Veteran Hindi film actor, producer and director and chocolaty hero of 70’s & 80’s, Shashi Kapoor, younger son of Hindi Movies King, Prithviraj Kapoor, passed away on 4th December, 2017, after long illness, in Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai.
Shashi Kapoor was born 18th March, 1938, in Calcutta (West Bengal). He was third youngest son of great Prithviraj Kapoor and brother of one and only strategic hero, Raj Kapoor & stylist hero, Shammi Kapoor. He married with Jennifer Kendal, sister of actress Felicity Kendal and having three children by her, Karan Kapoor, Krunal Kapoor & Sanjana Kapoor. He was honoured by President of India, with third largest prestigious civilian award of Nation, Padma Bhusan, in 2011, for his contribution to Art Cinema. He was also awarded by Dada Saheb Falke Award in 2014. He was suffering from liver cirrhosis, since long time and was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, where he taken his last breath, around his large family.
He started his acting in childhood, by Prithvi Theatre, from 1940’s. He has done his best known performance in Aag (1948), Sangam (1950) and Awara (1951). He got a first chance to work as an assistant director in debut film of Sunil Dutt, post box no 999 and then he did this task for many more films. He debut as a leading role in Dhrmaputra, in 1961 and then continuously he worked for 116 Hindi Movies, including 61 movies as the solo lead and 55 multi star cast movies.
Shashi Kapoor got three National Film Awards for, Muhafiz (Special Jury Award), New Delhi Times (Best Actor) and Junoon (Best Feature Film). He also got four times Filmfare Award for, Deewar (Best supporting actor), Junoon & Kalyug (best films) and Filmfare Life time Achievement Award in 2010. He was also honoured by “Walk of the Star” as his handprints was preserved for posterity at Bandra bandstand in Mumbai, in November, 2013. Along with Mohammad Rafi Award, he won many more awards in his whole life.
He has done his education from Don Bosco High School, Matunga, in Mumbai. He met English Actress Jennifer Kendal in 1956, in Calcutta, while both were working for Prithvi Theatre and then he got married with her in 1958, with support from his sister in law, Geeta Bali. Jennifer died in 1984, by cancer. He regarded Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kapoor, Pran, Dharmendra, Dev Anand and Ismali Merchant, as a close friends and co-workers. He has also maintained cordial relations with Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Amitabh Bachhan, Yash Chopra and MGR.
He stars the best movies like, “Haseena Man Jayegi”, “Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati”, “Kabhi Kabhi”, “Pyar ka Mausam”, “Vachan”, “New Delhi Times”, Junoon”, “Vakil Babu”, “Fakira”, “Roti Kapda aur Makan”, “Suhag”, “Kala Pathhar”, “Shan”, “Silsila”, “Alag Alag”, “Pakhandi” “Trishul”, “Chori Mera Kam”, “Shanker Dada”, “Neeyat”, “Andhi Tufan”, “Vijeta”, “Utsav”, “Namak Halal”, and many more.
The embodiment of romance and charm who wooed the top leading ladies of 70’s and 80’s on the silver screen and captivated millions of fans, Shashi Kapoor, will be in heart of viewers and lovers of Hindi Cinema, always.