Shashi Kapoor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shashi Kapoor
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Kapoor in 2005
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| Born |
Balbir Raj Kapoor
18 March 1938 |
| Died | 4 December 2017 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1941–1999 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jennifer Kapoor
(m. 1958; died 1984) |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) |
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| Family | Kapoor family |
| Honours | Padma Bhushan (2011) Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015) |
Shashi Kapoor was a famous Indian actor and film producer. He was born as Balbir Raj Kapoor on March 18, 1938. He is best known for his work in Hindi films, also known as Bollywood. Shashi Kapoor also acted in many English-language films, especially those made by Merchant Ivory.
The Government of India gave him important awards. He received the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2014. These awards honored his great contributions to Indian cinema. He was part of the famous Kapoor family. He was the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, a well-known actor. Shashi Kapoor started acting as a child in 1948. His first adult role was in the film Dharmputra in 1961. He was married to English actress Jennifer Kendal from 1958 until she passed away in 1984. They had three children: Kunal, Karan Kapoor, and Sanjana. Shashi Kapoor died at the age of 79 due to illness.
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Early Life and Childhood Acting
Shashi Kapoor was born in Calcutta, British India, on March 18, 1938. His parents were Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife. He was the youngest brother of famous actors Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. His uncle, Trilok Kapoor, was also an actor.
As a child, Kapoor acted in plays with his father's theater group, Prithvi Theatres. He started acting in films in the late 1940s. He used the name Shashiraj at first. This was because another child actor already used the name Shashi.
His most famous roles as a child actor were in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951). In these films, he played the younger version of characters played by his older brother, Raj Kapoor. He also appeared in Sangram (1950) and Dana Paani (1953). He acted in four Hindi films as a child from 1948 to 1954.
Shashi Kapoor's Film Career
Starting as a Lead Actor (1960s)
Before becoming a lead actor, Shashi Kapoor worked as an assistant director. He helped with films like Post Box 999 and Guest House (1959). His first main role was in the 1961 film Dharmputra.
He acted in 116 Hindi films. In 61 of these, he was the main hero. He also starred in 55 films with other big stars. Shashi Kapoor was very popular in Bollywood from the 1960s to the mid-1980s. He was one of the first Indian actors to work in international films. His early English films include The Householder and Shakespeare-Wallah.
Actress Nanda was a big star at the time. She signed 8 Hindi films with Kapoor because she believed in his talent. They became a popular on-screen couple. Their films together include Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) and Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965). Shashi Kapoor said Nanda was his favorite actress and a mentor.
Popularity in the 1970s and 1980s
Shashi Kapoor often starred with actresses like Raakhee, Sharmila Tagore, and Zeenat Aman.
- With Raakhee, he had hits like Sharmelee (1971) and Kabhi Kabhie (1976).
- With Sharmila Tagore, he starred in Waqt (1965) and Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973). He won a National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times (1985) with her.
- With Zeenat Aman, he made popular films like Chori Mera Kaam (1975) and Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978).
- He also had many hits with Hema Malini, such as Abhinetri (1970) and Trishul (1978).
Shashi Kapoor also worked with Amitabh Bachchan in 12 films. Many of these were big hits. These include Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), and Namak Halaal (1982). In Deewaar, he played a police officer. His line, "Mere paas Maa hai" ("I have mother"), became very famous in India.
Shashi Kapoor was also known for his international films. He worked with Merchant Ivory productions, which were run by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Some of these films were The Householder (1963), Shakespeare Wallah (1965), and Heat and Dust (1982). He was one of the first Indian actors to work a lot in Hollywood and British films.
In 1978, he started his own film production company called Film Valas. This company made important films like Junoon (1978) and 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981). In 1991, he directed a fantasy film called Ajooba. His co-star Amitabh Bachchan and nephew Rishi Kapoor were in it.
Later Career and Retirement
After 1987, Shashi Kapoor took on fewer acting roles. He appeared with Pierce Brosnan in The Deceivers (1988). He also won a National Award for his acting in In Custody (1993). He played the Rajah in a TV version of Gulliver's Travels (1996).
Shashi Kapoor stopped acting after his last films, Jinnah and Side Streets, in 1998. In 2010, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized his long and successful career in films.
Personal Life
Shashi Kapoor went to Don Bosco High School in Mumbai. In 1956, he met English actress Jennifer Kendal in Calcutta. They were both working with theater groups. Shashi was an assistant stage manager and actor for his father's Prithvi Theatre. Jennifer was the daughter of Geoffrey Kendal, who ran a Shakespearean theater group.
Shashi and Jennifer fell in love and got married in July 1958. They acted in many films together, especially for Merchant Ivory. They had three children: Kunal, Karan Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor. In 1978, Jennifer and Shashi started Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai. Jennifer passed away from cancer in 1984. This was a very difficult time for Shashi Kapoor.
His oldest son, Kunal, now directs ad films. His daughter, Sanjana, is involved in theater. His younger son, Karan, became a model and now runs a photography company in London.
Shashi Kapoor died on December 4, 2017, at the age of 79. He was honored after his death at the 90th Academy Awards.
The Shashi Kapoor Room
When Shashi Kapoor visited Kolkata for work, he often stayed in room number 17 at the Fairlawn Hotel. This historic hotel is now called The Elgin Fairlawn. Room 17 has been renamed the Shashi Kapoor Room to honor him. This is where he met his future wife, Jennifer Kendal, in 1956. Her family's theater company, Shakespeareana, was also staying there. Shashi and Jennifer's children have also stayed in this special room.
Filmography and Awards
In 2011, the Government of India gave him the Padma Bhushan award. This was for his important contributions to Indian cinema.
Works
- Shashi Kapoor presents the Prithviwallahs, by Shashi Kapoor, Deepa Gahlot, Prithvi Theatre (Mumbai, India). Roli Books, 2004. ISBN: 81-7436-348-3.
See also
In Spanish: Shashi Kapoor para niños
- Kapoor Family
