Raj Kapoor's last major film appearance was in Vakil Babu (1982). His last ever acting role was a cameo appearance in a 1984 released British made-for-television film titled Kim. Raj Kapoor suffered from asthma in his later years; he died of complications related to asthma in 1988 at sixty-three years of age. At the time of his death he was working on the movie Henna (an Indo-Pakistani love story). The film was later completed by his son Randhir Kapoor and released in 1991 going onto become a huge success.

'Khan Dost' (1982) with Shatrughan Sinha

The late actor-producer-director Raj Kapoor played the title character in 'Gopichand Jasoos' (1982), Advocate Mathur in the fim 'Vakil Babu' (1982) and a policeman in the 1984 British television film 'Kim' (based on Rudyard Kiplng's novel of the same name), starring Ravi Sheth (as Kim), Peter O'Toole, Nadira and Jalal Agha among others.