Shashi Kapoor

Shashi Kapoor ( pronounced [ʃəʃi kəpuːɾ]; born Balbir Raj Kapoor; 18 March 1938 – 4 December 2017) was an Indian actor and film producer who is best known for his works in Hindi films.

A recipient of several accolades, including four National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards, he also featured in a number of English-language international films, particularly films produced by Merchant Ivory.

Shashi Kapoor was born as Balbir Raj Kapoor to Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife in Calcutta, British India, on 18 March 1938.

He was the youngest brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.

Actor Trilok Kapoor was his paternal uncle.

Kapoor acted in plays, directed and produced by his father Prithviraj Kapoor, while travelling with Prithvi Theatres.

He started acting in films as a child in the late 1940s under the name of Shashiraj, as there was already another actor by the same name who used to act in mythological films as a child artiste.

He began his career as a child actor in 1948 with his brother Raj Kapoor's maiden directorial Aag, and had his first role as an adult in the year 1961 with Yash Chopra's political drama Dharmputra.

His best-known performances as a child actor were in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951), where he played the younger version of the characters played by his older brother Raj Kapoor, and in Sangram (1950), where he played the younger version of Ashok Kumar and Dana Paani (1953) where he acted with Bharat Bhushan.

He worked in four Hindi films as a child artiste from 1948 to 1954.

After appearing as a child artist in some highly successful films like Sangram, Samadhi (both 1950) and Awaara (1951), Shashi Kapoor made his debut in 1961 as a leading man in Yash Chopra's Dharmputra.

This was followed by another release the same year with Char Diwari.

Both Dharmputra and Char Diwari didn't do well at the box office.

From 1962 to 1964, he appeared in major features, such as - Bimal Roy's Prem Patra (1962), Kanak Mishra's Yeh Dil Kisko Doon (1963), S. Khalil's Benazir (1964), but all of these films failed to propel his career forward.

He established himself in 1965 with two blockbusters - Waqt and Jab Jab Phool Khile.

This was followed by a period of lukewarm success, with Kanyadaan, Sharmeelee and Aa Gale Lag Jaa being the exceptions.

1965 changed his fortune as he starred in two highest grossing films of the year with Yash Chopra's masala film Waqt and Suraj Prakash's romantic musical Jab Jab Phool Khile.

Waqt emerged a massive blockbuster at the box office, receiving praise for performances of the cast, Chopra's direction and cinematography.

Today, it is widely regarded as an evergreen classic.

This was followed by another blockbuster in Jab Jab Phool Khile which had Kapoor paired with Nanda.

Like Waqt, it also got positive response from critics, especially for its soundtrack which had many memorable songs, like "Ye Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka", "Affoo Khudaya", "Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thi Bulbul", "Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se", "Pardesiyon Se Na Ankhiyan Milana".

Kapoor won his first BFJA Award for Best Actor (Hindi) for his moving performance of an innocent boatman in the film.

Despite establishing himself, Kapoor's career fluctuated from late 60s to early 70s as very few of his films emerged successful during this period.

In 1966, he starred alongside Kishore Kumar, Mehmood, Kalpana Mohan, Rajasree, Mumtaz in C. V. Sridhar's Pyar Kiye Jaa.

Pyar Kiye Jaa proved to be a semi-hit while his other release Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare again opposite Nanda did only average business at the box office.

After delivering decent successes with Dil Ne Pukara and Aamne Samne in 1967, he had a hit with Haseena Maan Jayegi opposite Babita and a superhit with Kanyadaan alongside Asha Parekh in 1968.

Music of Kanyadaan created by Shankar-Jaikishan was also very successful with "Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe" and "Meri Zindagi Mein Aate", both solos by Mohammed Rafi topping the musical chart that year.

From 1969 to 1971, Kapoor had only one major success with Samir Ganguly's romantic thriller Sharmeelee opposite Rakhee Gulzar.

It received positive response from critics for performances of the cast and melodious music composed by S. D. Burman, which had highly popular songs, such as - "Khilte Hain Gul Yahan", "Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaye Re" and "O Meri Sharmilee".

After not having any notable release in 1972, the next year, he reunited with Sharmila Tagore for Manmohan Desai's romantic drama Aa Gale Lag Jaa.

The film emerged as one of the highest grossing films of the year, becoming a superhit at the box office.

Aa Gale Lag Jaa also had a brilliant soundtrack with hit songs, including "Tera Mujhse Hain Pehle Ka Nata Koi" sung by Kishore Kumar, "Vaada Karo", a duet by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.

He made a big comeback in 1974 with Chor Machaye Shor.

With the success of Chor Machaye Shor, he became the top five to six saleable stars of the period and delivered top grossing films, such as - Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Deewaar, Chori Mera Kaam, Kabhi Kabhie, Fakira, Trishul, Suhaag, Kranti and Namak Halaal.

He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a reckless chieftain in Junoon, a businessman in Kalyug, a strict father in Vijeta and an honest journalist in New Delhi Times for which he won National Film Award for Best Actor.

The year 1974 changed the trajectory of Kapoor's career and marked his comeback.

It started with Ashok Roy's action comedy Chor Machaye Shor which also had Mumtaz, Asrani and Danny Denzongpa in the lead.

The last film to feature him was the much delayed Ghar Bazar which released in 1998.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2011, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 2014, for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Born into the Kapoor family, he was the third and the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor.