Shashi Kapoor , the ever smiling, scintillating son of doyen Prithviraj Kapoor, has left indelible impressions on the celluloid with his distinctive performances through scores of flicks in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Though belonging to the illustrious Kapoor clan, Shashi a.k.a Shashi Raj carved a great career for himself by the dint of his dashing personality and hard work. Shashi learnt the lesson of hard work from his eldest brother Raj- whom he not only idolizes but also calls him a ‘tough task master’.

Shashi was born as Balbir Raj on 18th March 1938 as the younger brother of Raj and Shammi in Calcutta. Under the gigantic shadow of his father, Shashi imbibed the ‘orthodox skills of theatre’, which are manifested in his personality till date. He was a reluctant entrant into the ‘masala movies’ as his first love was always theatre. But once aboard the ‘Bollywood Bandwagon’ Shashi became the versatile entertainer, who could churn out virtually every kind of performance under the sun.

His rendezvous with Jennifer Kendall, the daughter of famous theatre actors, George and Laura Kendall of Shakespeare repertory at Calcutta, proved to be a turning point in his life. It was love at first sight and after a brief of courtship they got married. Jennifer was to etch the ‘European influences’ into his acting style. Probably this east-west union made Shashi one of the most familiar faces in western movie world.

Shashi had made his debut in Hindi films as a child artist. He had played the young Raj Kapoor in Aawara (1951). Through his teens he was often seen on the stage with his father’s troupe. By the 60s, Shashi had fallen into prolific filmmaking. Shashi got big break with Yash Chopra’s ‘Dharamputra’ (1961) and Bimal Roy’s ‘Prempatra’. But these ‘Putra’ and ‘Patra’ affair could hardly launch him into the galaxy of stars to which, now he earnestly yearned to belong.

A family drama titled ‘Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath‘ (1962) with co-stars Nanda and Ashok Kumar, PL Santoshi’s ‘Holiday in Bombay’ (1963), Benazir (1965) with tragedy queen Meena Kumari followed but failed to click. But none could provide him with name, fame and finances he was looking for. James Ivory’s English film ‘Shakespearewallah’ cast with Shashi and Kendalls made a landmark in the history of filmmaking.

But it were finally ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile‘ (1965) with brother Shammi and Nanda and Waqt (1965) with Nanda and Sunil Dutt that brought the much wanted acclaim to Shashi Kapoor — he was to enjoy through out his life. Once this legend was in orbit, he didn’t let his fortunes to dip.

Like a true “Kapoor” he rubbed shoulders with all great contemporary stars ‘Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh, Sanjiv Kumar, Jeetendra and Rajinder Kumar and Raj Kumar. Shashi immortalised himself with all time favourite song: ‘Ley Jayenge’Dilwale ‘ Dulhani Lye Jay Jayenge” in ‘Chor Machaye Shor (1974) done with petite Mumtaz.

Shashi Kapoor won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Deewar (1975). His dialogue ‘Mere Paas Ma Hain” became firmly ensconced in every cinegoer’s memory for eternity. Shayam Benegal’s Junoon with Nafisa Ali saw him portraying a ‘Nawab‘ with emotiveness that can be expected only of a stage actor. From ‘Faqira’ onwards Shashi Kapoor acted in large number of films with success, which took his overall film tally to over two hundred. He did noteworthy roles in Hira Aur Pathar, Chor Sipahi, Ahuti, Shaan, Suhaag, Silsila, Namak Halaal (1983), Bhawani Junction (1985) and those were the times when Shashi rode like a colossal in the industry. He would always be loved for his roles in buddy Ismail Merchant’s Householder (1969), Heat and Dust (1982) and In Custody (1994). Mid way he also tried his hand at some inconsequential directorial and production ventures.

But as we said earlier, there is more to Shashi than the casual entertainer. In 1978, he with his wife Jennifer resurrected the Prithvi Theatres in Bombay in the fond of memory of his father. Shashi showed his love for the theatre art, which was fast losing out to the shine of the tinsel. But unfortunately, Jennifer caught with cancer left the world forever in 1984. Shashi was crestfallen. Nevertheless, he didn’t let the tragedy overtake his gusto for life. He started taking keen interest in charities for Cancer Research (It is a great irony that he lost his father, mother and wife to this malady).

His three children are well settled in life. While Karan is an established photographer in London, Kunal runs an advertising agency and Sanjana has taken over the responsibility of running the Prithvi Theatres.

Movies Done By Shashi Kapoor

1945 Tadbir
1948 Aag Young Kewal Child artist
1950 Sangram Young Raja Child artist
1951 Awaara Young Raj Child artist
1953 Parineeta Lakshman(Shekhar’s Servant) Uncredited
1961 Dharmputra Dilip Rai First adult role
1961 Char Diwari Sunil
1962 Prem Patra Arun Kumar Mathur
1962 Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath Deepak
1963 The Householder Prem Sagar English Film
1963 Yeh Dil Kisko Doon Anand / Raja
1963 Jab Se Tumhen Dekha Hai Qawwali singer Cameo appearance along with Shammi Kapoor
1963 Holiday in Bombay Nath
1964 Benazir Anwar
1965 Shakespeare Wallah Sanju English film
1965 Waqt Vijay Kumar
1965 Jab Jab Phool Khile Raja Won – BFJA Awards for Best Actor
1965 Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain Vijay
1966 Pyar Kiye Jaa Ashok Verma
1966 Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare Anwar
1966 Biradari Rajan
1967 Dil Ne Pukara Dr. Prakash
1967 Pretty Polly Amaz Hudeen English Film
1967 Aamne Samne Deepak / Gopal
1968 Haseena Maan Jayegi Rakesh / Kamal Dual role
1968 Kanyadaan Amar Kumar
1968 Juaari Rakesh
1969 Raja Saab Raju
1969 Pyar Ka Mausam Sunder / Sunil / Pyarelal
1969 Jahan Pyar Mile
1969 Ek Shrimaan Ek Shrimati Preetam
1970 Suhana Safar Sunil
1970 Rootha Na Karo Sudhir
1970 Abhinetri Shekhar
1971 Sharmeelee Ajit Kapoor
1971 Patanga Shyam
1972 Chori Chori Special appearance
1972 Siddhartha Siddhartha English film
1972 Jaanwar Aur Insaan Shekhar
1973 Aa Gale Lag Jaa Prem
1974 Chor Machaye Shor Vijay Sharma
1974 Paap Aur Punya Ganga Singh / Jwala Singh
1974 5 Rifles Uncredited
1974 Roti Kapda Aur Makaan Mohan
1975 Anari Raj
1975 Deewaar Inspector Ravi Verma Won – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
1975 Chori Mera Kaam Bholanath
1976 Kabhi Kabhie Vijay Khanna Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
1976 Shankar Dada Shankar Dada / Police Inspector Ram Double role
1976 Fakira Fakira
1976 Naach Uthe Sansaar Karmu
1976 Koi Jeeta Koi Haara
1976 Deewaangee Shekhar
1976 Aap Beati Ranjit
1976 Jai Bajrang Bali Lakshman
1977 Immaan Dharam Mohan Kumar Saxena
1977 Hira Aur Patthar Shankar
1977 Mukti Kailash Sharma
1977 Doosra Aadmi Shashi Saigal Cameo Appearance
1977 Farishta Ya Qatil Nitin
1977 Chor Sipahee CBI Inspector Shankar
1977 Chakkar Pe Chakkar Ravi Kumar
1978 Rahu Ketu Ravi Kapoor
1978 Phaansi Raju
1978 Satyam Shivam Sundaram Rajiv
1978 Trishul Shekhar Gupta
1978 Do Musafir Raju / Vicky
1978 Trishna Vinod
1978 Apna Khoon Ram Verma
1978 Muqaddar Ramu Dada
1978 Heeralaal Pannalaal Heeralaal
1978 Atithee Anand
1978 Amar Shakti Chhota Kumar / Amar Singh
1978 Aahuti Laxman Prasad
1979 Gautam Govinda Inspector Gautam
1979 Junoon Javed Khan Won – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (as producer)
1979 Duniya Meri Jeb Mein Karan Khanna
1979 Kaala Patthar Ravi Malhotra
1979 Ahsaas Anil Sahni
1979 Suhaag Kishan Kapoor
1980 Jise Tu Kabool Kar Le
1980 Kali Ghata Prem
1980 Do Aur Do Paanch Sunil / Laxman
1980 Neeyat Vijay
1980 Ek Do Teen Chaar
1980 Shaan Ravi Kumar
1980 Swayamvar Laxman
1980 Shiv Shakti Special Appearance
1980 Kaala Pani
1980 Ganga Aur Suraj Suraj / Vijay
1981 Pyar To Hona Hi Tha
1981 Krodhi CBI Officer Kumar Sahni
1981 Kranti Shakti
1981 Kalyug Karan Singh Won – Filmfare Award for Best Film (as producer)
1981 Silsila Shekhar Malhotra Special Appearance
1981 Baseraa Balraj Kohli
1981 Ek Aur Ek Gyaarah Anand
1981 Maan Gaye Ustaad Kishan / Prince Daulat Singh / Jhanjhat Khan
1982 Do Guru
1982 Vakil Babu Shekhar
1982 Namak Halaal Raja Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
1982 Sawaal Inspector Ravi Malhotra
1982 Bezubaan Kumar
1982 Vijeta Nihaal
1983 Heat and Dust The Nawab English film
1983 Gehri Chot – Urf: Durdesh Arun Khanna in Hindi / Harun Khan in Bengali “Bangladesh,Canada,India Joint production” Hindi, Bengali, Urdu language, Bengali named Durdesh
1983 Ghungroo Senapati Vikram Singh
1983 Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka Prem Kapoor
1984 Pakhandi Kishore
1984 Ghar Ek Mandir Prem Special Appearance
1984 Zameen Aasmaan Dr. Kailash Special Appearance
1984 Utsav Samsthanak
1984 Yaadon Ki Zanjeer Munna – Avinash
1984 Chakma
1984 Bandh Honth
1985 Pighalta Aasman Suraj Arora / Prakash Arora
1985 Aandhi-Toofan Inspector Ranjit Singh Extended Guest Appearance
1985 Bepanaah Ravi Malhotra
1985 Alag Alag Dr. Rana
1985 Bhavani Junction Raja Bhavani Pratap
1986 Ilzaam Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh
1986 Swati Dr. Rajendra Prasad
1986 Maa Beti Khetan’s dad
1986 Kissa Kathmandu Ka Feluda Episode: “Kissa Kathmandu Kaa”-New Delhi Times Vikas Pandey Won – National Film Award for Best Actor-Won – BFJA Awards for Best Actor
1986 Ek Main Aur Ek Tu
1986 Aurat
1987 Ghar Ka Sukh Special Appearance
1987 Anjaam Thakur
1987 Ijaazat Sudha’s Husband Special Appearance
1987 Sindoor Professor Vijay Choudhury
1987 Sammy and Rosie Get Laid Rafi Rahman English film
1987 Pyar Ki Jeet Dr. Rehman
1987 Naam O Nishan Inspector Sangram Singh
1988 Woh Mili Thi Special appearance
1988 Commando Inspector
1988 Hum To Chale Pardes
1988 The Deceivers Chandra Singh English film
1989 Bandook Dahej Ke Seenay Par
1989 Meri Zabaan Raja Vijay Singh Negative role
1989 Farz Ki Jung Vikram
1989 Gair Kaanooni Kapil Khanna
1989 Clerk Mr. Kapoor Hindi film
1989 Touhean Dr. Rizvi
1989 Oonch Neech Beech Motilal
1989 Jaaydaad Advocate Malhotra
1989 Apna Ghar
1989 Akhri Muqabla
1991 Akayla Police Commissioner
1994 Saboot Mangta Hain Kanoon Raja-In Custody Nur Won – National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention
1994 Vivekananda
1995 Faisla Main Karungi Inspector Ajitkumar Singh
1996 Gulliver’s Travels Rajah TV miniseries
1998 Jinnah Narrator English film
1998 Side Streets Vikram Raj English film
1998 Ghar Bazar Amar (Special Appearance)
1998 Dirty British Boys Villain

Shashi Kapoor As Producer

Junoon (1978)
Kalyug (1980)
36 Chowringhee Lane (1981)
Vijeta (1982)
Utsav (1984)
Ajooba (1991)

Shashi Kapoor As Assistant Director

Manoranjan (1974)
Ajooba (1991)
Dulha Dulhan (1964)
Shriman Satyawadi (1960)
Guest House (1959)
Post Box 999 (1958)

Director Done By Shashi Kapoor

Ajooba (1991)
Vozvrashcheniye Bagdadskogo Vora (1988)[Russian language]

Awards Received By Shashi Kapoor

2011 – Padma Bhushan by the Government of India
2015 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award-Winner
1994 – National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) for Muhafiz (1993)
1986 – National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times (1986)
1979 – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (as Producer) for Junoon (1978)