Advertisement
Bollywood’s ultimate charm house Shashi Kapoor had the stage set for him to follow the Kapoor legacy. Though he was a mainstream actor and he did the ‘running around trees’roles, he chose to strike out a different path by backing films like Junoon, 36 Chowringhee Lane some of which turned out to real landmarks.
While he only directed Amitabh Bachchan starrer 1991 film Ajooba in Bollywood, in early days of his career Shashi Kapoor worked as assistant director in films like Post Box 999, Guest House, Shriman Satyawadi, Dulha Dulhan and Manoranjan.
As Shashi Kapoor took his last breath yesterday, Amitabh Bachchan wrote a letter to pay tribute to the Veteran actor, “Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor … son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read .. And I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all…,” the post begins as he describes a handsome picture of Shashi Kapoor.
Advertisement
“He went on to add, 1969, and those early years of efforts to join the Industry were also the times when there was a close proximity, to the area of an atmosphere, that swivelled around this most attractive man. On and off, common friends in the Industry, which I was just getting acquainted with, would introduce me to him at select social gatherings ..
“ Shashi Kapoor !” was what one heard as he extended a warm soft hand out to you in the introduction; that devastating smile complimenting the twinkle in his eyes. He needn’t have done so. Everyone knew him. But this was his infectious humble self. When he spoke, there was a mischievous, gentle, almost inaudible, delicate, yodel, in his voice – most endearing and comforting to the one he was introduced to. The self-introduction habit was a gem. The one being introduced to was, quite obviously, prompted to say his or her name as well, when they heard his. It was a remarkable tool to come to know the other persons name .. and .. if and when there was to be another meeting after many forgettable years, the same technology was most helpful in remembering the other persons name, in case you had forgotten it .. !!
