Old interview shows Benazir Bhutto singing praises of Shashi Kapoor in ‘Kabhie Kabhie’

Late politician revealed that she watched the blockbuster romance at a time when Indian films were banned in Pakistan

In a nostalgic moment from the past, an old video clip of the late Pakistani politician and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, is making rounds on the internet. The clip is from an interview with Indian actor, director, and host Simi Garewal on her chat show, where Benazir candidly expressed her admiration for the 1976 Indian film Kabhie Kabhie.

Taking to her IG handle, Simi posted the brief clip in which Benazir shared her experience with Indian cinema, saying, "Kabhie Kabhie was the first Indian movie that I saw at a time when Indian movies weren’t allowed into Pakistan and they’d be sort of smuggled into those three big fat cassettes.” 

Relaying her adoration for the blockbuster film, she remarked, “I thought it was so marvelous, and I thought that the actor - I didn’t know any of the names of the actors in it - I thought the actor was so good, so excellent.” Among its many commendable features, Benazir shortlisted one in particular - the acting performance by a lead actor.

 

 

 

 

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“I would tell everybody else that he was so fantastic and they’d all go ‘Amitabh Bachchan’ but it was Shashi Kapoor,” she revealed how people readily assumed that she was all praises for Amitabh Bachchan when it was Shashi Kapoor’s performance that completely swayed her. 

Shashi, the youngest son of Hindi film and theatre pioneer Prithviraj Kapoor, passed away in Mumbai in 2017 after prolonged illness. “Yes, he has passed away. He had kidney problems for several years," shared Randhir Kapoor with the Press Trust of India news agency.

A seasoned actor in the game since childhood, Shashi’s illustrious career spanned over 150 Bollywood and English language films, solidifying his status as a matinee idol. From his debut in Dharmputra in 1961 to iconic roles in films like Jab Jab Phool Khile, Kabhie Kabhie, Silsila and Do Aur Do Paanch, he left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

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