There is a lot I remember about Shammi Kapoor. When the news of his death flashed on the morning of August 14, 2011, several memories of Bollywood's dashing and swashbuckling legend jostled for space in my memory.
While I may need to write several pages to truly do justice to the 79-year-old actor, who made a permanent place for himself in Indian film history with his inimitable dance moves and his yahooisms through the 50s-70s; three decades during which he acted in super hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Professor, Junglee, Kashmir Ki Kali, Ujjala, Teesri Manzil, Brahmachari and Andaz; the first picture that came to mind was a fairly recent one.
I was at Shammi Kapoor's South Mumbai home to interview him when his bhabhi Krishna Kapoor arrived. And it was truly touching to see Shammi wheel himself out to bend and touch Krishna's feet. It was a routine gesture but it brought a lump to my throat. The act said a lot about the tehzeeb (the culture) that the Kapoors; at least the Raj, Shammi, Shashi generation were proud about.
The actor who was suffering from a kidney ailment had to make regular trips to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital for his dialysis. Often he would get fever for a day or two after his dialysis and suffered severe discomfort. But his zest was always Kapoorish - in other words, larger than life. "I've seen life, I've seen too many deaths," he often said lamenting the loss of his father Prithviraj Kapoor, his elder brother Raj Kapoor, his samdhi, film-maker Manmohan Desai, his first wife, actress Geeta Bali.
Till the end, his father Prithviraj remained the greatest influence in his life. Manmohan Desai often said, "My first brush with superstardom came when I directed Shammi Kapoor. He, according to me, is India's first superstar and the most stylish actor ever seen by Bollywood." A true-blue Libran Shammi was fond of all things beautiful and though he had let himself go in his later years to being obese, he still had an unmatched sense of style. Dressed in spotless white pyjamas with coloured kurtas, a huge teeka adorning his forehead and a rudraksh round his neck, the actor's grey-blue eyes and beard rendered him handsome even till a few years ago.
Vishwapratap, one could almost feel the walls of his house tremble because of the sheer impact of his personality. While recounting tales of his youth, Shammi confessed to sowing a few wild oats in the days before he married superstar Geeta Bali.
However he hated the tag of a flirt. "We were very discreet with our relationships,'' he said. And defended his wild, party animal image with saying, ``I was a bachelor and I was earning well. Naturally I was gave into certain temptations."'
For someone who grew up in the shadow of being India's biggest showman Raj Kapoor's brother and later being superstar Geeta Bali's husband, Shammi carved a niche for himself. He often thanked his wife Geeta and his dad for changing him from being a vagabond to a responsible family man and a huge star. "It all happened after my first born Aditya came. I changed after that," he remembered.
Since he wanted a definite image to make his own mark, Shammi shaved of his moustache, cut his jeans and came sliding down snow mountains with his ecleptic fits on the screen. He stayed in Chembur and saw his stardom reach heights. Life was a dream till he lost Geeta in January 1967.
He often confessed that he tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol and affairs but he was pulled out of his misery by his second wife Neela Devi. His quest for spiritualism led him to a sober innings...and in the end the only thing that excited him was technology. The net savvy actor who was an inspiration for an entire generation like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, often spent his time "Yahooing" but this time from his bed-side.
Imtiaz Ali remembers the Yahoo star
"How are you feeling, sir?", Shammiji asked Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali on one of the days of the shoot. "How am I?", he asked himself. "I have been on dialysis for the last ten years. I am on the wheelchair, I have lost two more toes in an operation a few days back, my tail bone had fractured so I cannot sit for long because I am in pain.... But I am fine. I am fine," he said with a vengeance.
"Shammi Kapoor can't be lamented. We can only lament for ourselves that he has decided to walk away. We all knew that the Rockstar is on set today, and all of us - Ranbir included - were just his attendants," said Ali.
INSPIRATION ALWAYS
Deepika Padukone: He was an inspiration not just for his style and the films he did, but also his attitude towards life... we will miss you Shammi uncle...RIP
Sonam Kapoor: RIP Shammi Kapoor was talking about you with dad while watching all your songs on TV just the other day. After Elvis and Johnny Cash, only you had that panache while dancing. You owned it.
Farhan Akhtar: Mr. Shammi Kapoor. Never before - Never again. Thank you for the wonderful cinematic memories and life lessons. RIP.
Riteish Deshmukh: RIP Shammi Kapoor - the most stylish actor ever-we love you n we will miss you.
Tweet goodbyes
Shekhar Kapur
The great iconic Shammi Kapoor who defined an era and influenced music, dance and song even today has passed away, leaving a hollow void.
Amitabh Bachchan
Shammi Kapoorji passed away this morning at 5:15 am. Rushing there now... the flamboyance and joie de vivre of the industry lost! An entire life full of optimism and happy spirit, caring loving to all. Now suddenly silent.
Karan Johar
One of finest and strongest men I knew...we will truly miss you Shammi uncle....RIP....
Anupam Kher
Shammi Kapoorji was one of the 1st youth icons from cinema. He liberated actors from being stereo types. Will miss his style and substance.
Mahesh Bhatt
The narrative of Shammi Kapoor will not end with his passing away. His movies will continue to enchant the future generations!
Gaurav Kapur
You made us smile, you made us dance. RIP Shammi Kapoor, thank you for all the joy.
Vishal Dadlani
Mr Shammi Kapoor, RIP. You danced like nobody was watching.
While I may need to write several pages to truly do justice to the 79-year-old actor, who made a permanent place for himself in Indian film history with his inimitable dance moves and his yahooisms through the 50s-70s; three decades during which he acted in super hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Professor, Junglee, Kashmir Ki Kali, Ujjala, Teesri Manzil, Brahmachari and Andaz; the first picture that came to mind was a fairly recent one.
I was at Shammi Kapoor's South Mumbai home to interview him when his bhabhi Krishna Kapoor arrived. And it was truly touching to see Shammi wheel himself out to bend and touch Krishna's feet. It was a routine gesture but it brought a lump to my throat. The act said a lot about the tehzeeb (the culture) that the Kapoors; at least the Raj, Shammi, Shashi generation were proud about.
The actor who was suffering from a kidney ailment had to make regular trips to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital for his dialysis. Often he would get fever for a day or two after his dialysis and suffered severe discomfort. But his zest was always Kapoorish - in other words, larger than life. "I've seen life, I've seen too many deaths," he often said lamenting the loss of his father Prithviraj Kapoor, his elder brother Raj Kapoor, his samdhi, film-maker Manmohan Desai, his first wife, actress Geeta Bali.
Till the end, his father Prithviraj remained the greatest influence in his life. Manmohan Desai often said, "My first brush with superstardom came when I directed Shammi Kapoor. He, according to me, is India's first superstar and the most stylish actor ever seen by Bollywood." A true-blue Libran Shammi was fond of all things beautiful and though he had let himself go in his later years to being obese, he still had an unmatched sense of style. Dressed in spotless white pyjamas with coloured kurtas, a huge teeka adorning his forehead and a rudraksh round his neck, the actor's grey-blue eyes and beard rendered him handsome even till a few years ago.
Vishwapratap, one could almost feel the walls of his house tremble because of the sheer impact of his personality. While recounting tales of his youth, Shammi confessed to sowing a few wild oats in the days before he married superstar Geeta Bali.
However he hated the tag of a flirt. "We were very discreet with our relationships,'' he said. And defended his wild, party animal image with saying, ``I was a bachelor and I was earning well. Naturally I was gave into certain temptations."'
For someone who grew up in the shadow of being India's biggest showman Raj Kapoor's brother and later being superstar Geeta Bali's husband, Shammi carved a niche for himself. He often thanked his wife Geeta and his dad for changing him from being a vagabond to a responsible family man and a huge star. "It all happened after my first born Aditya came. I changed after that," he remembered.
Since he wanted a definite image to make his own mark, Shammi shaved of his moustache, cut his jeans and came sliding down snow mountains with his ecleptic fits on the screen. He stayed in Chembur and saw his stardom reach heights. Life was a dream till he lost Geeta in January 1967.
He often confessed that he tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol and affairs but he was pulled out of his misery by his second wife Neela Devi. His quest for spiritualism led him to a sober innings...and in the end the only thing that excited him was technology. The net savvy actor who was an inspiration for an entire generation like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, often spent his time "Yahooing" but this time from his bed-side.
Imtiaz Ali remembers the Yahoo star
"How are you feeling, sir?", Shammiji asked Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali on one of the days of the shoot. "How am I?", he asked himself. "I have been on dialysis for the last ten years. I am on the wheelchair, I have lost two more toes in an operation a few days back, my tail bone had fractured so I cannot sit for long because I am in pain.... But I am fine. I am fine," he said with a vengeance.
"Shammi Kapoor can't be lamented. We can only lament for ourselves that he has decided to walk away. We all knew that the Rockstar is on set today, and all of us - Ranbir included - were just his attendants," said Ali.
INSPIRATION ALWAYS
Deepika Padukone: He was an inspiration not just for his style and the films he did, but also his attitude towards life... we will miss you Shammi uncle...RIP
Sonam Kapoor: RIP Shammi Kapoor was talking about you with dad while watching all your songs on TV just the other day. After Elvis and Johnny Cash, only you had that panache while dancing. You owned it.
Farhan Akhtar: Mr. Shammi Kapoor. Never before - Never again. Thank you for the wonderful cinematic memories and life lessons. RIP.
Riteish Deshmukh: RIP Shammi Kapoor - the most stylish actor ever-we love you n we will miss you.
Tweet goodbyes
Shekhar Kapur
The great iconic Shammi Kapoor who defined an era and influenced music, dance and song even today has passed away, leaving a hollow void.
Amitabh Bachchan
Shammi Kapoorji passed away this morning at 5:15 am. Rushing there now... the flamboyance and joie de vivre of the industry lost! An entire life full of optimism and happy spirit, caring loving to all. Now suddenly silent.
Karan Johar
One of finest and strongest men I knew...we will truly miss you Shammi uncle....RIP....
Anupam Kher
Shammi Kapoorji was one of the 1st youth icons from cinema. He liberated actors from being stereo types. Will miss his style and substance.
Mahesh Bhatt
The narrative of Shammi Kapoor will not end with his passing away. His movies will continue to enchant the future generations!
Gaurav Kapur
You made us smile, you made us dance. RIP Shammi Kapoor, thank you for all the joy.
Vishal Dadlani
Mr Shammi Kapoor, RIP. You danced like nobody was watching.
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