'When you retire and get out of auto-rickshaw...’: Navya Naveli Nanda's father once asked his grandfather (original) (raw)

'When you retire and get out of auto-rickshaw...’: Navya Naveli Nanda's father once asked his grandfather Raj Kapoor what he expected from him. The answer stayed with industrialist Nikhil Nanda for his life

Synopsis

Nikhil Nanda, Raj Kapoor's grandson, recalls a key childhood lesson: real success isn't about fancy cars, but about earning love and respect through your life's impact. He truly grasped his grandfather's global fame years later when a Russian taxi driver, a huge fan, wouldn't take any money for his fare.

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Nikhil Nanda recalled a memorable evening with his grandfather, the legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor. (Instagram-@navyananda/Agencies)

Success is often measured through luxury cars, wealth, and corporate titles. But one of India's most celebrated film legends had a very different definition. For Nikhil Nanda, Chairman and Managing Director of Escorts Kubota, a conversation with his grandfather, Raj Kapoor, at the age of 12 became a lesson he never forgot. Decades later, the industrialist still remembers the advice, not because it was about money or fame, but because it completely redefined what it means to leave behind a meaningful legacy.

Speaking in an interview with Shrishti Sahu, Nanda recalled a memorable evening with his grandfather, the legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor. He said that as a 12-year-old, he unexpectedly asked Raj Kapoor a question that had been on his mind: what did he expect from him as a grandson? Nanda admitted he does not know why he asked it, but the answer has stayed with him ever since.

Raj Kapoor's advice

According to Nanda, Raj Kapoor told him that true success would not be measured by material possessions. Instead, he said that if, after retirement, he could step out of a three-wheeler rather than a luxury car and still be greeted with love, respect, and admiration for the impact he had created in people's lives, that would be the real measure of wealth and reputation.

How did it reshape Nikhil Nanda's life

Reflecting on that advice, Nanda said it shaped the way he approaches life. He added that he has never considered himself a materialistic person and has always tried to live by the values his grandfather shared with him. The industrialist also opened up about his childhood memories with the Kapoor family. He said he grew up in a "very normal home" and remained extremely close to his maternal side of the family. His mother, Ritu Nanda, regularly took him and his sister to Mumbai during their summer vacations, allowing them to spend time with their grandparents.

Nikhil Nanda's memories of Raj Kapoor

For Nanda, Raj Kapoor was never the larger-than-life cinema icon admired by millions. "I saw Raj Kapoor as a grandfather," he said, explaining that he never fully understood the scale of his grandfather's fame while growing up. Instead, he remembers simple family moments. He recalled Raj Kapoor's fondness for dosas and visits to Mumbai eateries such as Gita Bhavan and Ravi Cafe. Though modest roadside establishments, Nanda remembered them for their exceptional food and the joyful memories attached to them.

His perception of Raj Kapoor's global stature changed years later while studying at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in the United States. During a severe snowstorm on the East Coast, Nanda found himself stranded and struggling to find a taxi. After waiting for nearly half an hour, he finally got into one. To his surprise, Raj Kapoor's songs were playing inside the cab. The driver turned out to be Russian.

Curious but hesitant, Nanda eventually mentioned that Raj Kapoor was his grandfather. The driver did not believe him and thought he was joking. To prove it, Nanda showed him a family photograph from his wallet featuring Raj Kapoor standing alongside him, his sister, and his mother. The reaction left a lasting impression.

Nanda recalled that the driver immediately stopped the car in disbelief. It was, he said, the moment he truly understood the immense love and admiration Raj Kapoor had earned across the world. The encounter ended on an even more surprising note. Moved by the revelation, the driver refused to charge him for the ride, a gesture Nanda says reinforced just how powerful his grandfather's legacy remains.

( Originally published on Jun 07, 2026 )