Shammi Kapoor the Romantic hero

This post is a homage to the legendary actor Shammi Kapoor of Bollywood on his day of death.

Shammi Kapoor

Shammi Kapoor was born on 21 October 1931 and expired at the age of 79 on 14 August 2011 at 5:15 am in Mumbai. His was a prominent film actor of Bollywood and was a ruler of the silver screen for more than a decade.

His birth name was Shamsher Raj Kapoor. He was the second son of Prithviraj Kapoor. Whole of the Kapoor family has been dedicated to the Indian film industry. His brothers Raj Kapoor the director of the millennium and the other brother Shashi Kapoor were also marvelous actors. The genes of the father Prithviraj Kapoor has taken the whole family in to acting where they all did wonders.

The actor who was tall, lively, athletic, fair complexioned, with green eyes having all the handsome features to be the heartthrob of millions, was Shammi Kapoor.

Education

Shammi Kapoor initial education was in Calcutta (now Kolkata) where Prithviraj Kapoor was working with New Theatres Studios. He studied in Montessory and Kindergarten and after coming to Bombay (now Mumbai) he joined St. Joseph’s Convent at Wadala. Further he joined Don Bosco School and lately finished his schooling from New Era School at Hughes Road.

Shammi Kapoor the chocolate hero

Career

Shammi Kapoor is considered to be one of the finest actors of the Hindi cinema. From 1950s to 1970s he was the leading along with others but his prime time is considered to be from 1950s to 1960s. He started his career from his debut film Jeevan Jyoti released in 1953. His professional pace in Bollywood remain constant and he was the part of the hit films like:  Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Bramhachari, and Andaz and Vidhaata. Brahmachari bagged for him the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance and Vidhaata provided him Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1982.

His serious stride came from the film Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) which was directed by Nasir Hussain under the banner of Filmistan. Sequential was Dil Deke Dekho (1959) where he played a role of a stylish playboy.

Acting opposite to Saira Banu in Junglee (1961) he proved his different image by playing the role of a serious and strict young man then changing into a lover bird. He only chose Mohammed Rafi as his playback voice which portrays his style if you are just listening to the song in audio.

Shammi Kapoor is one of the heroes of Hindi cinema who has worked with all the leading actresses of the industry from Madhubala to Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Rajshree.

1960s has been the year when his career was at zenith where he acted in jubilee films like Professor, Char Dil Char Rahen, Raat ke Raahi, Dil Tera Diwana, ‘Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya’, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Bluff Master, Janwar and Rajkumar.

He gained weight due to his drinking problem and the 1970s was not so successful for him. His image as a romantic hero was crushed due to his weight problem. Still he worked and his last film was Andaz (1971). He switched to character roles from the chocolate romantic hero and acted in Zameer, Hero and Vidhaata. He not being called for acting move on the steps of this elder brother Raj Kapoor and directed a film Manoranjan in 1974, which was based on Irma La Douce. Next film under his directorship was Bandalbaaz (1976). His last appearance on silver screen was in Sandwich.

It is surprising that he played the character role of father of Saira Banno in the film Zameer (1975), she was his heroine Junglee (1961).

Awards and nominations

1. 1962 - Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor--Professor
2. 1968 - Filmfare Best Actor Award, Brahmachari
3. 1982 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Vidhata
4. 1995 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
5. 1998 - Kalakar Awards - Special Award for "contribution in Indian Cinema"
6. 1999 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
7. 2001 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
8. 2001 - Anandalok Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
9. 2002 - Contribution to Indian Cinema at the IIFA.
10. 2005 - Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bollywood Movie Awards
11. 2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cinema at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).
12. 2009 - Phalke Legend Actor Award by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy
13. He was awarded the prestigious Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
14. Rashtriya Gaurav Award

Films to his credit (top ones)

Shammi Kapoor later in life

1. Jeevan Jyoti (1953) 
2. Rail Ka Dibba (1953)
3. Thokar (1953)
4. Laila Majnu (1953) Nutan
5. Ladki (1953)
6. Gul Sanobar (1953)
7. Khoj (1953)
8. Shama Parwana (1954)
9. Mehbooba (1954)
10. Ehsan (1954)
11. Chor Bazar (1954)
12. Tangewali (1955)
13. Naqab (1955)
14. Miss Coca Cola (1955)
15. Daku (1955)
16. Sipahsalar (1956)
17. Rangeen Raatein (1956) Mala Sinha
18. Memsahib (1956)
19. Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956)
20. Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film) Ameeta
21. Maharani (1957)
22. Coffee House (1957)
23. Mirza Sahiban (1957)
24. Mujrim (1958)
25. Dil Deke Dekho (1958) Asha Parekh
26. Ujala (1959) Mala Sinha
27. Raat ke Raahi (1959)
28. Mohar (1959)
29. Basant (1960)
30. College Girl (1960) Vyjayanthimala
31. Singapore (1960) Padmini
32. Boyfriend (1961)
33. Junglee (1961) Saira Banu
34. Dil Tera Diwana (1962) Mala Sinha
35. Professor (1962) Kalpana
36. China Town (1962) Shakeela/Helen
37. Bluff Master (1963)
38. Shahid Bhagat Singh (1963)
39. Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963)
40. Pyar Kiya To Darna kya (1963)
41. Rajkumar (1964) Sadhana 
42. Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) Sharmila Tagore
43. Janwar (1965) Rajashri
44. Teesri Manzil (1966) Anil Kumar
45. Preet Na Jaane Reet (1966)
46. Budtameez (1966)
47. An Evening in Paris (1967) Sharmila Tagore
48. Laat Saheb (1967) Nutan 
49. Brahmachari (1968) Rajashri
50. Prince (1969) Vyjayanthimala
51. Tum se Acchaa Kaun Hai (1969) Babita
52. Sachchai (1969) Sadhana
53. Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) Asha Parekh/Helen
54. Andaz (1971) Hema Malini/Simi
55. Jawan Mohabbat (1971) Asha Parekh
56. Jaane Anjane (1971) Leena Chandavarkar
57. Parvarish (1973)
58. Zameer (1973)
59. Manoranjan (1974) Zeenat Aman
60. Chhote Sarkar (1974) Sadhana
61. Shalimar (1978)
62. Meera (1979) Raja Vikramjeet Singh Sesodia
63. Professor Pyarelal (1981)
64. Rocky (1981)
65. Naseeb (1981)
66. Prem Rog (1982) Sushma Seth
67. Vidhaata (1982)
68. Desh Premee (1982)
69. Hero (1983) Urmila Bhat
70. Betaab (1983)
71. Sohni Mahiwal (1984)
72. Hukumat (1987)
73. Ijaazat (1988)
74. Ajooba (1991)
75. Tahelka (1992)
76. Chamatkar (1992)
77. Sukham Sukhakaram (1994) (Malayalam)
78. Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1996) Shammi
79. Kareeb (1998)
80. Jaanam Samjha Karo (1999)
81. East Is East (1999)
82. Waah! Tera Kya Kehna (2002)
83. Bhola in Bollywood (2005)
84. Sandwich (2006)
85. Rockstar (film) (2011)

The End

Shammi Kapoor breathe his last at Breach Candy Hospital on 14 August, 2011 at 05:15am IST at the age of 79.