By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
‘तेरी बाँहों में देखूँ सनम ग़ैरों की बाँहें
मैं लाऊँगा कहाँ से भला ऐसी निगाहें
ये कोई रक़्स होगा कोई दस्तूर होगा
मुझे दस्तूर ऐसा कहाँ मंज़ूर होगा
भला कैसे ये मेरा लहू हो जाए पानी
मैं कैसे भूल जाऊँ मैं हूँ हिन्दोस्तानी
यहाँ मैं अजनबी’
Shashi Kapoor, the youngest son of veteran actor Prithvi Raj Kapoor, was not lucky enough to taste stardom like his elder brothers- showman Raj Kapoor & Shammi Kapoor. He featured in several films before he hit the limelight with “Jab Jab Phool Khile”(1965) also starring Nanda, & others .Th film had some of the finest popular hit numbers like- ‘Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thi Bulbul’ &’ Yeh Sama, Sama Hai Ye Pyaar Ka’ to mention only two.
Yash Chopra’s ‘Deewaar’ in 1975 came like a shot in the arm and he began rubbing shoulders with the leading actors of the Hindi Cinema. Although in between he featured in successful films like- ‘Hasina Maan Jayegi’ & ‘Pyar Ka Mausam’, ‘Deewaar’ did wonders for the actor elevating his status as one of the most sought after actor. He featured in several films alongside the then super star Amitabh Bachchan.
‘Waqt’, ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ , ‘Trishul’, ‘Suhaag’, ‘Kaala Patthar ‘, ‘Shaan’, ‘Namak Halal’. ‘Sharmeelee’, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’, ‘Kanyadaan’ & ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram ‘opposite Zeenat Aman include some of this prominent movies. He worked as a child artist in ‘Sangram’ (1950) and ‘Awaara’ (1951). Yash Chopra’s ‘Dharmputra’ saw him emerge as a hero.
Kapoor also featured in Hollywood & British movies- “The Householder” (1963), “Shakespeare Wallah” (1965), “Heat and Dust” (1982) “The Deceivers” (1988) and “Side Streets” (1998) directed by Tony Gerber also starring Valeria Golino, Shabana Azmi, Art Malik & Rosario Dawson.
I met the actor twice & stayed with him for two days when he arrived at Chandigarh for charity premiere of his film ‘Utsav’ for a voluntary organization in 1985 which looked after homeless children. I later met him at R. K. Studios in Mumbai. He started Prithvi theatre as a tribute to his father who himself was a bigger star in his own right. His highly acclaimed film ‘ New Delhi Times’ fetched him a National Award for Best Actor in 1986.
Kapoor remained indisposed in later part of his life & remained on a wheel chair. Was bestowed with Dada Saheb Phalke Award including Padma Bhushan, three National & two Filmfare Awards.
