Ever smiling Shashi Kapoor dead

The ever-smiling handsome screen icon and filmmaker, Shashi Kapoor, who has acted in several hits like - Deewar, Sharmeelee, Kabhie Kabhie, Namak Halal and Kaala Pathar - passed away after prolonged illness, on Monday.

He was 79.

He is survived by sons Kunal Kapoor and Karan Kapoor and daughter Sanjana Kapoor.

His wife Jennifer Kapoor Kendal predeceased him in 1984.

The screen icon of the sixties, seventies and eighties - who was a member of the famed Kapoor Khandaan - took his last breath at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital here.

He was confined to wheelchair for the last several years.

A recepient of the the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement and the prestigious Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema, the veteran of over 100 films, was one of the finest actors of Bollywood who had performed an array of roles.

Kapoor has been part of several international projects and his contribution to theatre besides Hindi cinema would always be remembered.

He started acting in plays written and directed by his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. Shashi appeared as a child actor in films such as Aag (1948), Sangram (1950), Awaara (1951) and Dana Paani (1953). As a hero, he debuted in the Dharmputra in 1961.

He appeared in several English-language films, including several Merchant Ivory productions, such as The Householder, Shakespeare Wallah, Bombay Talkie, and Heat and Dust.

Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendal established the Prithvi Theatre in November 1978 in Mumbai.

He regarded Nanda, Pran, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Ismail Merchant, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar as his closest friends from the industry since the beginning of his career and maintained cordial relations with Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Chopra, MGR, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and most of his co-stars.

In the whole of the Kapoor clan, Shashi Kapoor has been the solo hero more times (61 films) and also as a lead protagonist in more Hindi films (116) than his nephews Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv and even more than his brothers Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and more than his grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Maharashtra Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are among those who had extended their condolences.

"Sorry to hear of the demise of Shashi Kapoor, well-known actor, with a repertoire of Indian and international films. His support for meaningful cinema as a producer and pivotal role in the theatre movement in India too are cherished. Condolences to his family," Kovind said.

"Shashi Kapoor's versatility could be seen in his movies as well as in theatre, which he promoted with great passion. His brilliant acting will be remembered for generations to come. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers," Modi said.