A star and a gentleman

BIGGER stars have dominated Bollywood, but Shashi Kapoor’s place in the annals of cinematic history is undisputed. A Dada Saheb Phalke awardee, his achievements are multifarious, stellar and not just limited to acting. The achingly handsome actor with his elfin smile could charm the birds out of the trees. Clearly, here was a star whose charisma matched his gentlemanly nature and his artistic prowess. Born into Bollywood’s first family he not only carried the legacy forward, but also added new chapters to its success story.

He was not the leading actor of his time but led the way in more ways than one. India’s original crossover star had acted in several Merchant-Ivory productions and his last memorable performance was in a movie of the same genre. Shashi Kapoor began his film journey as a child actor. After debuting as a hero in the 1961 film Dharmputra, he went on to act in over 100 films. However, if Jennifer Kendal, his wife of 26 years, was his first and last love, so was the theatre. The Prithvi theatre in Mumbai, which he built, stands testimony to that undying passion. A lesser star may have balked at playing second fiddle to other actors. But Shashi, with solid roots in theatre, knew that a character is a character. Cine buffs remember Deewar for Amitabh Bachchan’s angst-driven portrayal. But, its Shashi’s iconic dialogue, mere pas maa hai, that echoes in the corridors of time. He complemented many a superstar with the ease of a natural performer.

The real assessment of his talent goes way beyond his Bollywood innings. In the 1970s, the era of multi-starrers when he worked in multiple shifts, he earned the unflattering sobriquet “Taxi” from elder brother Raj Kapoor. But then he put his money where his heart was and championed alternative cinema. Junoon, Kalyug, and 36 Chowringee Lane are some of the cinematic gems he produced. His brilliance as an actor shone through in Junoon. As he breathed his last on Monday, the star of many seasons and hues will be missed. The sparkle of his smile and the glow of his work, however, will never fade away from the fans’ memory.