This week, on April 7, veteran star actor Jeetendra will turn a year older and celebrate his 77th birthday.
The Bollywood legend starred in blockbusters and cult classics spanning decades during one of the most prolific cinematic careers in the world.
Jeetendra is also the father of producer Ekta Kapoor and actor Tusshar Kapoor.
To mark the acting legend’s birth anniversary, Eastern Eye presents 20 fun facts about him.
- Born Ravi Kapoor, his first job was working for the family’s business and he was discovered while selling imitation jewellery at a film studio.
- The actor was rechristened as Jeetendra and launched as a leading man in director V Shantaram’s Geet Gaya Patharon Ne (1964), where he starred opposite the director’s daughter, Rajshree.
- His star-making hit Farz (1967) was heavily inspired by the James Bond movies and was a remake of Telugu film Gudachari 116. It spawned sequels Keemat (1983) and Raksha (1982). The super spy movie also inspired his 1985 film Bond 303.
- Farz song Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye that he performed is regarded as the greatest birthday song in Bollywood’s history and is still popular.
- The actor’s high-energy dance style earned him the nickname Jumping Jack Jeetendra.
- Jeetendra went to the same school and college as close friend Rajesh Khanna, whom he helped during his early days in Bollywood. They starred together in films including Dharam Kanta (1982), Nishaan (1983) and Maqsad (1984).
- His 1971 film Caravan became the highest grossing overseas Bollywood film when it was released and its song Piya Tu Ab To Aaja is regarded as one of the greatests of all time.
- His highly-acclaimed movie Parichay (1972) was inspired by Bengali novel Rangeen Uttarain and the Hollywood film The Sound Of Music (1965).
- Two of 1970s Bollywood queen Hema Malini’s personal favourite film roles are Khushboo (1975) and Kinara (1977), which both starred Jeetendra opposite her.
- The hardworking star had seven or more movies released every year from 1977 to 1987. This included 12 film releases in 1981, 14 in 1982 and 11 in 1986.
- The legendary star-studded Naseeb (1981) song John Jani Janardhan was celebrating the success of Jeetendra-starrer Dharam Veer, which was the second highest grossing film of 1977.
- Jeetendra’s Himmatwala not only became the highest-grossing Bollywood release of 1983, but also helped young actress Sridevi take her first big step towards becoming the queen of Bollywood.
- He would go onto star in 16 films with Sridevi and 13 among those were hits. Their successes included Jaani Dost (1983), Justice Chaudhury (1983), Mawaali (1983), Tohfa (1984), Balidaan (1985), Dharm Adhikari (1986), Aulad (1987) and Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988).
- Hit film Justice Chaudhury was a remake of Telugu blockbuster Justice Chowdary (1982), which also starred Sridevi in the same role.
- He was paired opposite Jaya Prada 24 times and Rekha 26 times.
- Khal-Naaikaa (1993) was a remake of 1992 Hollywood film The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
- The actor’s last major release Mother (1999) was inspired by the hit West End musical Mamma Mia.
- He has won a number of lifetime achievements honours, including at the Filmfare, Zee Cine and Screen awards.
- Jeetendra is the uncle of Bollywood filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, who has directed movies including Rock On, Kai Po Che and Kedarnath.
- The actor’s last appearance in a commercial Bollywood film was in the star-studded title song of Om Shanti Om (2007).
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.