Showbiz: The Other Raj Kapoor: Showman of Hollywood
[Left] Raj Kapoor, the man behind some of the highest-billed live entertainment events of our times. (Photo: Michael Higgins)
As a leading producer for the television and live entertainment industry, he is the man behind the stunning sets and grand performances at some of America’s most prominent events, such as the Academy Awards, Grammys, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and concerts of pop stars like Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.
A few years ago, while watching the Oscars on television, my usual radar for “Indians in mainstream America” came upon a name that intrigued me. One of the executive producers behind the magic of the Academy Awards was a “Raj Kapoor”!
For generations of Indians, that name has conjured up none other than the undisputed showman of Indian cinema of the yesteryears. Indeed, so iconic is the name of this legendary actor that even now, more than 35 years after his passing, fans—not just in India but also in Russia, the Middle East, and many African countries where Bollywood was loved—break into his iconic song “Mera joota hai Japani” when thinking of him.
Kapoor prides himself on being a visual artist and has earned a reputation for creating spectacular sets. An example is Ryan Gosling’s popular performance of “I Am Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscar Awards. (Photo: A.M.P.A.S)
An American showman with a resume as impressive as his shows
This contemporary Raj Kapoor is an Indian American who has turned out to be quite the showrunner behind some of America’s biggest events. In industry lingo, a “showrunner” is the top-level executive producer responsible for all creative and management aspects of a show, including writing, budgeting, casting, and production. This means Kapoor plays a significant role in the grandeur and success of shows like the Oscars, Grammys, Emmies, and live concerts of pop icons like Ariana Grande, Maria Carey, Backstreet Boys, and many more.
In the process, Kapoor has earned impressive accolades, such as an Emmy in 2024 for Outstanding Variety Special Live for the 96th Oscars. Speaking about it, Kapoor says, “I am extremely proud to have won an award for the Variety Special Live show as it has not won in the top category since 1991.” His other recent highlights were producing the Los Angeles Paris Handover in the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics, Jamie Foxx’s special “What Had Happened Was….” and the relaunch of the iconic “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”
This stunning set from the 96th Oscars (2024) for which Kapoor won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special Live is just one example of Kapoor’s impressive portfolio of productions. (Photo: A.M.P.A.S)
When I tracked him down, Kapoor turned out to be the most unassuming, friendly fellow despite the heft he now enjoys in the glamorous world of Hollywood and entertainment. During our conversation, I learned that his is truly a rags-to-riches story of a self-made man. “I never had other plans—I always wanted to be in entertainment!” he says. He was a dancer and choreographer in Hollywood before he got into show production. His early breaks came with the famous shows ‘American Idol’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
Says Kapoor of his iconic namesake, “I have watched his movies and it’s nice to be associated with his very famous name!” He admits that entertainment is a passion with him. As the son of two schoolteachers from New Delhi, Raj grew up in Alberta, Canada on a steady diet of music videos, award shows and Bollywood films. His mother, who is Caucasian, was married in India and lived there at the time of his birth and for the first nine months of his life.
Kapoor is a director, producer, and visual artist who has worked on stages and screens across the globe. Some of his biggest television credits include the two most recent Academy Awards, the seven most recent Grammys, American Idol, The Beatles Grammy Special, Billboards, Dancing With The Stars, Disneyland 60, Emmys, Greatest Hits, iHeart Radio Music Awards, Sinatra 100 Grammy Special, and many others.
He has directed and produced Vegas residencies for the Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, and Shania Twain. He has also been part of the production team for numerous large-scale tours for American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, So You Think You Can Dance, Shania Twain, and Carrie Underwood. His corporate clients include Disney, Gallo, GM, Skechers, UAE, and the United Nations.
Kapoor was the director and production designer for the Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life” Las Vegas Residency performances. (Photo: Denise Truscello)
Kapoor’s “Naatu Naatu” moment: “It was extremely personal to me.”
For most desi Oscar watchers and movie lovers, the absolute favorite moment was when “Naatu Naatu” from RRR won the Oscar for the best original song last year. Kapoor described the thrill in the Oscar newsletter: “I was born in New Delhi, India, and took extreme pride in helping shape the live performance of ‘Naatu Naatu.’ The song’s Oscar nomination was a historic moment for Indian cinema, and I wanted to make sure that the show took extra care in collaborating with the creators of the original song.”
When composer M.M. Keeravaani and lyricist Chandrabose won the Oscar for Best Original Song, “Naatu Naatu” became the first song from an Indian film to do so. Before that historic moment, playback singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava took the stage at the Dolby Theater alongside a dance troupe—including dancers cast as leads Komaram Bheem and A. Rama Raju (played in the movie by N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, respectively). It was a high-energy rendition of the blockbuster’s standout musical sequence.
A snapshot of his work as executive producer of Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special. (Photo: Apple TV+)
Kapoor says about this performance, “This was extremely personal to me since India is my birthplace. Growing up watching Indian movies but never having the opportunity to work professionally on an Indian film project, I felt a deeper calling to honor this very special film. My father passed away in July 2022, and he was always extremely proud of any notable achievement of a person from India that made the news. His sense of pride indicated how proud people in India are when artists of Indian origin are celebrated on a global platform. I just knew that we had to put together an outstanding team on both sides of the globe to pull this off in a very short amount of time. I really wanted it to be a love letter to Bollywood/Tollywood musicals, the people of India, and the global impact of dance.”
Keeping the Oscar awards a knock-out event, year after year
For Kapoor, the absolute highlight of the last two years has been impacting the look and feel of the Oscars as its Executive Producer. The Oscars is one of the most prestigious and most recognized television shows in the entire world.
Each year, it is a challenge to make the Oscars a knock-out. Kapoor says, “We really strive to have stand-out moments at the Academy Awards that we have now branded ‘Only At The Oscars.’ Last year, we did the world premiere of a huge production number with Ryan Reynolds for ‘I’m Just Ken’ with a cast of 70 Kens!” Those of us who watched the Oscars that year will certainly remember this mind-boggling act!
[Left] Kapoor hobnobs with the biggest and best of his industry. Seen here with Katy Mullan , a fellow executive producer and showrunner.
This year, Kapoor had Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring down the house with a medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, “Home” from The Wiz and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
What next?
So does the Raj Kapoor of Hollywood have any plans to go to the film city of Mumbai and showcase his magic? Says Kapoor, “I, unfortunately, don’t have any connections in Mumbai or the filmmaking community there. I did have the honor of meeting with Mr. Rishi Kapoor a few years ago to discuss a potential project but sadly he passed before we could further the discussions.”
[Right] With Hamish Hamilton , director of shows like Super Bowl halftime, Academy Awards, and the MTV Video Music Awards.
Finally, what is he currently working on, and what can we expect from this showman in the coming years? “This year, I just finished the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and the 97th Academy Awards. Next up is the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards for Amazon Prime. In the future, I very much hope to be working on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.”
As an Indian far from home, does he miss the homeland he left behind? He says he and his mother have been to India many times, and when his father passed, they took his ashes to Varanasi, bringing it all full circle. Says Kapoor, “We are planning to go to Delhi this fall to revisit family. My mother loves to travel, and India is always close to both of our hearts.”
Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist for several international magazines and blogs at Lassi with Lavina.
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