<p>He has successfully completed 50 years in films along with his colleagues Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar, with whom he still shares a warm rapport. One of the winners of the coveted Padma Bhushan this year, Shashi Kapoor does not regret quitting acting and turning to film production. He says, “After Ajooba flopped, I understood my innings as an actor in the industry was coming to an end. So, after acting in Muhafiz (In Custody), I decided to quit acting altogether. I do not believe in forcing myself on viewers. I am content with leading a simple life.”<br /><br />International work<br /><br />The youngest brother of Raj and Shammi Kapoor was never influenced by their acting styles. He was a natural actor right from his first film, Char Diwari, and went on to prove his merit in films like Dharam Putra, Prem Patra, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Waqt and Haseena Maan Jayegi. His toothy smile gave him an endearing quality and he was considered to be the poster boy of the Hindi film industry after Dev Anand. Shashi Kapoor remembers, “Hrishikesh Mukherjee was the editor of Char Diwari and he found a lot of potential in me. I was selected as the main protagonist for Anand but the first day I went to shoot, I was informed, I was not required for the film. I silently came back and returned my signing amount. The best director I worked with in Hindi films was Bimal Ray, a true actor’s director. He helped me perform better in Prem Patra and Benazir.”<br /><br />Shashi Kapoor was at his best in films by James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. The Householder, Shakespeare Wallah, Pretty Polly, Bombay Talkies and In Custody saw Shashi Kapoor in his element, something that was missing in the Hindi commercial potboilers he was a part of. He remembers, “During an emotional scene with Leela Naidu in The Householder, I dropped my eye lids twice unnecessarily. James and Ismail asked me to look directly into the eyes of Leela and smile romantically. It still remains as one of my best enacted sequences.” <br /><br />Satyajit Ray was very fond of Shashi Kapoor’s effortless performances and wanted to make a film in English with him, Leela Naidu and Marlon Brando, which never went on floors due to financial constraints. <br /><br />Talking about James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, one cannot forget The Deceivers in which Shashi Kapoor was cast in a negative role along with the enigmatic Pierce Brosnan. Many international critics felt he outclassed the Hollywood super star by his subtle performance. Shashi Kapoor flashes his inimitable toothy smile and explains, “I never believed in outclassing another actor. It is not at all a healthy sign for any actor. Pierce Brosnan was extremely professional and was an absolute delight to work with. In many scenes, his eyes did all the talking.”<br /><br />Awards were never a priority for Shashi Kapoor. He refused the National Award for his performance in Dharam Putra as he felt that he did not deserve it. However, he did receive the coveted award for his performance in New Delhi Times. Shashi Kapoor never shied away from playing second lead to Amitabh Bachchan in a number of hits where he held his own against the megastar. He even performed better than Amitabh Bachchan in a few films like Kabhi Kabhie and Kaala Pathhar, which Amitabh Bachchan agrees to.<br /><br />Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman, Sadhana, Asha Parekh, Rakhee, Hema Malini and Sharmila Tagore — Shashi Kapoor was paired with each of these actresses with resounding success. Speaking about his co stars, he reminisces, “Nanda will always be my favourite co-star. She was already a leading actress when she was paired with me in my debut film, Char Diwari. She was the most co-operative actress to work with. Her performance in the song, Yeh Shama in Jab Jab Phool Khile, was a trendsetter. Another gifted actress I am proud to have worked with is the versatile Shabana Azmi.”<br /><br />Why did his prestigious productions like Junoon, 36 Chowringhee Lane, Kalyug and Vijeta flop in spite of being brilliant cinematic pieces? He thinks for a while and smiles again, “You can never predict a hit. I produced each of these films with honest intentions of making memorable cinema. I failed to hit the bull’s eye as a producer, I guess.” <br />Hit or flop, the debonair Kapoor will always be admired and remembered for his off-beat productions, which are rich in cinematic values.</p>
<p>He has successfully completed 50 years in films along with his colleagues Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar, with whom he still shares a warm rapport. One of the winners of the coveted Padma Bhushan this year, Shashi Kapoor does not regret quitting acting and turning to film production. He says, “After Ajooba flopped, I understood my innings as an actor in the industry was coming to an end. So, after acting in Muhafiz (In Custody), I decided to quit acting altogether. I do not believe in forcing myself on viewers. I am content with leading a simple life.”<br /><br />International work<br /><br />The youngest brother of Raj and Shammi Kapoor was never influenced by their acting styles. He was a natural actor right from his first film, Char Diwari, and went on to prove his merit in films like Dharam Putra, Prem Patra, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Waqt and Haseena Maan Jayegi. His toothy smile gave him an endearing quality and he was considered to be the poster boy of the Hindi film industry after Dev Anand. Shashi Kapoor remembers, “Hrishikesh Mukherjee was the editor of Char Diwari and he found a lot of potential in me. I was selected as the main protagonist for Anand but the first day I went to shoot, I was informed, I was not required for the film. I silently came back and returned my signing amount. The best director I worked with in Hindi films was Bimal Ray, a true actor’s director. He helped me perform better in Prem Patra and Benazir.”<br /><br />Shashi Kapoor was at his best in films by James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. The Householder, Shakespeare Wallah, Pretty Polly, Bombay Talkies and In Custody saw Shashi Kapoor in his element, something that was missing in the Hindi commercial potboilers he was a part of. He remembers, “During an emotional scene with Leela Naidu in The Householder, I dropped my eye lids twice unnecessarily. James and Ismail asked me to look directly into the eyes of Leela and smile romantically. It still remains as one of my best enacted sequences.” <br /><br />Satyajit Ray was very fond of Shashi Kapoor’s effortless performances and wanted to make a film in English with him, Leela Naidu and Marlon Brando, which never went on floors due to financial constraints. <br /><br />Talking about James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, one cannot forget The Deceivers in which Shashi Kapoor was cast in a negative role along with the enigmatic Pierce Brosnan. Many international critics felt he outclassed the Hollywood super star by his subtle performance. Shashi Kapoor flashes his inimitable toothy smile and explains, “I never believed in outclassing another actor. It is not at all a healthy sign for any actor. Pierce Brosnan was extremely professional and was an absolute delight to work with. In many scenes, his eyes did all the talking.”<br /><br />Awards were never a priority for Shashi Kapoor. He refused the National Award for his performance in Dharam Putra as he felt that he did not deserve it. However, he did receive the coveted award for his performance in New Delhi Times. Shashi Kapoor never shied away from playing second lead to Amitabh Bachchan in a number of hits where he held his own against the megastar. He even performed better than Amitabh Bachchan in a few films like Kabhi Kabhie and Kaala Pathhar, which Amitabh Bachchan agrees to.<br /><br />Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman, Sadhana, Asha Parekh, Rakhee, Hema Malini and Sharmila Tagore — Shashi Kapoor was paired with each of these actresses with resounding success. Speaking about his co stars, he reminisces, “Nanda will always be my favourite co-star. She was already a leading actress when she was paired with me in my debut film, Char Diwari. She was the most co-operative actress to work with. Her performance in the song, Yeh Shama in Jab Jab Phool Khile, was a trendsetter. Another gifted actress I am proud to have worked with is the versatile Shabana Azmi.”<br /><br />Why did his prestigious productions like Junoon, 36 Chowringhee Lane, Kalyug and Vijeta flop in spite of being brilliant cinematic pieces? He thinks for a while and smiles again, “You can never predict a hit. I produced each of these films with honest intentions of making memorable cinema. I failed to hit the bull’s eye as a producer, I guess.” <br />Hit or flop, the debonair Kapoor will always be admired and remembered for his off-beat productions, which are rich in cinematic values.</p>
