Kapoor: I Feel My Father is Still Alive

mangalore@coastaldigest.com (Agencies)
May 18, 2014

Randhir Kapoor
Pune, May 18: It's been over 25 years since Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor breathed his last but his son Randhir Kapoor, who was present at the inauguration ceremony of 'Raj Kapoor Memorial - The Golden Era of Indian Cinema' at Rajbaugh here, still feels his father is "alive".

Organised by World Peace Center, Alandi and the Rajbaugh campus of MAEER's MIT College in Loni Kalbhor near Pune, the museum was inaugurated on May 16.

At the ceremony, chief guest Randhir said: "I thank MIT for the respect and love they have shown towards my father. His soul is staying here in this place, in this memorial and in every tree and flower."

"I am very happy for the respect shown towards my father, Raj Kapoor-ji, the greatest showman of Hindi cinema. My father is not alive today but I feel that he is alive and lives in this place in every work and (that he) lives in this memorial."

Rajiv Kapoor, youngest son of Raj Kapoor, was also present on the occasion.

Rajiv said: "I think everyone should see this memorial. We can learn a lot from his (my father's) work. I am also thankful for the respect given to my father."

The founder president of World Peace Center, Alandi, Vishwanath D. Karad, said: "It was the dream of Raj Kapoor and his family that this land should be used for educational purposes. This great artist has given a unique message to the society. Therefore, we were tempted to build this memorial which reflects Indian culture through the cinema."

Raj Kapoor was only 24 when he launched his own studio, RK Films, and became the youngest director of his time with Aag in 1948. He went on to taste success by producing, directing and acting in successful movies like Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955) and Chori Chori (1956).

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Agencies
March 10,2025

ranya.jpg

Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya – also known as Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai – was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous Karnataka government in February 2023, said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) said on Sunday.

Ranya Rao was found to be in possession of gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Searches were also conducted at her residence, and gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore were seized, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had said on Wednesday.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of DGP-rank senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.

The KIADB's statement comes after reports claimed that a company linked to Ranya Rao was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the board in 2023.

The office of the minister for medium and large industries MB Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya Rao's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district, news agency PTI reported.

The Congress came to power after defeating the Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka assembly election in May 2023.

The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars, rods and allied products' at Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district.

"The government is pleased to accord in-principle approval to the investment proposal of ₹138 crore, generating employment to about 160 persons with the following infrastructure assistances, incentives and concessions," it said.

In a press release issued by MB Patil's office, the KIADB said the allotment to the company linked to Ranjya Rao was done in January 2023.

KIADB CEO Mahesh said on Sunday Ksiroda India was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023, by the previous government, referring to the BJP, the PTI report added.

"The land, located in Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district, was approved for allotment during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting held on the same day, when the last govt was in power," PTI quoted Mahesh as saying.

According to the KIADB press release, the company had submitted a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products, with an investment of ₹138 crore. The project was expected to generate approximately 160 jobs.

Ramachandra Rao is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

The total seizure in the case stood at ₹17.29 crore, including assets worth ₹4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks.

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