RIP Shashi Kapoor: Remembering the legendary hero of Hindi cinema

In a shocking news to the entire Indian cinema, acting legend Shashi Kapoor passed away at the age of 79. We remember the screen legend through his illustrious movie legacy.

Shashi worked in four major Hindi films as a child artiste from 1948 to 1954. His best known performances as child actor were in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951), where he played the younger version of the characters played by his older brother Raj Kapoor and in Sangram (1950). The youngest child in the three kids (picture) is Shashi Kapoor.

Shashi Kapoor made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film 'Dharmputra' and went on to appear in 116 Hindi films, including 61 films as the solo lead hero and 55 multi star-cast films, 21 films as supporting actor and special appearance in 7 films. He was a very popular actor in Bollywood during the 60s, 70s and until the mid 80s.

Shashi met English actress Jennifer Kendal in Calcutta in 1956 while both were working for their respective theatre groups. After their subsequent meeting, the couple fell in love and got married in July 1958. Jennifer and Shashi established Prithvi Theatre on 5 November 1978 in Mumbai. Jennifer died of cancer in 1984 which shattered Shashi.

Jennifer and Shashi had three children - Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor and Sanjana Kapoor. Kapoor's children, although for a little while, became Hindi film actors but their Caucasian looks and heavily accented Hindi diction prevented them from having successful careers.

Since 1961, Shashi Kapoor started acting in English language films. Shashi Kapoor and Leela Naidu acted together in a 1963 film 'The Householder' produced by Merchant Ivory Productions and directed by James Ivory. It is based upon the 1960 novel of the same name by Jhabvala.

Shashi Kapoor and Parveen Babi have worked together in 10 movies. The popular movies of this iconic Bollywood jodi are Ghungroo, Namak Halaal, Kranti, Shaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, Suhaag.

Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman starrer Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) was a highly controversial film during the time. A social drama about the differences between physical and spiritual love was directed by Raj Kapoor. The intimate scenes between the leading stars stirred a lot of controversy.

Shashi Kapoor and Shabana Azmi have worked jointly in 10 Hindi movies.The most popular movies of Shabana Azmi and Shashi Kapoor are Avtaar, Junoon.

Shashi Kapoor and Hema Malini have worked jointly in 14 Hindi movies.The most popular movies of these two actors together are Swami Vivekananda, Krodhi, Kranti, Do Aur Do Paanch, Trishul.

Shashi Kapoor's strong performance opposite very angry Amitabh Bachchan in Yash Chopra’s ‘Deewar’ was much lauded. His iconic dialouge from Deewar - ‘Mere Paas Maa Hai,’ is still a household phrase, an immortal part of Indian pop cult, much like the star himself. Shashi Kapoor won the Filmfare Award for the Best Supporting Actor for 'Deewar'.

In 2015, Kapoor was awarded the 2014 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, making him the third member of his family to receive the highest award in Indian Cinema after Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor.

The iconic Hindi cinema hero passed away on 04th December 2017 after a prolonged illness in Mumbai.