In 1970, he produced, directed and starred in his movie "Mera Naam Joker". The movie took more than six years to complete but it did not earn very much money. Later in 1973, his movie "Bobby" became the highest earning movie of the year and the second highest earning movie of the 1970s at the Indian box office. The movie was the first lead role for Kapoor's son, Rishi Kapoor.