Comments on Doc Bollywood: Shashi Kapoor - overlooked but never overshadowed

Shashiji!! You are my favourite veteran actor...I ...

2010-09-26T04:04:50.322-05:00

Shashiji!! You are my favourite veteran actor...I love all your movies...Jab JAb Phool Khile, Sharmilee and Deewaar being my favourites! I just love your hairstyle, your killer looks and everything!! You are better than BigB. Amitabh is a great actor...but he doesn't possess great looks. While Shashiji, being a legend, has those Greek-God looks...especially his nose....his smile is worth a million dollars!! His dimples just mesmerize me!! He is the one and only and no one can become like him ever!! Salute...

Recently, I saw him at Filmfare Awards...I was shocked!! I could never imagine Shashiji to change like this!! It was not expected from him...he was on the wheelchair...that was more shocking...!!!

But, nevertheless, he was, is and will be always my favourite actor...we all are grateful to you for the contribution you have done to Indian and English cinema and theatre...We all love you!! May god bless him and may he live in good health...that's all I wish for him...Salute to our more than beloved Mr. Balbir Raj Kapoor!!
Aditi Patwardhan.

Hahaha I sure will but ultimately, I will be drawn...

2010-01-12T03:48:33.655-06:00

Hahaha I sure will but ultimately, I will be drawn back to Shashi. AB is surely talented without a doubt but I still choose Shashi as my veteran star. I did watch alot of AB movies. Alot! Prolly because my parents did. I still vote Shashi, if you don;t mind!
Thanks for the reply!

MGW - thanks for your comments and as you see by m...

2010-01-11T22:28:05.679-06:00

MGW - thanks for your comments and as you see by my post I love both of them pretty much equally. It's interesting but non-Desis who have gotten into Bollywood are definitely more drawn to Shashi instead of AB.

I really encourage you to check out some of AB's classic movies in an effort to change your mind about him. Abhimaan, Deewaar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony and Do Aur Do Paanch. 2 of those star Shashi as well so maybe they will help you get through them easier ;)

Hi I think what you wrote was truly awesome. It hi...

2010-01-11T03:56:00.172-06:00

Hi I think what you wrote was truly awesome.
It hit spot on. I adore this man too. I started a little late compared to the rest. Honestly, I dislike AB. Not sure why, no punt intended.
Indeed, Shashi is talented, blessed with killer looks.
Something one can never get bored of. I started following up with him because he reminded me of someone I know.
I watched his movies and now I have his song clips in my Ipod!
I just think that this man is awesome... I wish there was a reincarnation of him...
Hats off for our dear Mr Kapoor...

Hi Sanket,
Is that really Shashi in the picture...

2008-09-07T15:54:00.000-05:00

Hi Sanket,
Is that really Shashi in the picture with the mustache? He looks so much like his brother! Thanks for this very nice post.

Amrita - yeah, my pop is almost 70 as well and loo...

2008-08-19T00:19:00.000-05:00

Amrita - yeah, my pop is almost 70 as well and looks much better than Shashiji as well. I think the dreaded Kapoor curse of 'eat everything you see' that befell Raj, Shammi, Rishi etc. is one of the main reasons he aged not-so-goodly. And as far as what carried him I agree about the 'everyman' personna. I also feel Shashi never really cared about what he was SUPPOSED to do as a hero - he just did whatever he wanted and it worked.

Nida - AB is so darn overpowering and Shashi is just accessible, you nailed his appeal or at least a good explanation for his resurgence. But before directors exploited Amitabh's larger than life personna as the ass-kicking hero he did have some magnificently quiet roles in 'Abhimaan' & 'Mili'. It's almost like watching a different actor in those movies than the AB that you know - you will appreciate his acting ability so much more if you see some of his earlier stuff.

Sanket--Thank you for the compliment! And the reco...

2008-07-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

Sanket--Thank you for the compliment! And the recos--I knew you'd have a bunch of 'em!:)

It is truly amazing that Shashi would strike a chord with a whole new generation--and culture, for the matter (since there are many bloggers who did not grow up on Hindi films)--fifteen years later. Wonder if he has any idea? I'm sure he does, since the internet is such a widespread media.

I think I understand--from what you and others have said in this post--that Shashi was more "attainable" if you will, than the Great Amitabh. In fact, I know I need to see more Amitabh hits(only seen Laawaris and Silsila and the more recent ones) but I just can't excited about it since I always feel so small when watching him onscreen. Probably a strange comment since I'm a woman and not trying to be like him at all...its just weird, like I couldn't connect with him, like he's shouting at me or something. All do respect, I'm sure he's great, and I promise to give his earlier films the due time and respect they deserve, its just that I'm not as excited about it as I am about getting to Shashi's films....

Perhaps I'll start with the ones they did together, as you suggested!

He's 70? Damn, I just realized I have some excelle...

2008-07-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

He's 70? Damn, I just realized I have some excellent genes coz my dad's the same age and he's held up far better. Of course, he's not as cute (still love him!) but that's the payoff I guess.

I think the "everyman" aspect was Shashi's greatest strength because he really didn't have the burden that AB and Dharam and others with a larger than life persona had to carry. Kind of like Sanjeev Kumar but cuter and more hero-like.

Shashilicious if you will! :D

Nida - thanks for the kind words :) I find this lo...

2008-07-30T01:01:00.000-05:00

Nida - thanks for the kind words :) I find this lovefest for Shashiji by the blogging world sweet as well as a bit surprising. After all, the man has not really had a significant role since 1994's 'In Custody' and while I had fond memories for him, I just didn't expect this resurgence in his career ~ 15 years later! There are other actors who were more popular at the top of their game (Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna & Anil Kapoor to name a few) but Shashi is just well, Shpecial.

Your review on SSS was just a treat to read and while everyone has their Shahsi faves, mine include all the buddy movies he made with AB (Shaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, Namak Halal, Kaala Patthar, Suhaag, Imaan Dharam & Deewaar). Shashi solo flicks (Sharmilee, Chor Machaye Shor, Fakira, Chor Sipahee, Junoon, Trishul, Kalyug & Kranti). Whew!

Shweta - knowing you were sharing in the collective Shashi good vibes is all the substantial comment that was needed ;)

I read your post, and just feel so satisfied to sh...

2008-07-29T15:09:00.000-05:00

I read your post, and just feel so satisfied to share in the Shashi-love, that have no substantial comment really. Just sitting and smiling happily in my cubie having read it :D

Sanket,

What a great tribute to an actor yo...

2008-07-28T22:49:00.001-05:00

Sanket,

What a great tribute to an actor you love! It's so funny that you posted this, because I was just thinking today that I just have to buy more Shashi films since he seems to be The Man in the Blogging World! :) I've only seen Silsila and Satyam Shivam Sundaram, the latter having not the most flattering character in the world (although Shashi did a great job--I'll be posting on this soon). So I'm sure there are a whole slew of great movies I need to watch--I'd love your recommendations!

And I'm with Beth on the voice thing--It was in Satyam Shivam Sundaram that I noticed the little chuckly "growl gravely" thing as she put it. Its one of the things I found adorable in that filim despite his characters flaws.

I really enjoyed reading this post!

Bollyviwer - thanks for the kind words... you woul...

2008-07-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

Bollyviwer - thanks for the kind words... you would be surprised at how many of us Y-chromosome Shashi fans there are ;) But you are right, AB is the more popular of the two. Again, they both bring something different to the table and comparing them is just useless. Shashi & Jaya do look lovely in the song but he should have left the dancing to AB in that one!

Beth - He has 'it' in leaps and bounds. And as far as his voice, I think you said it best - it has ishytle in ishpades.

Ajnabi - thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the songs. My tribute to Shashi will not be limited by this singular post so come on back soon for more...

PPCC - yes it was Batman that said it and yes, that is why Shashi gets so much love the world over. 'Chor Sipahee' was the second Bollywood movie I saw in India during my first visit there in '77 ('AAA' was my first). Seeing those movies with those 2 stars probably helped shape my future movie watching forever after. 'AAA' will be reviewed in the very near future but suffice it to say that seeing Amitabh in such a crazy movie was just spellbinding. And then watching 'Chor Sipahee' - which was just as insane - proclaimed me to rush home and tell my mom that in addition to Amitabh, Shashi COOKER was also my favorite actor. Being Gujarati I was not used to such Punjabi names at age 9 :)

So 'Silsila' was your hook? Very cool, although I was taken aback by that first song seeing Shashi & Jaya cuddling up to one another when I thought it would have been her and Amitabh. I saw 'In Custody' years later and loved it too but in a different way. It must be interesting for you to have seen him at the end of his career and then work your way back to his earlier work... Loved your review of 'Silsila' by the way, feel free to plug away on this site anytime!

Was it in Batman that someone said "you like someo...

2008-07-28T14:47:00.000-05:00

Was it in Batman that someone said "you like someone for their qualities, but you love them for their imperfections"? Either way, I was musing yesterday on how very imperfect indeed our beloved Shashi Kapoor is - crooked canines! mediocre films! - and how, for the life of me, I can't understand why I still stubbornly like Shashi so much. Maybe it's as you say, Sanket - unlike the Big B, he wasn't Big, so much as very appealing in an approachable way.

And Chor Sipahee was your Shashi hook movie?! Ahahaha, I love to hear that.

I also love that you picked Sarse Sarke, which is actually my hook moment for Shashi. I had seen him in In Custody first, but it was the moment when he comes in during the male verse in Sarse Sarke that was freakin' transcendental. Sigh.

(Obligatory plug: Ajnabi, the PPCC review of Silsila.)

Wow, with all the Post-Punk Cinema Club reading I'...

2008-07-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

Wow, with all the Post-Punk Cinema Club reading I've been doing, I'm surprised I haven't heard of this movie before your post. :-) Great music, and thanks for posting the AVS clip.

I certainly agree that Shashi has "it," and I like...

2008-07-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

I certainly agree that Shashi has "it," and I like your analysis of why he's so appealing to you.

The voice not earth-shaking? Kya?!? Perhaps not in a goonda-frightening way - but in my world, at least, certainly in a pulse-quickening, heart-melting ishtyle. Ooh that growl gravely thing he does.... He can also use it to good effect when being sneaky or impish, up to something.

Oh, and minor historical correction: Shashi and Jennifer had two sons and a daughter, and she now runs Prithviraj Theater.

Great post, Sanket. For my part, when it comes to ...

2008-07-28T02:07:00.000-05:00

Great post, Sanket. For my part, when it comes to picking who is my favorite - AB or SK - SK wins hands down. But I find that the possession of a Y-chromosome tends to co-incide with reduced expression of the Shashi-appreciation gene! lol

Love the song you've chosen from Silsila (though Shashi does look a bit old to be running around trees) - it was probably overlooked in favor of the the AB-Rekha numbers because Shashi-Jaya werent having a much publicised romance!