Shashi Kapoor (born as Balbir Raj Kapoor; 18 March 1938 – 4 December 2017) was an Indian film actor and producer. He appeared in a large number of Hindi films as well as in a few English-language films. He also been a film director and assistant director in the Hindi film industry.

Shashi Kapoor was a member of the Kapoor family, a film dynasty in India's Bollywood cinema. Kapoor was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) during the British Raj. He was the 3rd and the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, the younger brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, the widower of Jennifer Kendal (sister of actress Felicity Kendal), and the father of Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor. In 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contributions to Art-Cinema. In 2015, he was awarded the 2014 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, making him the third member of his family to receive the highest award in Indian Cinema after Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor. He passed away on 4th December 2017 after a prolonged liver cirrhosis at Kokilaben Hospital,Mumba.

Years active 1941–1999 (retired)

Spouses

Jennifer Kendal
(1958–1984; her death)

Children

Kunal Kapoor
Karan Kapoor
Sanjana Kapoor

Parents

Prithviraj Kapoor
Ramsarni Kapoor

Career

Child actor

Shashi Kapoor acted in plays directed and produced by his father Prithviraj Kapoor, while travelling with Prithvi Theatres. He started acting in films as a child in the late 1940s, appearing in commercial films including Sangram (1950) and Dana Paani (1953) under the name of Shashiraj as there was another actor by the same name who used to act in mythological films as a child artiste. His best-known performances as child actor were in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951), where he played the younger version of the characters played by his older brother Raj Kapoor and in Sangram (1950), where he played the younger version of Ashok Kumar. He worked in four Hindi films as a child artiste from 1948 to 1954.

Early career (1960s)

Kapoor got an opportunity to work as an assistant director in the film Post Box 999, the debut film of Sunil Dutt, and worked as an assistant director to Ravindra Dave in Guest House (1959), which was followed by movies such as Dulha Dulhan and Shriman Satyawadi, where Raj Kapoor was the lead hero.

Shashi Kapoor made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film Dharmputra and went on to appear in 116 Hindi films, including 61 films as the solo lead hero and 55 multi star-cast films, 21 films as supporting actor and special appearance in 7 films. He was a very popular actor in Bollywood during the 60s, 70s and until the mid-80s. Kapoor's early films, Dharmputra, Prem Patra, and Char Diwari, were in Hindi. Since 1961, he started acting in English language films, which include The Householder and Shakespeare-Wallah. He was one of India's first actors to go international. Actress Nanda, who was an established star at this time, signed 8 Hindi films with Kapoor, as she believed that he could deliver good performances. Their first two films as a pair were the critically acclaimed romantic film Char Diwari (1961) and Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath (1962).[9] In the 1960s Kapoor acted in several romantic films opposite Nanda, including Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965), Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966), Raja Saab (1969) and Rootha Na Karo (1970). In an interview in the 1990s, Kapoor declared that Nanda was his favourite heroine and that he regarded her as one of his mentors. In another interview, Nanda stated that Shashi Kapoor was her favourite hero.

1970s and 1980s

Shashi Kapoor formed on screen pairs with Raakhee, Sharmila Tagore and Zeenat Aman from the late sixties to the mid eighties. He also acted opposite actresses Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, and Moushumi Chatterjee in many films. After their first movie together Sharmelee became a blockbuster, Raakhee was frequently paired with him, and they acted in hit films such as Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Baseraa (1981), the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978) however Doosara Aadmi (1977), Bandhan Kuchchey Daghon Ka, Bandh Honth (1984), and Zameen Aasman were flops.[12] He starred with Sharmila Tagore in hits like Waqt (1965), Aamne Samne (1967), Suhana Safar (1970), Patanga(1971), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973), Vachan (1974),[13] Paap Aur Punya (1974), Swati (1986), the critically acclaimed New Delhi Times (1985), which fetched Kapoor a National Film Award for Best Actor in 1986,[14]Other films with Sharmila like My Love (1970), Anari (1975), Gehri Chot (1983), Maa Beti (1986) and Ghar Bazar (1998) were not successful. With Zeenat Aman, he worked in hit films like Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Deewaangee (1976), Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Heeralal Pannalal (1978), Pakhandi (1984), Bhavani Junction (1985), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) and the pair witnessed flops like Krodhi (1981), Vakil Babu (1982), and Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983). He did 10 films opposite Hema Malini.As a pair, Shashi and Hema Malini had 6 hits like Abhinetri, Aap Beati, Trishul, Aandhi Toofan, Apna Khoon, Maan Gaye Ustaad and 4 flops - Jahan Pyar Mile, Naach Uthe Sansaar, Do Aur Do Paanch, Anjaam.

Kapoor's other successful movies include Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968) and Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969), both with Babita, Kanyadan (1968) and Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) both opposite Asha Parekh, Chor Machaye Shor opposite Mumtaz, Abhinetri (1970), Aap Beati (1976) and Maan Gaye Ustaad (1981), with Hema Malini, Bezubaan with Reena Roy, Chakkar Pe Chakkar (1976), Kali Ghata (1980), Kalyug (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Pyaar Ki Jeet (1987) all with Rekha and Bepanaah (1985) with Rati Agnihotri. Other films include multi-starrers like Dil Ne Pukara (1967), Trishul (1978), Neeyat(1980), Aandhi Toofan (1985), Naina (1973), Phaansi (1978), Salaakhen (1975), Fakira (1976), and Junoon (1978).[15] He also worked with Rajesh Khanna in Prem Kahani (1975).

Shashi Kapoor as a child artist had worked with Ashok Kumar in blockbusters like Sangram (1950), Samadhi (1950) where Ashok Kumar was the solo lead hero, which were huge hits at box office. He played Ashok Kumar's younger brother in Benazir where Ashok Kumar was the main male lead hero. Ashok Kumar played the supporting actor in 7 films with Shashi as the lead hero from 1975-1985 of which Chori Mera Kaam, Aap Baeti, Shankar Dada, Apna Khoon and Maan Gaye Ustaad became hits, while Hira Aur Paththar and Do Musafir became flops.

He did 2 double role films, both of which were box-office hits - Haseena Maan Jayegi and Shankar Dada.Shashi did a song number in Shankar Dada, a box-office hit, dressed up as a female.

From the 1970s to early 1980s, Kapoor starred alongside Pran in 9 films which include Biradari, Chori Mera Kaam, Phaansi, Shankar Dada, Chakkar Pe Chakkar, Rahu Ketu and Maan Gaye Ustaad.[16] Earlier Shashi had worked as child artists with Pran in Sanskar.He made a popular pairing with Amitabh Bachchan and the two co-starred in a total of 12 films: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Suhaag (1979), Namak Halaal (1982) however Immaan Dharam (1977),Do Aur Do Paanch (1980), Shaan (1980),Silsila(1981), Akayla (1991) were flops.[17] Shashi Kapoor was regularly cast with Sanjeev Kumar also in films like Mukti (1977), Trishul, Muqaddar (1978), Swayamvar (1980), Sawaal (1982), and Pakhandi (1984).After his wife's death in 1984, he started becoming fat ,but he was given his comeback role as character artiste by Rajesh Khanna in Alag Alag, a 1985 film.

He was also known internationally for starring in British and American films, notably Merchant Ivory productions run by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, such as The Householder (1963), Shakespeare Wallah (1965) (opposite his sister-in-law Felicity Kendal), Bombay Talkie (1970) and Heat and Dust (1982) in which he co-starred with his wife Jennifer Kendal, The Deceivers (1988) and Side Streets (1998). He also starred in other British and American films such as Pretty Polly ("A Matter Of Innocence" (1967)) opposite Hayley Mills, Siddhartha (1972), Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), and Muhafiz(1994). James Ivory directed Kapoor in the first Merchant Ivory production The Householder, then in Shakespeare-Wallah, Bombay Talkie and Heat and Dust while Ismail Merchant directed him in In Custody (1993).[18] He was the first Indian actor to work extensively in Hollywood films and British films.

In 1978, he set up his production house, Film Valas, which produced critically acclaimed films such as Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Utsav (1984). In 1991 he produced and directed a fantasy film titled Ajooba which had his frequent co-star Amitabh Bachchan and nephew Rishi Kapoor in the lead.

Shashi Kapoor was 2nd highest paid Hindi actor, sharing the spot with Devanand from 1970-75 and 3rd third highest paid Hindi actor, sharing space with Vinod Khanna from 1976-82.The highest paid Indian actor was Rajesh Khanna from 1970-1987.Shashi was paid more than co-actors Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Rishi and Randhir Kapoor in multi-starrer films. However, Sanjeev Kumar, Pran and Dharmendra were paid at same rate as Shashi. Among all leading actors, only Rajesh Khanna was paid more than Shashi in the 2 films they acted together – Prem Kahani and Alag Alag.

Shashi regarded Rajesh Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar as the most versatile actors of Hindi Cinema from among his contemporaries and he regarded these 2 along-with his seniors Pran and Ashok Kumar from 1930-2000 as the most versatile from Hindi Cinema.He respected M G Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganeshan among the Tamil film actors for their body of work. He believed Amitabh did mostly angry young man or multi star films from 1975 to 1999 and turned versatile only after 2000.

He personally regarded his best performances as solo lead hero in Hindi films were in Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare , Jab Jab Phool Khile, Haseena Maan Jayegi , Pyar Ka Mausam, Raja Saab (1969), Jaanwar Aur Insaan, Mr.Romeo, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Chori Mera Kaam, Phaansi, Junoon, Kalyug , Pighalta Aasman, New Delhi Times and among the English films he did he feels his best were Shakespeare-Wallah, A Matter of Innocence (1967) , Heat and Dust (1983), In Custody (1994).Among the multi star films his personal favorites are Pyar Kiye Jaa, Prem Kahani, Deewar, Mukti, Trishna, Basera, Heeralal Pannalal, Bezubaan, Alag Alag.

He regarded Nanda, Pran, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Ismail Merchant, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar as his closest friends from the industry since the beginning of his career and maintained cordial relations with Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Chopra, MGR, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and most of his co-stars.

In the whole of the Kapoor clan, Shashi Kapoor has been the solo hero more times (61 films) and also as a lead protagonist in more Hindi films(116) than his nephews Rishi Kapoor,Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv and even more than his brothers Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and more than his grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

Later career (1987–1999)

He accepted very few roles as a character actor in films since 1987. He acted with Pierce Brosnan in The Deceivers(1988). He also won a National (special jury) Award for his performance in Muhafiz (In Custody) (1994), and played the Rajah in the TV adaptation of Gulliver's Travels (1996). His last and most recent film appearances were in Jinnah (1998), a biographical film of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in which he was the narrator and another Merchant Ivory production titled Side Streets (1998). He retired from the film industry by late 1990s and had not appeared in any film ever since. He was seen in the limelight at the Shashi Kapoor Film Festival held in Muscat, Oman (September 2007). At the 55th Annual Filmfare Awards, Shashi Kapoor received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life

Kapoor attended Don Bosco High School in Matunga, Mumbai. He met English actress Jennifer Kendal in Calcutta in 1956 while both were working for their respective theatre groups. Shashi was both assistant stage manager as well as an actor for his father's theatre group, Prithvi Theatre. Geoffrey Kendal's Shakespearean group was also present at the same time in Calcutta and Jennifer was Geoffrey's daughter. After their subsequent meeting, the couple fell in love and after facing initial opposition from the Kendals and support from sister-in-law Geeta Bali, they got married in July 1958. They acted in a number of films together, most notably in Merchant Ivory productions. They had three children: Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor. Jennifer and Shashi established Prithvi Theatre on 5 November 1978 in Mumbai. Jennifer died of cancer in 1984 which shattered him. The English actress Felicity Kendal is his sister-in-law.

Kapoor's children, for a short while, became Hindi film actors but their European looks and accented Hindi prevented them from having successful careers. His eldest son Kunal is married to director Ramesh Sippy's daughter. Kunal moved on to ad film direction and established his production house Adfilm-Valas which is today extremely successful. Shashi's daughter Sanjana, is a theatre personality and married to wildlife conservationist Valmik Thapar. They have a son named Hamir. Shashi's younger son Karan became successful in modelling and later settled down in London. He is an accomplished photographer.

Health

On 20 July 2012, Shashi Kapoor underwent a cataract surgery at Kokilaben Hospital in suburban Andheri. He was discharged from the hospital the same day. He was admitted at the Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai, on December 3, 2017 reportedly for chest infection, where he died the following day on December 4, 2017. He is survived by two sons, Kunal and Karan, and a daughter, Sanjana, who takes care of the Prithvi Theatre. 

Death

Kapoor died on Monday, 4th of December 2017 aged 79 after prolonged illness in Kokilaben Hospital Mumbai. He had been suffering from ailments for the past few years. He had undergone a bypass surgery and was also hospitalized for a chest infection in 2014.

Awards

Civilian Award

• 2011 – Padma Bhushan by the Government of India

National Film Awards

• 2015 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Winner

• 1994 – National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) for Muhafiz (1993)
• 1986 – National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times
• 1979 – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (as Producer) for Junoon

Filmfare Awards

Winner

• 2010 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• Filmfare Best Movie Award – Won
  1982 Kalyug
  1980 Junoon
• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Won
  1976 Deewar – Ravi Verma

Nominated

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Nominated
  1983 Namak Halaal – Raja Singh
  1977 Kabhi Kabhie – Vijay Khanna

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

• BFJA Award for Best Actor
  1988 New Delhi Times – Vikas Pande
  1965 Jab Jab Phool Khile – Raja

Other awards

• 2011 – Mohammed Rafi Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

• 2009 – The 7th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF)
• 2009 – The 11th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF)

Honours and recognitions

He was honoured by Walk of the Stars as his handprint was preserved for posterity at Bandra bandstand in Mumbai in November 2013.