(This is a blog i wrote on Jan 12 ,2011 when a newspaper wrongly reported that Shashi Kapoor had passed away. Unfortunately this time its true .I am reproducing what i wrote in Jan 2011 )

Shashi Kapoor was reported dead by a prominent newspaper.But the incomparable man reprtedly said ‘Abhi main zinda hoon’.That brought relief for many of his fans –including me .But there is no doubt that he is very ill .I have been seeing him being on the wheel chair for more than a year now .And as I write –he is alive ,but in hospital.I thought I must write something about Shashi Kapoor in the present rather than in the past .I would not like to do that .I have written too many obituaries –its time I stopped doing that .!!
Every one knows Shashi belonged to the illustrious Kapoor clan .Not everyone knows that his real name is Balbir .And fewer know that he studied at the Don Bosco school at Matunga, Mumbai.
Being one of the sons of Pritviraj Kapoor,and a brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, it was no easy task for him to make a mark for himself .He was to comment many years later how no one wanted to act opposite him –Raj Kapoor,DevAnand,Rajendra Kumar,Raaj Kumar,and the legendary Dilip Kumar rode the film industry like giants .He could not afford to be choosy about roles he got, because he was earning just rupees 400 a month and had a family to sustain .He is eternally grateful to Nanda for accepting to act opposite him in the great hit of the early sixties-Jab Jab Phool Khile.He had to carve out a constituency from the space occupied by the greats .And he did .I am writing about Shashi because is my favourite Kapoor.
‘Ek tha gul and ek thi bulbul,
Dono chaman me rehte the ,
Hain yeh kahani bilkul sachhi,
Mere nana kehte the’’
This is the song that comes to my mind as images of Shashi flash through it .I was a young school boy in Dehradun and I remember seeing the dimple faced ,mischievous looking and a sauntering young man walking along with Nanda who was seated on a horse ,narrating a story through the song medium .In a attempt to woo her.To my innocent mind ,it was never understandable as to why a man with those looks would require to woo anyone ?!!And for many years the question kept coming back ,because Hindi films are to a large extent ,men running around women .Why?Why?on earth should anyone with those looks run after women ,I used to think .Actually ,it became a part of my mindset –I told myself that I should never attempt to woo anyone .If Shashi had to try ,then no one would succeed.!!
Through the seventies and a large part of the eighties ,Shashi Kapoor ruled the screen with Amitabh Bacchan .I remember sitting and watching Deewar at the Amba theatre at Delhi –near the university.It was a movie that was a legend in many ways than one .It was a 3-6 show and the hall was packed with students of the Delhi University.Everything went on as usual ,but the moment Shashi Kapoor came on to the screen ,the girls shrieked and the boys whistled .There was pandamoniun ,till one of the senior citizens got up and shouted ‘’Quiet –Picture dekhne do”.There was silence for sometime only to be interrupted by the same noise when he sang on an open song to Neetu Singh ‘Keh du tumhe ,ya chup rahu’.And the crowd shrieked “Keh do,keh do”!!When I told my son the incident he quipped “How cheap Dad”.But he does not know how people were taken aback by his stunningly good boyish looks .His looks could and did send people into a spin.
His works in Hindi films is well documented ,but what quite a few people don’t know is his ability to talk in English which was first class .I have never come across anyone who could speak English in such a charming way.His grammer is perfect ,and his pronunciation could make a English teacher in a reputed school and who had put in years of teaching ,sound like a beginner .Which is not surprising since he worked with the Shakespeare group for a long time and could rattle off many of the great playwrites work .And he ws married to Jennifer Kendal another legend with the group(remember the lonely shool mistress in 36 Chowringee Lane ,teaching Shakespeare?).And he also acted in many English movies .
I met him twice –first time at the Oberoi Maidens and once at the Oberoi Intercontinental.I was waiting at the Maiden Hotel when I spotted him .I can never forget the sight .He was wearing a cream coloured safari suit and it looked as if someone had descended from heaven .He smelt so nice and was smiling as we huddled around him for autographs .He had freckles on his neck and a twinkle in the eye .He looked at us and asked us what we were doing .We told him we were studying in the university ,to which he replied as to why we were not studying and instead seeking autographs .While the others kept quiet ,I told him that we would go back and tell people that we had met him,by showing the autograph .He laughed a bit and said “Will they give you a prize for that”!!,and promply signed .
The second time I met him was when he along with the others (including Amitabh Bacchan)had come to Delhi for the release of “Roti ,Kapda,aur Makaan”.They were staying at the Oberoi Intercontinental Hotel in South Delhi (opposite the DPS ,Mathura Road ).He walked in alone into the foyer of the hotel .He looked tired ,but terrific .He wore a white shirt –so white that I have never been able to get one like that in my life inspite of my willingness to pay any amount –navy blue trousers and a bright red tie .I have never seen anyone look so good in my life .He walked to the reception ,head down ,asked for his keys and took the elevator .
I followed his career closely –not missing out many of his movies .I saw him singing and dancing(not too good at that!1)in “chor machaye shor”,to the tune of ‘le jayenge ,le jayenge,dil wale dulhenyaa le jayenge,or singing the popular song “likhe jo khat tujhe,who tere yaad mein,hazaaron rung ke ,sitare ban gaye”,looking sad and philosophical singing “pardesiyon se na ankhiya milana”,or looking very romantic in the background of the song “kabhi kabhi mere dil me khayaal aata hai”.I remember him in all shades .
What do I remember him most for ?Undoubtedly for that dialogue which became very famous .Amitabh Bacchan shooting question after question ,like bullets from the barrel of a AK-47 in the film Dewaar.And the cute face with the curls on his forehead saying “Mere paas maa hai”.I still can hear the applause as I absorbed all of it one summer day as a youth in a movie hall at Delhi.Yes ,I can still hear it .
Today he battles for his life at the Kakoliben Ambani Hospital at Mumbai .The looks have deserted him .He is on a wheel chair .His hair are white .His eyes have a droop .So what .He still is Shashi Kapoor.Someone who was equally at ease chasing women round trees as holding audiences spellbound by his rendition of ”Friends ,Romans ,Countrymen,Lend me your ears” .(Julius Caesar).People like him never die .And only one of his type is born .Best of luck Shashi Kapoor.Get well soon.Thank you for being such a important part of my life .For me ,you will only die ,when I die .For the moment I am off to watch you singing “le jajenge,le jayenge,dil waleh dulhnein le jayenge”.!! And yes i did get a prize for getting your autograph on that night at the Maiden Oberoi-i nearly got to see God .!!

Posted by kulbhushan kain at 9:19 PM

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