Acted in India's first ever talkie Alam Ara (1931), although not in the lead role, which was given instead to Master Vithal.
Born in Peshawar in a middle-class landlord family. His father was a police officer. He enrolled at Edward College, Peshawar after finishing his schooling at Lyallpur and Lahore. He was married at 18 and did a year of law after graduation but interrupted his law studies to pursue his dreams of acting.
Both he and his wife, Ramsarni "Rama" Mehra Kapoor, had cancer. She passed away 16 days after Prithviraj.
Considered the most handsome Indian actor of Pre-Independence India and the founder of India's first film family, the Kapoors.
Father-in-law of Geeta Bali.
In 1931, within the span of one week, two of Prithviraj's young sons passed away. Devi died of double pneumonia. Nandi passed away when he digested rat poison pills found in the garden.
In 1944, he invested in and set up Prithvi Theatre. He was the first to use the concept of modern, professional urban theater in Hindustani. In over 16 years of its existence under Prithviraj Kapoor, the theater did some 2,662 shows, with Prithviraj starring as the lead actor in every single show.
Son of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor. Father of Raj Kapoor, Devi (died during childhood), Nandi (died during childhood), Shammi Kapoor, daughter Urmila Sial, and Shashi Kapoor. Grandfather of Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor. Great-grandfather of Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Cousin of Surinder Kapoor.
Was posthumously awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema.