Raj Kapoor's grandson, Ranbir Kapoor, might have landed with a lemon in India, but in Russia, the latter arouses no curiosity.

This is the land of Awara, the all time Raj Kapoor favorite. There was a time Muscovites knew the verses by heart.

The Chaplinisque figure of the Pathan from India, saying "Sar Pe Laal Topi Roosi, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani" (I wear a red cap that is Russian,and its the Indian heart that beats in me) captured the hearts and minds of Russians.

But there ends the legacy. None of Raj Kapoor's sons or grandchildren have been able to evoke that same kind of magic.

Indeed, there is a striking resemblance between many young girls in Moscow and the two Kapoor bombshells -- Kareena and Karishma. But ask them whether they have heard of the Kapoor girls, and you draw a blank.

Have they heard of Raj Kapoor? "Um not really...Salmaan, Shahrukh yes". Oh no one wants to wail. What separates these Muscovites from the Londoners or the New Yorkers who also gape at the diminutive charm of these Indian six packers?

Ah! but there is a small ray of hope. Tatiana at the reception says "My grandmother likes Raj Kapoor....some black and white song in the rain." Yes. And then redemption. The media party is taken to a quaint Uzbek restaurant called Mullah Nasreeudin.

Nasreeudin was a satirical sufi figure who lived in the 13th century and is remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes.

At the restaurant, we meet with Elmar Raj-Sur. His last name is a combination of Raj Kapoor and Suresh Wadkar, his two Indian heroes. Elmar belts out "Mera Joota Hai Japani" with all of Mukesh's melodious lilts.

The crowd claps in unison. They expected this...Raj Kapor is still alive here. And then, there is more "Mai Shayar To Nahi" from the film 'Bobby' in which a cherubic Rishi Kapoor captured India's imagination in the 70's.

Now a portly Kapoor like all of Raj Kapoor's sons, Rishi can take comfort in the fact that he is still remembered here. Not so Ranbir, his son. Even poor Elmar gives a blank stare when I ask him if he has heard of Ranbir.