The dashing Shashi Kapoor was a concoction of aristocracy and chivalrous genteelness.He had a touch of class about him, brought forth by a life of luxury and sophistication.His death marks not just the passing away of a talented and versatile actor.It also marks the end of an era.
The youngest of legendary thespian Prithviraj Kapoor’s three sons, Shashi was born in Kolkata and was destined to meet Jennifer, the love of his life, in the same city decades later.In fact,the cosmopolitan touch of Kolkata and its varied and rich tapestry ran in his blood deep.
His elder brothers, Raj and Shammi, had taken after their famous father and had become distinctive figures in the tinsel town.Both had huge fan following, unique mannerisms and played typical roles throughout their careers with minor deviations. Raj excelled as the simpleton rustic while Shammi was flamboyance personified. Shashi was, however, different.Not only did he become an actor in Mumbai, he inherited his father’ s passion for theatre and strode different worlds simultaneously.
Prior to his tryst with Jennifer, Shashi had acted in numerous Hindi films of masala type.He had achieved some success as the hero of Sharmilee, Pyar Ka Mausam, Jab Jab Phool Khilein et al but had not been able to etch a separate identity. His debonair looks did not make him unique.The scenario changed when he teamed up with Jennifer to make outstanding films like Junoon with Shyam Benegal and 36 Chowronghee Lane by Aparna Sen.The arrival of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant in his life led to Heat and Dust and Shakespeare wallah, a film that involved both his father-in-law and his sister-in-law. These two films were totally different from the ones he had made earlier. Shashi had inherited from his father a love for the stage and was not satisfied with the tag of another romantic bollyhood hero. His remarkable wife, a famous theatre actress, completed the process of churning in Shashi by rekindling his fondness for the stage. Many people are unaware of the fact that Prithviraj loved the stage, had been one of IPTA’s founding members and used to reach out to the masses through the theatre.
In 1972, Conrad Rooks made Siddhartha based on the eponymous novel by the German Nobel Laureate, Hermann Hesse.It is a story of a young man in search of himself and the ultimate truth through a spiritual journey. Shashi won international accolades for his splendid role as the protagonist.
The role of Shashi in the career of Amitabh Bachchan cannot be overstated.Despite his seniority, he had accepted the roles of the second hero in blockbuster hits like Kabhie Kabhie, Trishul, Namak Halaal and Deewar, films that made the Big B a household name.
In some ways, this film mirrors Shashi and his paradigm shift from the world of commercial films to meaningful films.Once again he teamed up with Shyam Benegal to play the pivotal role of Karna in Kalyug which has been loosely based on the epic Mahabharata.It was one the most brilliant performances of this charismatic actor.People will also remember him for his fine performance in New Delhi Times for which he won national accolade as the best actor in 1986. Shashi had played the role of an upright journalist in this film that exposed corruption in media in a sensitive matter.
Times have changed and so have the definitions.It is, however, undeniable that the likes of Shashi Kapoor, with his aristocratic and cultured presence oozing charisma, are a rarity these days.He had class- loads of it – and the presence of Jennifer by his side only underlined the fact that he was different. He built the Prithvi Theatre( his daughter Sanjana is dedicated to the theatre) and has ensured that the love of his father passes on to the next generation.Therein lies his major contribution to the Indian theatre.
Written by:
PARTHA BASU
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