Shashi Kapoor

Introduction

Shashi Kapoor was a well-known Indian actor and filmmaker who gained fame for his work in mainstream Hindi cinema. He had a remarkable career and made significant contributions to the film industry.

Early Life

Shashi Kapoor, born on March 18, 1938, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, started his acting journey at a very young age. As a child artist, he acted in plays produced and directed by his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. However, it was in the 1970s and 1980s that Shashi Kapoor gained immense popularity. Besides Hindi plays and mainstream cinema, he also appeared in several English movies. His remarkable contributions to the Hindi film industry earned him a national award.

Family

Shashi Kapoor was born into a Punjabi Khatri family to the renowned actor and director Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Kapoor. He had two elder brothers, Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, who were well-established Bollywood actors. Shashi also had a sister named Urmila Sial Kapoor.

Relationship

Shashi Kapoor tied the knot with his girlfriend Jennifer Kendal in 1958. They were blessed with two sons, Karan Kapoor, who is a photographer, and Kunal Kapoor, who works in advertising. They also had a daughter named Sanjana Kapoor, who is an actress and entrepreneur. Unfortunately, Shashi Kapoor's wife passed away in 1984 due to terminal colon cancer.

Career

Shashi Kapoor attended Don Bosco High School in Matunga, Mumbai, for his schooling. He made his debut in the film industry as a child artist in 1948 with the Bollywood movie 'Aag,' where he portrayed the character of young 'Kewal Khanna.' His exceptional performance as a child actor in the film 'Awaara' (1951), where he played the younger version of Raj Kapoor, received great acclaim.

Shashi Kapoor began his journey as a director in 1958 when he worked as an assistant director for the Bollywood film 'Post Box 999.' Then, in 1961, he took on the lead role in the movie 'Dharmputra' as 'Dilip Rai.' After that, he starred in a variety of movies like 'Deewar,' 'Kabhi Kabhi,' 'Namak Halaal,' 'Baseraa,' 'Waqt,' 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa,' 'Trishul,' 'Suhag,' and many more. These films were all blockbusters and contributed to his success.

Shashi Kapoor also appeared in several Hollywood films throughout his career. Some of them include 'The Householder (1963), 'Shakespeare Wallah' (1965), 'Pretty Polly' (1967), 'Bombay Talkie' (1970), 'Siddhartha' (1972), 'Heat and Dust' (1982), 'Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), 'The Deceivers' (1988), and 'Side Streets' (1998).

In 1996, Shashi Kapoor made his TV debut with the British/American TV series 'Gulliver's Travels.' And in 1978, he started his own production house called 'Film Vala's. Through his production house, he produced several Bollywood films such as 'Junoon' (1978), 'Kalyug' (1980), '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981), 'Vijeta' (1982), 'Utsav' (1984), and 'Ajooba' (1991). He also had the opportunity to direct the Bollywood film 'Ajooba' (1991) and a Russian language film called 'Vozvrashcheniye Bagdadskogo Vora' (1988).

Controversy

Shashi Kapoor's film 'Siddhartha' in 1972 created quite a stir due to some of his intimate scenes with his co-star, Simi Garewal. The scenes sparked controversy and got people talking.

Awards

• Shashi Kapoor was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.
• He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
• In 1994, he won the National Film Award - Special Jury Award/Special Mention for 'Muhafız'.
• In 1986, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for 'New Delhi Times'.
• As a producer, he received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film In Hindi in 1979 for 'Junoon.'

Favorites

• Shashi Kapoor looked up to his father, Prithviraj Kapoor, as his greatest inspiration.
• Nanda was his all-time favorite actress in the industry.
• He had a strong liking for Prawn and Crab Curry, savoring the flavors of these dishes.
• Shashi Kapoor relished the culinary creations of chef Meena Pinto.
• Playing the piano brought him great joy and was one of his favorite hobbies.
• His favorite quote was, "It will be a great achievement for mankind when a man finally learns to become a human."

Death

In 2012, Shashi Kapoor had a cataract surgery at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. Surprisingly, he was discharged on the same day. Unfortunately, he had been dealing with a kidney disease for a while before his passing. Sadly, on December 3, 2017, he left us after a 'long battle' with liver cirrhosis and kidney failure.

Facts about Shashi Kapoor

• Shashi Kapoor was sent to a boarding school when he was young, but he didn't enjoy the food there. He once wrote a letter to his mother expressing his dissatisfaction with the food and even mentioned that he would rather commit suicide than eat such food. As a result, Shashi Kapoor had to leave the boarding school.
• Raj Kapoor affectionately nicknamed him "Taxi" for a few reasons. Firstly, Shashi would often sleep in his car or a taxi due to his busy shooting schedule. Secondly, he tended to look like he was ready to escape in a taxi. And lastly, he had a habit of giving his co-actors rides in his car or taxi.
• From 1970 to 1975, Shashi Kapoor, along with Dev Anand, held the position of the second-highest-paid actor after Rajesh Khanna.
• Shashi Kapoor became immortalized with his iconic dialogue "Mere Paas Maa Hai" from the film 'Deewar' in 1975.
• In 1978, he took a significant step by acquiring and re-opening the 'Prithvi Theatre' in Juhu. Not only that, but he also became the Managing Trustee of the theater.
• During the filming of 'Ajooba,' Shashi Kapoor would carry a stick on set, which he jokingly claimed was for misbehaving actors. However, he never actually used it. Amitabh Bachchan admires Shashi for being a director who genuinely cares for both actors and technicians.
• Shashi Kapoor always made it a point to reserve Sundays for spending quality time with his family.
• Shabana Azmi shared an interesting story about Shashi Kapoor's financial choices. She mentioned that Shashi preferred to invest his money in cinema and theatre rather than other commercial ventures. When they attended the Moscow Film Festival and were low on funds, Shashi Kapoor generously paid the bill, even though there were other influential personalities present.

Conclusion

Shashi Kapoor's impact on the Indian film industry is truly unforgettable. From his early days as a child artist to his significant contributions as an actor, director, and producer, he left a lasting impression on both Hindi and English cinema. His passion for his craft, his love for his family, and his dedication to the arts made him not just a talented artist but also a compassionate human being. Even though he is no longer with us, his iconic dialogues, unforgettable performances, and unwavering commitment to the industry continue to inspire and resonate with film lovers of all generations.