The Dadasaheb Phalke award that has been bestowed on Shashi Kapoor is belated recognition of the veteran actor and visionary producer’s achievements. Kapoor’s acting career ranges from the mainstream to the arthouse to the crossover. Romance, action, light comedy, social realism, melodrama, multi-starrers, period fantasy, international arthouse and Indian parallel – the 77-year-old actor’s range is the most extensive of all the members of his equally illustrious family.
“We are all thrilled and very grateful,” said his son, Kunal Kapoor, on Monday, when the award was announced. “We thank the government for recognising him and giving our family the third Dadasaheb Phalke award.” Shashi Kapoor’s father and the family patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor, was given the award in 1971. Actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, Shashi’s brother, got his in 1987.
The veteran actor is in indifferent health these days, Kunal Kapoor added. “He has a lot of complications and is very frail,” Kunal Kapoor said. “I am also grateful that the government decided to give him the award now rather than after he was dead.”
The Householder
James Ivory’s first feature, made in 1963 and exploring the relationship between a newly married couple, is early proof of Kapoor’s interest in experimenting with his screen image and working with directors far removed from the Hindi movie business.
Jab Jab Phool Khile
Kapoor plays a poor boatman who falls in love with a wealthy tourist (Nanda, his heroine in several breezy romances). The vintage Shashi Kapoor bashful grin is in full evidence in the song Pardesiyon Se Na Akhiyaan Milana.
Aa Gale Lag Ja
Manmohan Desai’s hit about star-crossed lovers separated by scheming fathers and fate pairs Kapoor with another long-time collaborator, Sharmila Tagore.
Utsav
In his producer avatar, Kapoor was involved with a handful of arthouse films, including Girish Karnad’s romp through ancient India. Kapoor plays the part of the king hopelessly in love with the courtesan Vasantasena.
In Custody
Ismail Merchant’s adaptation of the Anita Desai novel features Kapoor as a brilliant Urdu poet gone to seed.
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“We are all thrilled and very grateful,” said his son, Kunal Kapoor, on Monday, when the award was announced. “We thank the government for recognising him and giving our family the third Dadasaheb Phalke award.” Shashi Kapoor’s father and the family patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor, was given the award in 1971. Actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, Shashi’s brother, got his in 1987.
The veteran actor is in indifferent health these days, Kunal Kapoor added. “He has a lot of complications and is very frail,” Kunal Kapoor said. “I am also grateful that the government decided to give him the award now rather than after he was dead.”
Better late than never. Here are five sequences and songs of Shashi Kapoor’s endless ability to charm and be charmed.
The Householder
James Ivory’s first feature, made in 1963 and exploring the relationship between a newly married couple, is early proof of Kapoor’s interest in experimenting with his screen image and working with directors far removed from the Hindi movie business.
Jab Jab Phool Khile
Kapoor plays a poor boatman who falls in love with a wealthy tourist (Nanda, his heroine in several breezy romances). The vintage Shashi Kapoor bashful grin is in full evidence in the song Pardesiyon Se Na Akhiyaan Milana.
Aa Gale Lag Ja
Manmohan Desai’s hit about star-crossed lovers separated by scheming fathers and fate pairs Kapoor with another long-time collaborator, Sharmila Tagore.
Utsav
In his producer avatar, Kapoor was involved with a handful of arthouse films, including Girish Karnad’s romp through ancient India. Kapoor plays the part of the king hopelessly in love with the courtesan Vasantasena.
In Custody
Ismail Merchant’s adaptation of the Anita Desai novel features Kapoor as a brilliant Urdu poet gone to seed.
