Bollywood legend Shashi Kapoor unwell, very weak
Bollywood heartthrob of yesteryears, Shashi Kapoor, 74, and the youngest brother of the Indian film industry's famous Kapoor brothers - Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor - has been ailing for quite some time. He has been suffering from age-related ailments.
Over the weekend, the Facebook moderator of his official page had updated the status saying: "Shashi Kapoor is unwell. He is very weak. Please pray for him."
The news had greatly saddened Shashi Kapoor's fans. However, he has been recovering and late last night's update has greatly relieved his colleagues, fans and followers. "He is recovering...our prayers are working... get well soon Shashiji!! We all love you!!!"
Shashi is an award-winning Indian film actor and film producer. He has also been a film director and assistant director in the Hindi film industry.
Shashi has appeared in a large number of Hindi films as well as in a few English-language films. He made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film Dharmputra and went on to appear in 116 Hindi films as main lead protagonist, including 63 films as solo lead hero and 53 multi star-cast films, as well as 22 films as supporting actor and 5 special appearances
Shashi Kapoor formed on screen pairs with Raakhee, Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman in the late sixties till the mid eighties. Films where Kapoor acted opposite actresses such as Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, and Moushumi Chatterjee were also commercially successful.
After their first movie together Sharmelee became a blockbuster, Raakhee was paired frequently with him and they acted in other successful films such as Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Baseraa (1981), Zameen Aasmaan (1984), Pighalta Aasman (1985) and the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978).
Films where Kapoor acted opposite Sharmila Tagore include Waqt (1965), Aamne Samne (1967), Suhana Safar (1970), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973), Paap Aur Punya (1974), Swati (1986) and the critically acclaimed New Delhi Times (1985), which fetched Kapoor a National Film Award for Best Actor in 1986.
With Zeenat Aman, he did Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Deewaangee (1976), Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Heeralal Pannalal (1978), Kranti (1981), Pakhandi (1984) and Bhavani Junction (1985).
In 1978, he set up his production house, Film Valas, which produced critically acclaimed films such as Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Utsav (1984).
In 1991 he produced and directed a fantasy film titled Ajooba which had his frequent co-star Amitabh Bachchan and nephew Rishi Kapoor in the lead but the film was a disaster at the box office.
He regarded Nanda, Pran, Ismail Merchant, Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar as his closest friends from the industry since the beginning of his career and maintained cordial relations with Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Chopra, MGR, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Jaya Bachchan and most of his female and male co stars.