Legendary Shashi Kapoorji!

HOMAGE.!!

ROMANTIC LEGEND OF INTERNATIONAL CINEMA SHASHI KAPOOR!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Shashi Kapoor in 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965).

"Pardesiyon ko hai ek din janaa.."

An icon of our romantic cinema..handsome Shashi Kapoor left the world as he sung this line in his own favourite 'Jab Jab Phul Khile'!

From child artist to lead hero and filmmaker..He contributed a lot to our Indian Cinema! During his era..He was a very stylist & charming hero..who acted in Hindi & English films too!..His image was a popular mainstream hero; but as a producer he always made offbeat art films!!

Child Shashi Kapoor in 'Aawara' (1951).

Balbir Raj Prithviraj Kapoor...real name of Shashi Kapoor who at the age of 4 started acting in plays produced-directed by his father Prithviraj Kapoor!..Then in 1940s..as a child artist he appeared on screen! In RK's 'Aawara' (1951) he played younger version of the title role played by his older brother (actor-filmmaker) Raj Kapoor!

Shashi Kapoor in 'Dharmputra' (1961).

In the beginning Shashi Kapoor worked for few films as assistant director and then in 1961 he made his debut as leading man in B. R. Chopra's film 'Dharmputra'..which was based on novel of same name by Acharya Chatursen!..It depicted the partition of India & Communalism! Yash Chopra directed in this movie Mala Sinha was with him!..The picture is still contemporary!

Handsome Shashi Kapoor with wife Jennifer Kendal!

After his first three Hindi films..'Dharmputra, 'Prempatra' & 'Char Diwari'..Shashi Kapoor started acting in English language films in 1963..like 'The Householder' and 'Shakespear-wallah'!  

'The Householder'..first 'Merchant-Ivory Production's film was based on the novel of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala!..It was a family drama about relationship in which Leela Naidu was with him! Later in 'Bombay Talkie' (1970) & 'Heat and Dust' (1982) he acted with his wife Jennifer Kendal!

Shashi Kapoor & Nanda in 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965).

In 1960s Shashi Kapoor acted in several romantic movies with that time established actress Nanda and their pair was hit! In this includes 'Char Diwari' (1961), 'Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath' (1962), 'Mohabbat Isko Kahate Hai' (1965), 'Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare' (1966), 'Raja Saab' (1969) and 'Rootha Na Karo' (1970). Among these..super hit was Suraj Prakash's 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965) in which they romantically performed the scenes & songs like
"Ek tha Gul..aur ek thi Bulbul.."
[Aamir Khan & Karishma Kapoor starrer 'Raja Hindustani' (1996) was a remake of it!]

Rakhi & Shashi Kapoor in 'Sharmilee' (1971).

Then Shashi Kapoor became a very popular romantic hero in Indian cinema with films like Nasir Hussain's hit with Asha Parekh..'Pyar Ka Mausam' (1969) and with Rakhi 'Sharmilee' (1971).

Apart from this he made a popular pairing with Amitabh Bachchan and the two co-starred in a total of 12 films..'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan' (1974), 'Deewaar' (1975), 'Kabhi Kabhi' (1976), 'Immaan Dharam' (1977), 'Trishul' (1978), 'Kaala Patthar' (1979), 'Suhaag' (1979), 'Do Aur Do Paanch' (1980), 'Shaan' (1980), 'Silsila' (1981), 'Namak Halaal' (1982) and 'Akela' (1991). Among these their debate scenes in Yash Chopra's 'Deewar' (1975) written by Salim-Javed..got admiration, in which his famous dialogue was "Mere paas Maa hai!"..Shashi Kapoor won Filmfare award for it!

Amitabh Bachchan & Shashi Kapoor in 'Deewaar' (1975).

In 1978 Shashi Kapoor set up his production house 'Film Valas' and produced critically acclaimed films 'Junoon' (1978) which was based on Ruskin Bond's novel set around Indian Rebellion 1857..And 'Kalyug' (1981) which was a modern version of an Indian epic 'Mahabharat'..depicted conflict between rival business houses! He himself played main roles in both the films which directed by Shyam Benegal! Then sensible actress Aparna Sen directed the film he produced '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981) in which his wife Jeniffer Kendal-Kapoor did main role!

Jeniffer Kendal in '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981).

After this Govind Nihlani directed film for Shashi Kapoor..'Vijeta' (1982) in which his elder son Kunal Kapoor was in main role! Then Girish Karnard directed his art film 'Utsav' (1984) was based on Sanskrit play 'Mrichakatika'..And beautiful Rekha's performance in it was superb! In 1991 he produced and directed a fantasy film 'Ajooba' which also made in Russian language and co-directed by Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev! Title role played by Amitabh Bachchan with Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor!

Shashi Kapoor in 'New Delhi Times' (1986).

Shashi Kapoor also did unique characters in few offbeat films and won national awards! In 1986 he portraited newspaper editor in Ramesh Sharma's political thriller 'New Delhi Times' (Role was similar to that time famous journalist!). And he won Best Actor National Award for it! In 1993 he portrayed old Urdu Poet in 'Merchant-Ivory Production's film 'Muhafiz'..directed by Ismail Merchant! It was based on novel 'In Custody' by Anita Desai..Story documents a grand era in decline!

Shashi Kapoor & Om Puri in 'Muhafiz' (1993).

Shashi Kapoor won Special Jury Best Actor National Award for it! In 1998 he last appeared in films 'Jinnah' and then Merchant Ivory's 'Side Streets'!

In 2007 'Shashi Kapoor Film Festival' held at Muscat, Oman! Then he got 'Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award'. In 2011 he was honoured with 'Padma Bhushan' and in 2015 he was conferred with the highest 'Dadasaheb Phalake Award' from our Government of India!

 Shashi Kapoorji with 'Dadasaheb Phalake Award'!

I am remembering meetings Shashi Kapoor sahab in Pune many years ago..Then in Mumbai at Prithvi Theatr..there he kindly appreciated my film magazine 'Chitrasrushti'!

My Humble Homage!!


- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti'] 
 [Pune, India]