Veteran Bollywood star Shashi Kapoor dies at 79
Appearing in more than 150 films, Shahi won over fans with his charm and suave good looks
Shashi Kapoor. SCREEN GRAB
Veteran Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor passed away on Monday after a long illness. He was 79.
Shashi died at a hospital in Mumbai in the evening, his nephew Randhir Kapoor told the Press Trust of India news agency.
"Yes, he has passed away. He had kidney problem for several years," Randhir said.
Shashi - the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, a pioneer of Hindi film and theatre - was born in Kolkata in 1938.
He began his career early, assisting in his father's travelling theatre company and appearing on stage in a production of ‘Shakuntala’, a classic Hindu love story, at the age of six.
His Bollywood career also began in childhood and he grew into a matinee idol, appearing in more than 150 Bollywood and English language films, winning over fans with his charm and suave good looks.
Debuting as a leading man in 'Dharmputra' in 1961, his most memorable roles were in films such as 'Jab Jab Phool Khile', Kabhie Kabhie, 'Silsila' and 'Do Aur Do Paanch'.
Shashi was honoured with the coveted Padmabhushan by the Indian government in 2011.
In 2015, he became the third in his family to be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The legendary actor was married to late English actress Jennifer Kendal, with whom he established Prithvi Theatre in 1978. He's survived by three children, Kunal Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor and Karan Kapoor.
Condolences
With input from AFP
Shashi died at a hospital in Mumbai in the evening, his nephew Randhir Kapoor told the Press Trust of India news agency.
"Yes, he has passed away. He had kidney problem for several years," Randhir said.
Shashi - the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, a pioneer of Hindi film and theatre - was born in Kolkata in 1938.
He began his career early, assisting in his father's travelling theatre company and appearing on stage in a production of ‘Shakuntala’, a classic Hindu love story, at the age of six.
His Bollywood career also began in childhood and he grew into a matinee idol, appearing in more than 150 Bollywood and English language films, winning over fans with his charm and suave good looks.
Debuting as a leading man in 'Dharmputra' in 1961, his most memorable roles were in films such as 'Jab Jab Phool Khile', Kabhie Kabhie, 'Silsila' and 'Do Aur Do Paanch'.
Shashi was honoured with the coveted Padmabhushan by the Indian government in 2011.
In 2015, he became the third in his family to be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The legendary actor was married to late English actress Jennifer Kendal, with whom he established Prithvi Theatre in 1978. He's survived by three children, Kunal Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor and Karan Kapoor.
Condolences
With input from AFP