Shashi Kapoor is one of the leading actors of Indian cinema having appeared in 160 movies – 12 in English and 148 in Hindi. He has appeared in 148 Hindi films – of them played the solo lead hero in 61 films, was lead hero in 53 released multi star cast Hindi films, 2 unreleased multi star film and 21 Hindi films had him in supporting role, worked in 4 films as a child artist and made 7 guest appearances.Indian actor of Bollywood, Parallel Cinema, and International productions; Shashi Kapoor is the youngest son of theater and film actor Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife Ramsarni “Rama”” Mehra Kapoor. Shashi grew up traveling around the country with his father’s acting trope “”Prithvi Theatres.”” from 1940-59. He began appearing on stage from the age of four. He also began working in films in the early 1940s. As a child, he appeared in 4 films from 1948-53 which includes 2 films of his eldest brother Raj Kapoor as the hero and Sangram, where Shashi played Ashok Kumar.By 1956, an 18-year old Shashi was both actor and assistant stage manager for “”Prithvi Theatre.”” That year, “”Shakespeareana”” –a traveling theater group under English actor Geoffrey Kendal, and “”Prithvi Theatre”” were both booked to play in Calcutta. While checking the audience reaction from backstage, Shashi’s glance fell on Jennifer Kendal. Shashi soon learned she was playing Miranda in “”The Tempest,”” and secured an introduction. The two began courting, and expressed a desire to wed. Geoffrey Kendal was uncertain about loosing not only his daughter, but his leading lady and theater manager. He insisted that the couple wait at least two years. Shashi began touring with “”Shakespeareana”” and in 1958 he again asked for Jennifer’s hand in marriage and was again refused. However, Jennifer decided to go against her father’s wishes, and in July of 1958, the couple were married in the traditional Indian style in Bombay.Shashi debuted as a leading man in Yash Chopra’s Dharmputra (1961). From 1961-64 his Hindi films with him as the solo heroes were box office flops. But Nanda believed that Shashi does have the potential to be popular leading man and signed happily 8 films opposite him over the period 1962-1968. Except for their first 2 films together and Juaari, other 5 films of the pair Nanda-Shashi turned out to be super-hits from 1965-70.A versatile actor, Shashi worked in both mainstream popular Hindi cinema, art films and in Indian-set English-language films, such as those made by the film-making team Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. He was one of the first Indian stars to go international, as he worked in both British and American films, and directed the Soviet Union co-production Ajooba (1991) which was a disaster.He tried his hand at English films when his Hindi films were flops from 1961-64 and achieved success in 1963 with 2 commercially successful English movies.He did 6 English films as lead hero till 1983 and then played villain in Deceivers and another lead role in 1993 and rest 4 English films had him in supporting role as narrator/guest appearance from 1987-1998. Shashi started having solo hits opposite Rakhee, Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman from 1968-1975 but had a weak period as a solo lead hero from 1974-1978 where he had 13 flops off 24 films as solo lead and this made him accept multi star cast films from 1976-85. He achieved success in multi star films from 1976-84.In the multi star films he did , he was paid more than co-stars Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Rishi and Randhir Kapoor. But Sanjeev Kumar,Pran and Dharmendra were paid at same rate as Shashi in the films where they were his co-stars. Only Rajesh Khanna was paid more than Shashi in the 2 films they did together. He played supporting role to Rajesh Khanna at peak of his career in Prem Kahani and then in Alag Alag.He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for _Deewaar (1975). He won two Filmfare Best Movie Awards for his work as producer and star of Junoon (1979) and Kalyug (1981).He costarred in 11 films with Amitabh Bachchan of which 4 (Deewar,Trishul, Suhaag,Namak Halal) were successful,1 (Kala Pathar)was average hit and rest 6 were flops. Shashi Kapoor did 61 solo lead hero films in Hindi and, of them, 35 were super-hits. Shashi did 55 multi-star cast movies where Shashi was one of the lead heroes and, of them, 33 were super-hits, 20 were flops, 2 remain unreleased.Shashi and Jennifer had three children; Kunal Kapoor, an actor and ad director, Karan Kapoor a photographer and sometimes actor, and Sanjana Kapoor, an actress who has run Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai since 1993. After his wife Jennifer died of cancer in 1984, Shashi started becoming obese and began taking on fewer roles in films, and shifted his focus to character roles.His first break as supporting actor after he became obese was given by Rajesh Khanna in film Alag Alag where his role along-with the lead pair of the film was appreciated.In 2010, Shashi was presented with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Shashi Kapoor
Movies
Deewar (2004)
The movie tells the story of two brothers, Vijay and Ravi Verma, who follow different career paths: Vijay is a smuggler and Ravi the policeman who is asked to hunt Vijay down. Vijay Verma (Amitabh Bachchan) and Ravi Verma (Shashi Kapoor) are the sons of a trade unionist, Anand Verma(Satyen…
Dil Ne Pukara
Asha lives a wealthy lifestyle in Bombay with her widowed dad, who would like her to get married to Dr. Prakash. While vacationing in Kashmir, she meets with a young man, Rajan, and both fall in love with each other. When she returns home and attends Dr. Prakash’s birthday party,…
Doosra Aadmi
Kanu decides to come out of the shadow of his illustrious father and set up an advertising agency. All is going well at home and at work for the newly weds until Kanu decides to hire the services of an ace designer Nisha (Rakhee). Nisha is the mysterious older woman…
Fakira
In order to help the poor and needy; Vijay alias Fakira rob a gang leader, Chimanlal on multiple occasions of his cash and smuggled goods. This makes him a target of the police and Chimanlal himself; Chimanlal hires a man name Toofan to either capture Fakira or bring his dead…
Ilzaam
Ajay is a street dancer and while people are watching his dance his fellow members manage to rob their houses.One day he decides to quit it as he was forcefully bought into this.Ajay saves Laxmi from goons following which she takes him to his house.Laxmi’s mother and her older brother…
Fun Facts
Son of Prithviraj Kapoor, brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.
Father of Sanjana Kapoor and actors Kunal Kapoor and Karan Kapoor.
The pair Shashi Kapoor Sharmila Tagore did 12 films together and 6 were box office successes and also critically acclaimed.The pair Sharmila-Shashi gave 6 hits like Waqt (1965), Aamne Samne(1967), Suhana Safar (1970), Aa Gale Lag Jaa(1973),Paap Aur Punya (1974), Swati(1986) and 6 box office flops like New Delhi Times(1985), My Love, Anari, Gehri Chot, Maa Beti,Ghar Bazar.
The Shashi Kapoor-Zeenat Aman pair had 6 critically acclaimed box office super-hits Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Chori Mera Kaam, Deewangee, Heeralal Pannalal, Pakahndi, Bhavani Junction and 4 box office flop films Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Krodhi, Vakil Babu and Bandhan Kuchche Dagaon Ka.
The on-screen pair of Rakhee Gulzar-Shashi Kapoor did 10 films together. Among these 5 were critically acclaimed box office successes - Sharmilee, Jaanwar Aur Insaan, Kabhie Kabhie, Trishna, Basera.The flops were Pighalta Aasmaan,Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Bandh Honth (1984, Zameen Aasmaan (1984) and Doosara Aadmi (1977). Another film they did was shelved - Ek Do Teen Chaar in 1980.
His personal favorite Kishore Asha duet songs are Kahiye Kahase Ana Hua from Heeralal Pannalal, Hey Mujhe Dil Dey Nahi Toh Sunle and Yahan Nahi Kahungi from Mr. Romeo, Kahan Kahan Kis Kis Din from Chakkar Pe Chakkar and Kahe Ko Kahe Ko Mere Peeche Padi Hai from Chori Mera Kaam.His favorite Kishore Lata duet are Sa Re Ga Ma from Abhinetri, Na Soenge Na Sone Denge from Mr.Romeo, Wada Karo from Aa Gale Lag Ja, Aaj Madhosh Hua from Sharmilee ,Kaash Aisa Hota from Aahuti, Pyar Jab Tera Mera Hua from Deewangee. Jaane Mujhe Tune Yeh Kya Cheez from Naina(1973) is his most favorite Shardha Kishore duet.
Shashi was lead protagonist in 7 English films and worked as a supporting actor/narrator in 5 English films. He has appeared in 148 Hindi films, 21 Hindi films had him in supporting role, worked in 4 films as a child artist and made 7 guest appearances. In all has appeared in 160 movies - 12 in English and 148 in Hindi and in one TV series Kissa Kathmandu Ka in 1986.
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 Kapoor had worked with Pran in the hit 1952 film Sanskar(1952) as a child artist and later when Shashi became a lead hero himself, Pran and Shashi worked in 9 films.
Shashi Kapoor had worked as a child artist with Bharat Bhushan as lead hero in mythological Ram Darshan (1950) and in Dana Paani (1953) and later Bharat Bhushan played father to Shashi Kapoor in the 1967 film Pyar Ka Mausam where Shashi was the solo lead hero and was first film of Bharat Bhushan as a character actor.
Shashi did 55 multi-star cast Hindi movies - of them 50 came in the period 1975-1994 (including one unreleased film Chakma).The reason was - Shashi Kapoor had done only 5 multi-star cast movies from 1961-1974 and was like Rajesh Khanna concentrating on getting solo hero films but when he had 10 flops of 19 releases as solo lead hero between 1974-1977, he decided to do multi-star cast films where he would play the main male lead hero along-with another star junior to him.This trend of actors doing multi-star started when their films as solo hero films were not doing well and except for Rajesh Khanna, who got many solo film offers and had hit solo hero films as well as multi-star cast films, rest of the actors did 2 or 3 hero films.
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. Later, as an adult, Shashi 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 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.
5 English films of the total 7 English films with Shashi as a lead hero outside India were box-office success - The Householder (1963), Shakespeare-Wallah (1965), Pretty Polly (1967), Siddhartha (1972), Heat and Dust (1983) and 2 were flops Bombay Talkie (1970) and In Custody. He Played negative role in Peirce Brosnan starer The Deceivers (1988) and supporting role in Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987) both which were a box-office hit too. Rest of the 3 English films had him as narrator or in guest appearances - Jinnah, Guliver's Travels and Side Streets.
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.
As a pair, Nanda and Shashi Kapoor had 5 hits Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hai, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Neend Hamare Khwab Tumhare, Raja Saab, Rootha Na Karo and 3 flops Chaar Diwari, Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, Juaari.
Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) and Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965) were Shashi Kapoor's first solo lead hero Hindi films to be successful.
Shashi has appeared in 160 Hindi films - which is more than his brothers each individually Raj and Shammi Kapoor and more than what his nephews Randhir, Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor each individually did.
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.
Sanjeev Kumar and Shashi Kapoor worked in 7 films - 5 were box-office hits Mukti, Trishul, Muqadar, Swayamvar, Pakandi and 2 were flops - Imaan Dharam, Sawaal.
Shashi Kapoor starred with Amitabh in 11 films - 6 of these films were were box-office flops - Do Aur Do Paanch, Shaan, Kala Paththar(though Kala Pathar was average hit at some places), Immaan Dharam, Silsila and Akayla and other 4 were super-hits like Deewar, Trishul, Suhaag, Namak Halal.
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.
Shashi did 2 double role films, both of which were box-office hits - Haseena Maan Jayegi and Shankar Dada.
Shashi did 12 English films and of them 8 had him in lead roles - The Householder, Shakesphere Wallah, Pretty Polly, Bombay Talkie, Siddhartha, Heat and Dust, Deceivers had Shashi in negative lead role, In Custody . Shashi played a supporting role in - Sammy and Rosie Get Laid, Side Streets, Gulliver's Travels and was a narrator in Jinnah. Of these commercially successful were Householder, Shakespherewallah, Pretty Polly, Siddhartha,Heat and Dust and then Deceivers and Sammy Gets Rosy Laid and his commercial failures were In Custody, Bombay Talkie, Side Streets.
Shashi's favorite co-stars among his lead heroines were Nanda, Rakhee , Sharmila Tagore and Zeenat Aman.
The year 1965 was turning point in his career as his English film Shakespeare-Wallah became his 2nd hit English Movie and he tasted his first success as the solo lead hero with Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) and Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965) and the multi star cast film Waqt becoming a blockbuster.
Shashi did a song number in Shankar Dada, a box-office hit, dressed up as a female.
He personally regards 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, Heeralal Pannalal, Basera, Bezubaan, Alag Alag.
Shashi did one intimate long scene in English film Siddhartha (1972) with Simi Garewal and one kissing scene in the English movie A Matter of Innocence (1967) with Hayley Mills. In Hindi movies he had only one kiss scene in his career which was in Satyam Shivam Sundaram with Zeenat Aman.Except for these 3 films never Shashi did any scene meant only for adults. Shashi had a kissing scene in the 1967 English film A Matter of Innocence where Shashi played the main male lead hero opposite Hayley Mills, who played the role of Pretty Polly.
Shashi Kapoor had worked as a child artist in the film Dana Paani (1953) where Meena Kumari was playing heroine to Barat Bhushan and later in 1964 film Benazir, Shashi played brother-in-law to Meena Kumari's character.In the film Benazir Shashi Kapoor plays younger brother to Ashok Kumar and Ashok Kumar mistakes Shashi of having affair with his wife played by Meena Kumari.
Shibu Mitra directed Shashi Kapoor in 5 movies - Shankar Dada, Kala Pani, Maan Gaye Ustaad, Yaadon Ki Zanjeer , Ilzaam and except for Yadon Ki Zanjeer rest were super-hits.
Shashi Kapoor was also a popular romantic hero of his time.
The English film The Householder in 1963 was his first successful film at the box office.The English film The Householder in 1963 was his first successful film at the box office. In 1961-1964 his 7 Hindi films were flops with Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai, being the only Hindi film ,where he did only a special appearance, as a hit. In Hindi, Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) and Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965) were his first solo lead hero Hindi films to be successful.
Shashi Kapoor had worked with Pran in the hit 1952 film Sanskar(1952) as a child artist and later when Shashi became a lead hero himself, Pran and Shashi worked in 9 films and of them 7 were blockbusters - Biradari, Chori Mera Kaam, Shankar Dada, Apna Khoon, Maan Gaye Ustad, Chakkar Pe Chakkar and Phaansi and 2 were flops like Do Musafir and Rahu Ketu.
From his debut in 1961 till 1965, Shashi Kapoor had no hits as solo lead hero as all 7 Hindi films as a hero had flopped though Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai a film with his sister-in-law Geeta Bali as lead heroine and Pradeep Kumar as the hero, had Shashi in special appearance with Shammi Kapoor, was a hit in 1963. English film Householder in 1963 was successful and in Hindi it was only in 1965 he tasted success with Jab Jab Phool Khile.
Saboot Mangta Hai Kanoon was released very late in 1994 titled as Khushkismat and he was paired opposite actress Swapna. The song sung by Kishore Kumar was picturised on Shashi Kapoor - Batao Duniya Walon Hum Pyar Kyun Na Kare- composed by Kalyanji Anandji which became popular.
Grandson Zahan Kapoor is a famous Polo player.
Daughter Sanjana Kapoor has a son named Hamir Thappar.
Son Kunal Kapoor has 2 children - a son, Zahan Prithviraj Kapoor, and a daughter, Shaira Laura Kapoor.
Daughter Sanjana Kapoor is married to Valmik Thappar.
Shashi personally preferred Kishore Kumar doing the playback for him in his films from 1970 after Abhinetri and Sharmilee had become hits and felt Kishore's voice suited his personality, but in many films in after 1972 music directors like Sonik-Omi and Lakshmikant Pyarelal kept Rafi as playback singer for Shashi due to Shashi-Rafi combination's previous success in 1960's. R.D.Burman, Ravindra Jain, Khayyam and Kalyanji Anandji used Kishore as singer more for Shashi but these music directors got less films starring Shashi as the lead hero.
Shashi Kapoor did 61 solo lead hero films in Hindi and, of them, 33 were super-hits. Shashi did 54 multi-star cast movies where Shashi was one of the lead heroes and, of them, 34 were super-hits.
Shashi said he enjoyed shooting with Rakhee the most among all heroines after Nanda. With Rakee most tough song to shoot was especially during shooting of Jaanwar Aur Insaan - as they had to shoot in noon time in jungle. Also the pair had to shoot in river and also fall in muddle during shooting the song Jane Mujhe Kya Hua Re, a Kishore-Lata Duet from Jaanwar Aur Insaan,.
It was Superstar Rajesh Khanna who asked Devar Films to make Jaanwar Aur Insaan with Shashi Kapoor as after Haathi Mere Saathi. Khanna did not again so soon make a film with animals. Later Khanna recommended Shashi Kapoor for the lead role even in Mr. Romeo. For both the films - Jaanwar Aur Insaan and Mr.Roemo first choice was Rajesh Khanna.
Nephew of actor Trilok Kapoor.
Cousin of Bollywood director Vijay Kapoor and actor/ Politician Vicky Kapoor ( Har Har Mahadev 1950).
Daughter Sanjana was married to Basu Bhattachaya's son Aditya. So Shashi is former in-law of Bollywood director Basu Bhattacharya.
Distant relative of Prem Chopra. Brother Raj Kapoor is married to Krishna, who is the sister of Prem Chopra's wife.
Cousin of actor Subbiraj.
His film " Swarg Se Pyara Ghar Hamara"" (1996) is completed and unreleased. Starring Shashi Kapoor
Quotes
[In 2014, on the topic of casting couch in the 1960s] You've no idea how Dharmendra and Sanjay Khan were blackmailed by senior actresses when they were newcomers. I'm very grateful to Nanda that she was extremely gracious and decent with me.
Rajesh Khanna recommended me for the films which he couldn't do like Jaanwar Aur Insan, Mr. Romeo, Basera. He gave me Alag Alag. He wanted me in Prem Kahani. I have highest regards for him. He and Sanjeev Kumar were much more versatile than other heroes from 1970 to 2000 period.