Ranbir Kapoor set to bring back lost glory of RK Studios

It feels like the story of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Six years ago, the Kapoor family was compelled to sell their iconic and heritage-rich RK Studios to Godrej Properties. Now, in late 2025, Raj Kapoor’s grandson, Ranbir Kapoor, is preparing to revive the legacy of the legendary studio founded by his grandfather.

If all goes according to plan, Ranbir will bring Raj Kapoor’s timeless classic Awara back to life with a contemporary vision — starring in the lead role himself, opposite Deepika Padukone. Close friend Ayan Mukerji has been approached to direct the film.

Awara was Raj Kapoor’s third film as producer, director, and actor, following Aag (1948) and Barsaat (1949). Released in 1951, the film starred Raj Kapoor alongside his on-screen and real-life muse, Nargis.

Awara also marked a milestone for the Kapoor family, featuring three generations together — Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, and a young Shashi Kapoor.

In 1953, the film was nominated for the Grand Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, cementing its place in global cinema history.

When the Kapoor family sold RK Studios to Godrej Properties in 2019, Rishi Kapoor, a member of the legendary clan, expressed his sorrow in a phone conversation with this reporter. Perhaps that emotion stayed with Ranbir, inspiring him to revive the dream his grandfather built.

Today, on that historic Chembur plot where Raj Kapoor once created cinematic magic, Godrej Properties is constructing a residential project titled Godrej RKS.

Raj Kapoor founded RK Studios in Chembur in 1948, during the making of his first directorial venture Aag. Now, nearly eight decades later, his grandson is taking the first steps to resurrect that lost legacy.

For fans of Raj Kapoor and the Kapoor dynasty — not just in India but across the world — this feels like reclaiming a long-lost treasure, a glorious chapter of film history returning to life.