Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Shamsher Raj Kapoor 21 October 1930 Mumbai, Maharastra, India |
| Died | 14 August 2011 (aged 80) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India[1] |
| Cause of death | Chronic kidney failure |
| Other names | Elvis Presley of India[2] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1948–2011 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] |
| Spouse(s) | Geeta Bali (m. 1955–1965; her death) Neela Devi Gohil (m. 1969–2011; his death) |
| Children | Adtiya Raj Kapoor Kanchan Desai |
| Parent(s) | Prithviraj Kapoor (Father) Ramsharani Kapoor (Mother) |
| Relatives | Shashi Kapoor (Brother), Raj Kapoor (Brother), Ritu Nanda (Niece), Randhir Kapoor (Nephew), Rishi Kapoor (Nephew), Karisma Kapoor (Grand Niece), Kareena Kapoor (Grand Niece), Ranbir Kapoor (Grand Nephew) |
| Awards | Dadasaheb Phalke Award |
Shammi Kapoor (Template:Lang-hi; born Shamsher Raj Kapoor; 21 October 1930[4] – 14 August 2011) was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s. In 2009, He became the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award for films in India. He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance in Brahmachari and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata in 1982.
Shammi Kapoor is hailed as one of the most entertaining lead actors that Hindi cinema has ever produced. He was one of the leading stars of Hindi cinema during the late 1950s, the 1960s and early '70s. He made his Bollywood debut in 1953 with the film Jeevan Jyoti, and went on to deliver hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Bramhachari, Andaz and Vidhaata.
Early life
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He was given the name Shamsher Raj Kapoor at his birth in Mumbai to film and theatre actor Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsharni Kapoor née Mehra.[5] Shammi was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), both successful Bollywood actors. Though born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata, where his father was involved with New Theatres Studios, acting in films. It was in Kolkata that he did his Montessory and Kindergarten. After coming back to Mumbai, he first went to St. Joseph's Convent (Wadala) and then, to Don Bosco School. He finished his matric schooling from New Era School at Hughes Road.
Kapoor had a short stint at Ruia College, in Matunga, Mumbai, after which he joined his father’s theatrical company Prithvi Theatres. He entered the cinema world in 1948, as a junior artiste, at a salary of Rs. 50 per month, stayed with Prithvi Theatres for the next four years and collected his last pay check of Rs. 300, in 1952. He made his debut in Bollywood in the year 1953, when the film Jeevan Jyoti was released. It was directed by Mahesh Kaul and Chand Usmani was Kapoor’s first heroine.
Film career
Kapoor started out with serious roles but with Filmistan's Nasir Hussain directed Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) opposite Ameeta and Dil Deke Dekho (1959) with Asha Parekh, he attained the image of a light-hearted, and stylish playboy. Tall, athletic, lively, fair complexioned, green-eyed and with handsome features, Shammi was a heartthrob, and his good looks and physique complemented his image. Both the films were debut films of the respective actresses Ameeta and Asha Parekh and both went on to be big hits and are regarded as classics.
With Junglee (1961) his new image was cemented and his subsequent films were all in this genre. He particularly chose Mohammed Rafi as his playback voice. In his early career in fifties, he had often played second fiddle to established heroines like Madhubala in films such as Rail Ka Dibba (1953) and Naqab, with Nutan in Laila Majnu, with Shyama in Thokar and with Nalini Jaywant in Hum Sab Chor Hain though none of them clicked at the box office. But producers after 1960 apart from the actresses from southern India, loved pairing Shammi with new heroines, three of them became huge stars in their own right in Hindi films: Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, and Sharmila Tagore.[6] Of all his heroines, he said that Sharmila Tagore, Rajshree, and Asha Parekh were easy to work with.[7]
Sharmila Tagore and Saira Banu made their Bollywood debuts with Shammi Kapoor in Kashmir Ki Kali and Junglee respectively[8] He and Asha Parekh were paired together in four films, the most successful being besides debut film of Asha Parekh, the murder mystery Teesri Manzil (1966) and the romance film Jawan Mohabbat.
In the early fifties he accepted serious roles in women oriented films like Shama Parwana (1954) with Suraiya, comedy flick Mem Sahib (1956) with Meena Kumari and thrillers like Chor Bazar (1954), which were all successful at the box office and in the tragic love story Mirza Sahiban with (1957) (a box office flop) opposite Shyama, but did not gain recognition and fame among the masses. Other than the above hits, he had fifteen films as flops to his credit till 1957. The other hits in late fifties included Mujrim (1958), Char Dil Char Rahen, Raat Ke Raahi (1959). His performances in K A Abbas' Char Dil Char Raahein (1959) and Kidar Sharma's Rangeen Raatein (1956) were also noteworthy but remained underfeted.[9] It was only after triple success of Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957), Ujala and Dil Dil Deke Deko (both 1959), that he became popular with the audience and became a star. In the first half of the 1960s, Kapoor was seen in successful films like College Girl, Basant, Singapore, Boy Friend, Professor, Dil Tera Diwana, Vallah Kya Baat Hai, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Bluff Master, Janwar and Rajkumar.
Although nominated before, in 1968, he received the first Filmfare Best Actor award of his career for the film Bramhachari. He made a unique place for himself in the industry as he was the only dancing hero in Hindi films from the late fifties till early seventies. Saira Banu said in an interview "At the time when Dilip sahab, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand ruled the industry, it was Shammi Kapoor who created a niche for himself with his unique dance moves. He used to say he didn't know how to dance but he would just listen to the music and feel it. He was the only 'dancing hero' at that time."[10] He used to compose dancing steps by himself in the songs picturised on him and never needed a choreographer. This earned him the name of Elvis Presley of India.[2][11]
His pairing opposite Southern heroines were always a success at the box office. He delivered hits opposite B. Saroja Devi like Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya and Preet Na Jane Reet, with Padmini gave Singapore (1960 film), opposite Vyjayanthimala had hits like College Girl and Prince (1969 film). In the sixties his successful run continued until new romantic icon Rajesh Khanna entered the scene in 1969.[12] However Shammi did have commercial successes in late sixties, like Budtameez and Sachaai with Sadhana, Latt Saheb with Nutan and Tumse Achha Kaun Hai with Babita.
In the 1970s, Kapoor’s weight problem proved an obstacle in his path of success and ended his career as a romantic hero as his films started failing. His last hit film, in which he played the lead role, was Andaz (1971). With time, he moved to character roles and acted in films like Zameer, Hero, Vidhaata, Hukumat, Batwara, Tahalka, Chamatkar, Namak and Prem Granth. In 1974, he donned the hat of a director and made Manoranjan in 1974 and Bundal Baaz (1976). However, both the films failed to create magic at the box office though were critically acclaimed and have a cult fan following over the years. His last appearance as a character actor was in the delayed 2006 film, Sandwich and in early 2011, he decided to act with his grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor, the grandson of his brother Raj Kapoor.
Shammi turned into a successful supporting actor in the 1970s, playing Saira Banu's father in Zameer (1974), when he had been her leading man a decade earlier in Junglee (1961) and Bluff Master (1964) and playing Amitabh Bachchan's foster father in Parvarish. He also directed Manoranjan (1974), a movie inspired from Irma La Douce and in which he played a supporting role himself and Bundal Baaz (1976) starring Rajesh Khanna, but neither were successful commercially though got critical acclaims and were hailed as classics and to be ahead of its time. In the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to play supporting roles in many films and won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Vidhaata (1982). He got the opportunity to do some films in other languages such as Bengali and Tamil in the nineties.
He did a social melodrama serial called Chattan aired on Zee TV for more than a year in the 1990s. He eventually cut down on film appearances by the late 1990s and early 2000s and made his appearances in the 1999 Salman Khan and Urmila Matondkar starrer Jaanam Samjha Karo, 2002 release Waah! Tera Kya Kehna and the delayed 2006 release Sandwich. He made his last appearance in Imtiaz Ali's directorial venture Rockstar co-starring his grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor, the grandson of his brother Raj Kapoor.
Film director Shakti Samanta directed Shammi Kapoor in six hit films like Singapore, Pagla Kahin Ka, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening In Paris and Jaane Anjane and quoted in an interview “I found Shammi to be a thoroughly good man. Even in his heydays, he was humble."[13]
Personal life
Shammi Kapoor, in 1953, dated Nadia Gamal, a belly dancer from Cairo.[14] Shammi quoted in an interview that "We met in Ceylon and we were in love. Somehow things did not work out and she went back to Cairo."[15] Kapoor met Geeta Bali in 1955, during the shooting of the film Rangeen Raaten, where he was the leading actor and she played a cameo. Geeta Bali was a well established actress and a popular star at this point of time and Shammi had not tasted any success. They fell in love during the outdoor stints of the movie at Ranikhet, an ancient Army based hill-station in the Kumaon region, but since she was a year older to him and had acted with his elder brother in Bawren Nain and his father in Anand Math, they were skeptical. Four months after they first met, they married at Banganga Temples, near Napean Sea Road of Mumbai. They had a son, Aditya Raj Kapoor, on 1 July 1956, at Shirodkar's Hospital, Mumbai, a year after they were married. Five years later, in 1961, they had a daughter, Kanchan.
Shammi Kapoor was the founder and chairman of Internet Users Community of India (IUCI). He had also played a major role in setting up internet organizations like the Ethical Hackers Association. Kapoor also maintained a website dedicated to the Kapoor family.[16]
Death
He died of renal failure around 5:15am on 14 August 2011 at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for chest infection.[17]
Death
Kapoor was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai on 7 August 2011 suffering from chronic renal failure. His condition remained serious for next few days and he was kept on ventilator support.[18] He died on 14 August 2011, 05:15 am IST, of chronic renal failure, aged 79.[19][20] Funeral was held on Monday, 15 August at Banganga cremation ground, Malabar Hill, Mumbai. Aditya Raj Kapoor, the actor's son, performed the last rites at the cremation. The entire Kapoor family were present to pay their last respects, including his younger brother Shashi Kapoor, sister in law Krishna Kapoor, grand nephew Ranbir Kapoor, nephews Rishi, Randhir and Rajiv, Randhir's wife Babita and grand nieces Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.[21] Bollywood personalities Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Subhash Ghai, Amitabh Bachchan, Ramesh Sippy, Danny Denzongpa, Prem Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, Aamir Khan,Rani Mukherjee, Sharukh Khan, Kabir Bedi and Priyanka Chopra were among those who attended the funeral.[22]
Awards
- 2009 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award for life time contribution to Indian cinema. [23]
- 1982 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Vidhata[25]
- 1995 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award[26]
- 2005 – Lifetime Achievement Award[28]
- Other Awards
- 1998 – Kalakar Awards – Special Award for "contribution in Indian Cinema"[29]
- 2001 – Anandalok Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
- Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)[30]
- 2008 – Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cinema at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).[31]
- Rashtriya Gaurav Award[32]
Partial filmography
Further reading
- The Kapoors: the first family of Indian cinema, by Madhu Jain. Penguin, Viking, 2005. ISBN 0670058378.
References
- ^ Veteran actor Shammi Kapoor passes away, CNN-IBN, 14 August 2011, retrieved 14 August 2011
- ^ a b "Shammi Kapoor, India's Elvis, dies". Indian Express. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ Shammi Kapoor - Biography
- ^ Ahmed, Ishtiaq (Tuesday, 7 November 2006). "Prithviraj Kapoor: A centenary tribute – Daily Times". Stockholm University. Daily Times. p. 1. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Shammi Kapoor". Junglee.org.in. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ Shammi Kapoorl: Lionheart. Screenindia.com. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Celebrity Interviews – powered by React Media. thirtymm.com. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Shammi Kapoor's leading ladies will miss the star. Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ India's beloved Junglee no more. Times Of India. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ "Shammiji had his own way of encouraging people: Saira Banu - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ Ansari, Shabana (14 August 2011). "Rebel star Shammi Kapoor screams a final Yahoo!". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Indian Actors : Shammi Kapoor. 10ka20.com (21 October 1931). Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Reinventing itself. Screenindia (12 December 2008). Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ He was breathtakingly handsome, Entertainment – Bollywood. Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Nadia with Mr. Shami Kapoor in 1953. Nadiagamal.multiply.com (22 January 2008). Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ "Shammi Kapoor". Junglee.org.in. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ "Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor dead at 79". 14 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Shammi Kapoor's condition continues to be serious, Mid Day, 14 August 2011, retrieved 14 August 2011
- ^ "Veteran film actor Shammi Kapoor passes away", The Times of India, 14 August 2011, retrieved 14 August 2011
- ^ "Legendary actor Shammi Kapoor passes away", The Times of India, 14 August 2011, retrieved 14 August 2011
- ^ "Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor cremated". BBC. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "Legendary actor Shammi Kapoor cremated". Hindustan Times. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Shammi Kapoor not good for any Padma; Paes denied Padma Bhushan - The Hindu
- ^ "The Winners – 1968". Filmfare Awards. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ "The Winners – 1982". Filmfare Awards. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ "Lifetime Achievement (Popular)". Filmfare Awards. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ Awards – Past Awards – 2000 – Winners. IIFA. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Bollywood Fashion Awards | Bollywood Music Awards. Bollywood Awards. Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ Kalakar Awards[dead link]
- ^ http://www.chennaionline.com/film/News/2007/03article09.asp FICCI-Frames award for Kamal Haasan
- ^ Shammi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore honoured at Pune International Film Fest. Hindustan Times (11 January 2008). Retrieved on 16 August 2011.
- ^ "Environmentalist Ajay Jain awarded "Rashtriya Gaurav Award 2010"". i-Newswire. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ Complete Filmography
External links
