‘Lights, camera and action!’ And the lives of many people were changed once they stood before the camera. The journey of cinemas began from a black and white, audio-less video and now, cinemas are an inseparable part of our lives. And then comes Bollywood, which is not just an industry but a diverse, growing family of artists. More than an industry, it is the very identity of India. This is the industry that has manufactured legends after testing them through the heat of hard-work, the fire of passion and the persistence to reach higher than the skies.
And today, on October 21st, we remember a versatile Indian actor of his times and the star of Bollywood’s Kapoor family on his 90th birth anniversary. Shamsher Raj Kapoor, popularly known as Shammi Kapoor, was a man of magnetic personality. As much as he was popular among the ladies for his smiting looks, he was recognized for his brilliant work in Bollywood.
The King Size Life of Shammi Kapoor
Kapoor was born on October 21st, 1931 in Mumbai in the renowned Kapoor clan of Bollywood. Being the son of a star actor and film director, Prithviraj Kapoor, he had acting in his blood. His career as an actor began with his debut movie Jeewan Jyoti (1953), at the age of 22. Although, the movie could not make it big on screen and the consecutive movies were box office flops, Shammi had his breakthrough with Tumsa nahi Dekha (1957). After his breakthrough movie, his name and fame gained recognition and brought him the stardom.
As years passed, he gave back-to-back popular hits. Junglee (1961), Kashmir ki Kali (1964), Teesri Mazil (1966), and many more to name, were the big hits of the 60’s decade. With his romantic comedies, he also got the title of playboy and a great dancer. His looks and resemblance to the worldwide famous pop singer, Elvis Presley, got him the title of ‘Elvis Presley of India’.
He worked in over 50 movies as a lead actor and over 20 movies as a costar. And his career was not only limited to being an actor. Shammi Kapoor also directed two movies, Manoranjan (1974) and Bundal Baaz (1976).
Achievements and Awards
In the peak years of his career, when Shammi was giving consecutive hits, his work not only brought him fame and success but also gave him recognition as a versatile actor. Shammi was awarded the Filmware Award for Best Actor for his blockbuster rom-com Brahmachari (1967). His another Filmware Award was for his role as the best supporting actor in Vidhata (1981).
Later in the 90’s, he received the greatest achievement of his life when he was awarded a Filmware Lifetime Achievement Award. His list of achievements was not just limited to national awards. He was awarded his life’s first international recognition in 2002, the IIFA Award for Invaluable Contribution to Indian Cinema. And so, the list of his achievements goes on with Zee Cine Award, Star Screen Award and many more to name.
Shammi Kapoor may not be around us in physical forms today, but he was and is winning hearts all around the globe through his movies. An actor who has had generations as a fanbase needs no introduction. Legends like him leave their marks behind by their talent, hard-work and perseverance and continue to live forever in our hearts as our dearest. Shammi Kapoor is one such story of Bollywood which will continue to inspire the youth to dream big and achieve it.
