Shashi Kapoor

At 79 years old, Shashi Kapoor has this physical status:

Shashi Kapoor (born Balbir Raj Kapoor; 18 March 1938 to 4 December 2017) was an Indian actor and film director.

Kapoor was recipient of numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards, but primarily worked in Hindi films.

He has appeared in a number of English-language films made by Merchant-Ivory.

The Government of India awarded him with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2014. Kapoor was the third and youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, who was born in the Kapoor family.

He started his acting debut in Raj Kapoor's directorial Aag (1948) and had his first adult role in Yash Chopra's political drama Dharmputra (1961).

Kapoor was married to English actress Jennifer Kendal from 1958 to her death in 1984, and she had three children: Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor.

He died in 79 due to liver cirrhosis.

Early life

Shashi Kapoor was born in Calcutta, British India, on March 18, 1938, as Balbir Raj Kapoor to Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife. He was Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor's youngest brother. Trilok Kapoor, the actor, was his uncle.

When traveling with Prithvi Theatres, Kapoor appeared in plays directed and produced by his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. In the late 1940s, he began acting as a child in films under the name of Shashiraj, as there was already another actor by the same name who appeared in mythological films as a child actor. In Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951), where he portrayed the younger version of the characters portrayed by his older brother Raj Kapoor, and in Sangram (1954), where he appeared with Bharat Bhushan in the younger version of Ashok Kumar and Dana Paani (1953). From 1948 to 1954, he appeared in four Hindi films as a child entertainer.

Personal life

Kapoor attended Don Bosco High School in Matunga, Mumbai. He first encountered English actress Jennifer Kendal in Calcutta in 1956 while both were working for their respective theatre companies. Shashi served as both assistant stage manager and actor for his father's theatre company, Prithvi Theatre. The Shakespearean company of Geoffrey Kendal was also present in Calcutta at the same time, and Jennifer was Geoffrey Kendal's daughter. The couple married in July 1958 after their subsequent meeting, and after facing initial resistance from the Kendals and sister-in-law Geeta Bali, they became engaged. They appeared in several films together, most prominent in Merchant Ivory productions. Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor were three children. In Mumbai, Jennifer and Shashi established Prithvi Theatre on November 5, 1978. Jennifer died of cancer in 1984, which stunned him. Shashi Kapoor fell into deep depression after losing her to cancer. He never recovered from it. Felicity Kendal, an English actress, is his sister-in-law.

Kunal's eldest son is married to director Ramesh Sippy's daughter. Kunal began directing his own film, Adfilm-Valas, and established his production company Adas. Sanjana, Shashi's daughter, is a theatre performer and is married to wildlife conservationist Valmik Thapar. Hamir Hamir is their son. Karan, Shashi's younger brother, became an internationally recognised model and founded a photography business in London.

Kapoor died on December 4, 2017, after being admitted to the Kokilaben Hospital in Versova, Mumbai, for what was suspected to be chest disease. According to The Guardian, he was in hospital for care of long-standing liver and heart diseases, and he was also assisting other patients. His cause of death was attributed to liver cirrhosis, according to the official. His body was cremated. The only two Indians honoured posthumously in memoriam at the 90th Academy Awards were Kapoor and actress Sridevi, who died in 2018.

When Shashi Kapoor came back to work in Kolkata, he could be found in Fairlawn Hotel room number 17. Since Elgin Hotels & Resorts took over the hotel's ownership a few years ago, it was renamed and renamed as Elgin Fairlawn. The Shashi Kapoor Room has been renamed as a tribute. According to Rabindranath Paul, who has been in charge of Elgin Fairlawn for 40 years, this was the place where Kapoor met his wife Jennifer Kendal in 1956. She was a visitor with her family, who owned Shakespeareana, which produced Shakespeare performances all around India. Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor's children have all stayed here since their marriage.

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Career

Kapoor was given the opportunity to act as an assistant director in Sunil Dutt's debut film 999, and she appeared in films such as Dulha Dulhan and Shriman Satyawadi, where Raj Kapoor was the lead actor.

Shashi Kapoor made his debut in the 1961 film Dharmputra as the sole lead actress and 55 film as the supporting actor and eight films as the supporting actor. During the 1960s, 1970s, and the 1980s, he was a well-known actor in Bollywood. Dharmputra, Prem Patra, and Char Diwari, Kapoor's first films, were in Hindi, which were not commercially viable. He began acting in English language films, including The Householder and Shakespeare-Wallah, beginning in 1961. He was one of India's first celebrities to go international. Actress Nanda, a well-known actress at her time, has signed 8 Hindi films with Kapoor as she felt she would give good performances. Char Diwari (1961) and Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath (1962) were two of their first two films as a pair. Kapoor appeared in several romantic films opposite Nanda, including Mohabbat Isko Khahe (1965), Jab Jab Phool Khile (1969), Raja Saab (1969), and Rootha Na Karo (1970). Kapoor said in a 1990s interview that Nanda was his favorite actress and that he regarded her as one of his mentors. In another interview, Nanda revealed that Shashi Kapoor was her favorite actor.

Shashi Kapoor started working on screen pairs with Raakhee, Sharmila Tagore, and Zeenat Aman from the late sixties to the mid eighties. In several films, Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, and Moushumi Chatterjee appeared opposite actresses Hema Malini, Parveen Babi. Raakhee was often paired with him in films like Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972), Kabhie (1981), and the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978). However, Doosara Aadmi (1977), Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Bandh Honth (1984), and Zameen Aasmaan (1985) were flops. In hits including Waqt (1965), Aamne Samne (1967), Suhana Safar (1976), Swati (1986), which fetched Kapoor a National Film Award for Best Actor in 1986. My Love (1970), Anari (1975), Gehri Chot (1983), Maa Beti (1986) and Ghar Bazar (1998) were not commercially successful. He worked in hit films such as Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Deewaangee (1976), Roti Kapda (1984), Bhavani Junction (1978), and Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983). He appeared in ten films opposite Hema Malini. Shashi and Hema Malini had 7 hits together, including Abhinetri, Aap Beati, Trishul, Aandhi Toofan, Apna Khoon, Do Aur Do Paad, Do Aur Do Paad, and 3 flops, including Abhinetri, Aap Beati, Naach Uthe Sansaar and Anjaam.

Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968) and Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969), both with Babita, Kanyadaan (1969) and Pyaya (1979), also with Rekha Parekh (1980), Rekha Madra (1981), Rekha (1981), Vijeta (1987), Rekha Pakha (1985) and Pyaar Ki Jeet (1982), Rekha Pah (1986), all with Rati Agni Dil Ne Pukara (1967), Trishul (1978), Neeyat (1980), Aandhi Toofan (1985), Naina (1978), Fakira (1976), and Junoon (1978). He also worked with Rajesh Khanna in Prem Kahani (1975).

Shashi Kapoor, a child performer, had been in blockbusters like Sangram (1950) and Samadhi (1950), where Ashok Kumar was the solo lead star, which were big hits at the box office. In Benazir, where Ashok Kumar was the male lead hero, he played Ashok Kumar's younger brother. Ashok Kumar appeared in 7 films with Shashi as the lead actor, including Chori Mera Kaam, Aap Beati, Shankar Dada, Apna Khoon, and Maan Gaye Ustaad, although Hira Aur Paththar and Do Musafir became flops.

He appeared in two 'double roles' films, both of which were box-office hits - Haseena Maan Jayegi and Shankar Dada. Shashi, a box-office smash who posed as a female, performed a song number in Shankar Dada.

Kapoor appeared in 9 films, ranging from the 1970s to the 1980s, including Biradari, Chori Mera Kaam, Phaansi, Shankar Dada, Chakkar Pe Chakkar, Rahu Ketu, and Maan Gaye Ustaad. Shashi began working with Pran in Sanskar as a child artist.

He made a hit pairing with Amitabh Bachchan (1974), Suhaag (1980), and Namak Halaal (1991) were flops, but Immaan Dharam (1978), Suhaag (1979), Silsila (1981), and Akayla (1991) were flops, and both were based on a popular pairing, Deewaar (1976), Do Aur Do Paanch (1977) and Akayla (1979) and Aur starring Roti He is best known for his role in Deewaar (1975), a Salim–Javed film involving two brothers on opposing sides of the law, with Kapoor playing a cop. "Mere paa hai" ("I have mother"), one of his lines in the film, is a common word in Indian popular culture.

Shashi Kapoor appeared in films including Mukti (1977), Trishul (1978), Sawaal (1982) and Pakhandi (1984). He became obese after his wife's death in 1984, but Rajesh Khanna gave him his comeback role as a character actor in the 1985 film Alag Alag.

He had a strong international presence. He was also known for his appearances in British and American films, particularly in The Householder (1963), Shakespeare Wallah (1968), The Deceivers (1988) and Side Streets (1999), as well as Merchant Ivory's (1964) and Side Streets (1968), which also starred his brother Kevin Kendal (1965). He appeared in other British and American films, including Pretty Polly (A Matter Of Innocence), (1967) opposite Hayley Mills, Siddhartha (1972), Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1989) and Muhafiz (1994). Kapoor was directed by James Ivory in the first Merchant Ivory production The Householder, later in Shakespeare-Wallah, Bombay Talkie, and Dust, though Ismail Merchant was the director of In Custody (1993). He was the first Indian actor to work in Hollywood films and British films.

In 1978, he founded Film Valas, which released critically acclaimed films including Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), and Utsav (1984). He produced and directed Ajooba, a fantasy film that starred Amitabh Bachchan and nephew Rishi Kapoor, who were in charge.

Shashi Kapoor was the second highest-paid Hindi film actor, starring Dev Anand from 1970 to 1975, and the 3rd highest paid Hindi actor, sharing space with Vinod Khanna from 1976 to 1982. Rajesh Khanna, the highest-paid Indian actor from 1970 to 1987. In multi-starrer films, Shashi was paid more than co-actors Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, and Randhir Kapoor. However, Sanjeev Kumar, Pran, and Dharmendra were paid the same price as Shashi. In the only two films they appeared together, Prem Kahani and Alag Alag, out of all the best actors, only Rajesh Khanna was paid more than Shashi.

Kapoor was of special note in the Kapoor clan. He has appeared in more Hindi films (116) than his uncles Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, and Rajiv, with even more than his brothers Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and more than his grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

Since 1987, he had appeared in only a few films as a character actor. In The Deceivers (1988), he worked with Pierce Brosnan. In 1989, he collaborated with Sudesh Issar on the film titled Akhri Muqabla.

Amitabh Bachchan was asked to appear in his debut film Ajooba by Shashi Kapoor. Even though Amitabh wasn't signing any new films at the time, Amitabh Bachchan made a notable exception and said they decided to do the film due to their friendship. Despite the fact that the film, with a large budget and a large cast, was not a success in India, it did not do so well at the box office. Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and Amrish Puri have all been lauded for its storytelling and acting over the years.

Kapoor also received a National (special jury) Award for his role in the 1993 film In Custody and appeared in Gulliver's Travels (1996).

Since his last film appearances in Jinnah and Side Streets in 1998, he resigned from acting. In September 2007, he was seen in the limelight at the Shashi Kapoor Film Festival in Muscat, Oman. Shashi Kapoor received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 55th Annual Filmfare Awards in 2010.

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