Dining With The Kapoors Review | A heartfelt tribute wrapped in glamour, food, and a hint of vanity

The premise of Dining with the Kapoors—a sprawling, multi-generational reunion meant to commemorate Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary—is inherently loaded. Directed by Smriti Mundhra, this one-hour special attempts a "fly-on-the-wall" look at the dynasty, including Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The end product is both a fascinating insight and a frustrating exercise in filtered reality.

The core strength of the documentary lies in the man who is present only in spirit: Raj Kapoor himself. The anecdotes of his interactions with his children and grandchildren truly humanise the cinematic genius, offering an intimate perspective that successfully cuts through myth-making.

This material is gold for any Raj Kapoor fan, providing a warm-hearted look at the man who influenced a love for cinema among so many across generations. It’s in the free-flowing conversations about Raj Kapoor that the special finds its emotional centre. The love, pride, and nostalgia are unmistakable as each family member recounts their version of the man who shaped their lives and their craft.

For Bollywood buffs, Dining With The Kapoors is undeniably a fun, indulgent watch. It offers a peek into a familial gathering of Bollywood’s first family. There’s laughter, food, emotion, and the easy camaraderie, even though it’s quite evident who belongs to the “core” Kapoor circle and who doesn’t.

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However, the documentary frequently strains under the weight of its own starry cast. The fly-on-the-wall style is undermined by what feels like conscious performance.

During the initial greetings and mingling, where interactions appear camera-aware, a distinct superficiality pervades the scene. These are people who have spent their entire lives in the public eye, trained to "act" for the camera even in casual settings, and that elite, manufactured presentation is often jarring.

This highlights the inherent challenge of creating a truly authentic documentary about highly image-conscious figures, leaving one wishing for more unguarded, spontaneous moments.

Ultimately, this is not a comprehensive biographical document, but a tribute. It successfully delivers on the laughter, nostalgia, and the candid look at the family’s enduring passion for food and togetherness. 

Yet, for a figure as influential and as controversial as Raj Kapoor, a genius director whose personal life was marked by documented affairs and patriarchal complexity, the documentary chooses to focus solely on the idealised memory of the beloved family patriarch.

While understandable for a family-produced special, this sidestepping of complexity prevents the documentary from being a truly challenging or definitive piece of cinema history. It is a heartfelt love letter, and a fun watch for any Bollywood buff, but it is one written entirely by the family. 

Dining With The Kapoors is now streaming on Netflix

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