Shashi Kapoor, one of the most stylish actors of Bollywood, passed away yesterday evening. Being a Bollywood veteran, Shashi Kapoor shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in super hit films like ‘Deewaar’, ‘Roti Kapada Aur Makaan’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’ and ‘Shaan’ to name a few. With time, these roles were etched in the minds of people. Reminiscing the first impression of the lad hailing from the Kapoor family, Big B shares, “As uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all,” talking about the late Shashi Kapoor.
Praising Shashi Kapoor’s charming persona, Amitabh Bachchan further shares, “When he spoke, there was a mischievous, gentle, almost inaudible and delicate yodel, in his voice – most endearing and comforting to the one he was introduced to. The self introduction habit was a gem. The one being introduced to, was, quite obviously, prompted to say his or her name as well, when they heard his (Shashi Kapoor’s). It was a remarkable tool to come to know the other person’s name and if and when there was to be another meeting after many forgettable years, the same technology was most helpful in remembering the other person’s name, in case you had forgotten it. What followed is a documentation of very intimate association, personal exigencies and collective professional camaraderie ending in family bonding.” Bachchan and Kapoor families are known to be very close to each other since eons.
Amitabh Bachchan visited ailing Shashi Kapoor several times when the now late actor was hospitalised. Bachchan later stopped visiting him at the hospital. Explaining why he stopped visiting Kapoor, Big B says, “He had been ailing; somewhere he had let himself go after the passing away of his dear wife Jennifer. I had visited him in hospital during some of the times he had been hospitalised earlier, but I never went to see him again. I would never have, never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and ‘samdhi’ (relative) in the state I saw him in hospital, and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone. Shashi Kapoorji fondly addressed me as ‘babua’, and with him have gone many incredible and unread chapters of his and my life.”
