Shashi Kapoor is a famous Indian film actor and filmmaker. He is known for his work in mainstream Hindi cinema. Let’s see more about Shashi Kapoor’s personal life, his career and other interesting facts. 
Biography/Wiki
Shashi Kapoor was born on 18 March 1938 (79 years; age at death) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He started his career as a child artist at the age of four. He has acted in dramas directed and produced by his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. Until the 1970s and 1980s, Shashi Kapoor became the center of attention. Apart from appearing in Hindi dramas and mainstream cinema, she has also appeared in many English films. He was awarded a national award for his contribution to the Hindi film industry.
Shashi Kapoor was honored by the Walk of the Stars
Health
In 2012, Shashi Kapoor underwent cataract surgery at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. However, on the same day, he was released.
He suffered from kidney disease some time before his death. However, on 3 December 2017, he died after a ‘long battle’ with cirrhosis of the liver and kidney failure.
Family, Caste & Girlfriend
Shashi Kapoor was born to legendary actor and director Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Kapoor in a Punjabi Khatri family. Established Bollywood actors Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor are Shashi’s older brothers. He also has a sister, Urmila Sial Kapoor.
Shashi Kapoor’s parents
Shashi Kapoor’s sister Urmila Sial Kapoor
Shashi Kapoor with his brothers Raj Kapoor (Left) and Shammi Kapoor (Center)
In 1958, he married his girlfriend Jennifer Kendal. He has two sons Karan Kapoor (photographer) & Kunal Kapoor (advertiser) and a daughter Sanjana Kapoor (actress & entrepreneur). His wife died in 1984 of terminal colon cancer.
Shashi Kapoor with his wife Jennifer Kendal
Karan Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor
Kunal Kapoor
Career
Shashi Kapoor completed his schooling from Don Bosco High School, Matunga, Mumbai. He made his screen debut as a child artiste in 1948 with the Bollywood film ‘Aag’ as the young ‘Kewal Khanna’.
Shashi Kapoor as a child artist in Aag
Shashi was widely praised for his performance as a child actor in the film ‘Awaara’ (1951), where he played the younger version of Raj Kapoor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBplmK8w3Fk
He entered the directing arena in 1958; worked as an assistant director for the Bollywood film ‘Post Box 999.’
In 1961, he got the lead role in the Bollywood film ‘Dharmputra’ as ‘Dilip Rai.’
Shashi Kapoor in Dharmaputra
He also acted in several Hollywood films ‘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), ‘Jinnah’ (1998), and ‘Side Streets’ (1998).
In 1996, he made his TV debut with the British/American TV series ‘Gulliver’s Travels.’
In 1978, he launched his own production house ‘Film Vala’s’ which produced Bollywood films like ‘Junoon’ (1978), ‘Kalyug’ (1980), ’36 Chowringhee Lane’ (1981), ‘Vijeta’ (1982), ‘Utsav’ (1984), and ‘Ajooba’ (1991). Additionally, he directed the Bollywood film ‘Ajooba’ (1991) and the Russian language film ‘Vozvrashcheniye Bagdadskogo Vora’ (1988).
Awards & Honors
- The third highest civilian award ‘Padma Bhushan’ by the Government of India in 2011.
Shashi Kapoor received the Padma Bhushan from the President
- India’s highest award in cinema ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’ in 2015.
Shashi Kapoor received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
- Won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award/Special Mention (Feature Film) in 1994 for ‘Muhafiz’ (1993).
- Won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1986 for ‘New Delhi Times.’
- Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film In Hindi (as Producer) in 1979 for ‘Junoon’ (1978).
- Won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1976 for ‘Deewar’ (1975).
Controversy
Shashi Kapoor’s 1972 film ‘Siddhartha’ created controversy due to some of his intimate scenes with his co-star Simi Garewal.
Siddhartha movie starring Shashi Kapoor
Net worth
Shashi Kapoor’s net worth is estimated at ₹500 crore.
Favorite Things
- The biggest inspiration in Shashi Kapoor’s life is his father, Prithviraj Kapoor.
- Nanda is his favorite actor of all time.
- He is very fond of eating Prawn and Crab Curry.
- Shashi really liked the dishes cooked by chef Meena Pinto.
Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer with Meena Pinto
- He likes to play the piano.
- Shashi Kapoor’s favorite quote is, ‘It will be a great achievement for mankind when a man finally learns to be human.’
Facts
- He was the second highest paid Bollywood actor in the early 1970s after Rajesh Khanna.
- Shashi Kapoor was sent to a boarding school at a young age. He did not like the food served at the boarding school. Once he wrote a letter to his mother complaining about the food served and also wrote that he would kill himself if he received such food. As a result, Shashi was taken out of the boarding school.
- Shashi’s brother Raj Kapoor gave him the nickname ‘Taxi’ for a different reason. Whenever he is busy shooting, Shashi always sleeps in his car or taxi. Every time Shashi used to pick up and drop his co-stars in his car or taxi. Moreover, Shashi Kapoor always looks like a “run by cab” to Raj Kapoor.
- He became famous for his dialogue ‘Mere Paas Maa Hai’ from the film ‘Deewar’ (1975).
- When he was the director of ‘Ajooba,’ he used to move around the sets with a stick in his hand. Amitabh Bachchan, also among the star cast, shared that Shashi did so with the intention of using a stick on misbehaving actors. However, Shashi never used the stick. Amitabh considers Shashi as a director who cares about his actors and technicians.
- Sharing another anecdote, Shabana Azmi revealed that Shashi used to invest his money only in cinema and theater and not any other commercial business. He said, When we went to the Moscow Film Festival, with only eight dollars in foreign exchange, we were all short of cash. But despite the presence of bigwigs like FC Mehra and Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor pays the bills.”
- Amitabh Bachchan is credited for saving Shashi’s life when Shashi was confined to a wheelchair due to a broken leg. Kapoor was performing at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai when a fire broke out and he started screaming for help. It was Bachchan who came to her rescue to save her life.
- In 1978, he and his wife re-opened the Prithvi Theater which was closed after his father’s death in 1972.
- He never worked on Sundays and spent all his days with his beloved family.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
