The legendary Shashi Kapoor was born on March 18, 1938, in Kolkata and passed away on December 4, 2017 in Mumbai. He was the third and youngest son of the legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor. He started acting from a very young age in his father's productions and went on to become a big star. We pay tribute to the legend by remembering his journey from being a child actor to becoming India's first global superstar through some of his nostalgic pictures.
Updated On: 2025-03-18 04:52 PM IST
Compiled by : Shachi Chaturvedi
Shashi Kapoor began his acting journey as a child artist in films like Aag (1948) and Awara (1951), where he played the younger version of his elder brother, Raj Kapoor
He made his full-fledged debut as a lead actor in Dharmputra (1961), which marked the beginning of his illustrious caree
Shashi met British actress Jennifer Kendal in 1956 while working in theatre. The two fell in love and got married in 1958.
Shashi and Jennifer had three children—Kunal, Karan, and Sanjana Kapoor. His family remained deeply connected to theatre and cinema
Along with Jennifer, Shashi revived the Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai, which became a cultural hub for stage performances
Shashi Kapoor was known for his charming chemistry with actresses like Nanda, Sharmila Tagore, and Zeenat Aman
His partnership with Amitabh Bachchan in films like Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), and Shaan (1980) became legendary
"Mere Paas Maa Hai" – A Memorable Dialogue: His iconic dialogue from Deewaar became one of the most famous lines in Bollywood history
He starred in several English-language films, including The Householder (1963) and Shakespeare Wallah (1965)
Shashi won the National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times (1986) and the Special Jury Award for Muhafiz (1994)
He produced acclaimed films like Junoon (1978), 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), and Utsav (1984), promoting meaningful cinema
He delivered several hits, including Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Fakira (1976), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), and Kranti (1981)
In 2015, Shashi Kapoor received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his immense contribution to Indian cinema
Shashi Kapoor will always be remembered as a theatre doyen. In picture: Shashi Kapoor at the Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai.
He passed away on December 4, 2017, at the age of 79, leaving behind a rich cinematic and theatrical legacy
