'Amit had Jaya while I had Jennifer and that was the reason why we could do so many films together non-stop and still remain in good health,' admitted veteran actor Shashi Kapoor in a television interview yesterday recounting his long association with Amitabh Bachchan in films like 'Deewar', 'Shaan', 'Namak Halal', 'Do Aur Do Paanch', 'Kabhi Kabhi', 'Kaala Pathar', 'Trishul' and more.
Shashi Kapoor is the son of legendary theatre-film actor Prithviraj Kapoor and brother of arguably the biggest showman of Indian cinema Raj Kapoor and super hit actor Shammi Kapoor. Having started his career in such illustrious lineage Shashi earned super fame with 'Jab Jab Phool Khilen', a musical hit where he starred opposite Nanda. Yash Chopra's multi-starrer 'Waqt' added to his stardom. And then started the phase in the 1970s when he starred in several commercial successes like 'Deewar', 'Chor Machaye Shor', 'Sharmilee' etc.
He was married to Jennifer Kendel, a British actress in 1958 at a tender age of 20. This woman had a great effect on Shashi Kapoor's life. Not only he went on to star in serious films like 'Shakespearewala', 'Bombay Talkies', 'Heat and Dust' etc with her he also produced '36 Chaurangee Lane', a film in which Jennifer acted with great perfection. Although Kapoor's are known to develop fat early in life, it was because of Jennifer's strict diet that Shashi remained in shape till she died in 1984 of cancer. After all in spite of being elder to Amitabh Bachchan by at least three to four years, Shashi passed off as his younger brother in many of the films they worked together.
One regret Shashi Kapoor has is that Jennifer was not alive when he was awarded the National Award for best actor for the film 'New Delhi Times' in 1986. Although he failed as a producer director ('Utsav' and 'Ajooba' being a case in point) Shashi Kapoor has played his part in style. Yes, he did turn a distributor by default too. But that was for his elder brother Raj Kapoor when none of the professional distributors were willing to buy 'Bobby' after the debacle of 'Mera Naam Joker'.
Shashi Kapoor continues to smile that radiant smile as he notices that daughter Sanjana is doing a great job of taking the Prithvi Theatre (A dream woven by Jennifer) while son Kunal is doing well for himself. His last film as an actor was 'In Custody' for Ismail Merchant. And no, he doesn't wish to wear the grease paints once again. Here's saluting this giant of Indian cinema who has played a big part in taking the world of illusions forward.