Shashi Kapoor (1938- 2017): Bollywood's handsomest hero with an offbeat streak

He was as much a quintessential Bollywood hero as the one who forged an international connection with several Merchant-Ivory Productions collaborating with screenplay writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, thus taking Bollywood beyond the shores to the highest platforms of world cinema and in the festival circuits.

So for every Bollywood superhit like Sharmilee, he had acted in Merchant-Ivory Productions like  a marital discord comedy The Householder (1963) or a wistful romance like Shakespeare Wallah (1965) or some bold films like Bombay Talkie (1970) and Heat and Dust (1983). Shahi Kapoor in Junoon

He also did movies like Siddhartha (the 1972 American film based on the novel of the same name by Hermann Hesse, directed by Conrad Rooks) which courted controversy for the nude scenes with actress Simi Garewal.

The family's Prithvi Theatre was taken to new heights by none other than Shashi Kapoor and his late wife Jennifer Kapoor, thus paying their lifetime tribute to his father Prithviraj Kapoor and promoting professional theatre and Hindi Theatre primarily, by providing and managing a well-equipped Theatre space at very reasonable costs, with all technical facilities. 

Shashi Kapoor, who had charmed generations by his handsome looks, gorgeous smile and electrifying screen presence, passed away on Monday at 79, ending yet another era in Bollywood that is the best and also offbeat.

Shashi, who was part of the iconic Kapoor dynasty, had worked in numerous Bollywood movies which included Sharmilee, Kabhi Kabhie, Baseraa, Deewar, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Satyam Shivan Sundaram, A Gale Lag Ja, Suhaag, Kanyadaan and Utsav among others.An intense Shashi Kapoor in Deewar

He was well-known for his partnership with Amitabh Bachchan as the duo had worked in several hit films and was considered as a successful twin hero pairing of the age. Often they played siblings.

The popular dialogue-'mere paas ma hai'- which was mouthed by Shashi in Deewar addressing Amitabh Bachchan is still an all time favourite. The dialogue is considered as one of the most iconic pieces in the history of commercial Indian cinema.

His romantic paring with many Bollywood heroines led to several super hit films.

He was born as Balbir Raj Kapoor and was the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor and the younger brother of iconic superstars Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. His wife Jennifer Kendal (sister of actress Felicity Kendal) had died in 1984. They had three children- Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor.

He was conferred  the Padmabhushan by the Indian government in 2011 but the crowning glory was just few years away. 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.

Away from his world of films, Shashi Kapoor and his marriage with Jennifer Kendal was also a talk of the town in the past.

Actor  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.

The duo had worked in several films together.

They had three children: Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor.With wife Jennifer and actress Helen on the sets of Bombay Talkie

In an interview published in India Today, Shashi Kapoor had once said he regretted that his wife passed away a bit too soon.

"My wife going away, a bit too soon, and not being able to enjoy being a grandparent (Jennifer Kendall died in 1984). When my grandchildren come into my room each morning, I look up to wherever she may be, and say, 'See what joy they give me, if only you...'," he was quoted as saying in the interview by the magazine.

Born in the prestigious film family, Shashi considered his father Prithviraj Kapoor was his role model.With Rakhee in Baseera

Shashi told in the interview to the magazine: "My Dad (Prithviraj Kapoor). Until now, I have not met anyone I like better than my Dad and my wife."

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(Writing by Supriyo Hazra and Sujoy Dhar)

(Images: Stills from his films from Internet)