Often known as the ‘First Family of Bollywood’, the Kapoor household’s cinematic legacy started with the late legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor. The current era might know actors Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan or Karisma Kapoor as well-known family members, however the movies of Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor are nonetheless remembered right this moment. Born on November 3, 1906 at Samundari within the Punjab province of British India, the enduring actor traveled far and broad along with his imaginative and prescient for Indian cinema.
Remembered for his performances in movies like Sikandar, Alam Ara, Mughal-e-Azam and Kal Aaj Aur Kal, he began his profession within the period of silent movies and efficiently transitioned into talkies. He additionally based the Prithvi Theatre, which stays a cultural icon in India even right this moment. While his youngsters – Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor – continued their legacy, it was Shashi who was most carefully related to Prithvi.
Shashi had a eager curiosity in theater with spouse Jennifer. Actually, each of them met like this. He met Jennifer when he was a part of a theater firm and dealing in his father’s theater manufacturing. As reported by India Today, Jennifer’s sister Felicity Kendall wrote in her autobiography White Cargo that Shashi noticed Jennifer at Shakespeare’s House in Bombay (which ultimately merged with Prithvi Theatre) and it was love at first sight for her. was. The two fell in love, however confronted a lot opposition from Jennifer’s father, Geoffrey Kendall, who was main Shakespeareana.
Asim Chhabra, who wrote Shashi Kapoor’s biography, has written that Shashi and Jennifer’s daughter Sanjana advised him, “They had been poor after they had been doing theater (Shashi and Jennifer). They slept much less and ate much less and my father would inform me how one can starve them of starvation whereas strolling the streets – each my dad and mom had been attempting to determine if they might have half a paratha. Then, they’d cross in entrance of a restaurant and my grandfather, Geoffrey Kendall, would have an enormous meal with a beer. My father could not go inside. He was their worker, and he was stealing their daughter as properly. Therefore, he had no means of entering into the storm. ,
Eventually, after separating from Geoffrey Kendall and dealing with many disappointments within the worldwide circuit of theater and performs, Shashi lastly sought assist from brother Raj Kapoor. He was fast to assist his brother and despatched two tickets to Shashi and Jennifer to name him to Bombay. That’s when the Kapoor household got here to learn about Shashi and Jennifer’s relationship.
In his final interview earlier than his demise in 2017, Shashi revealed how Prithviraj Kapoor reacted to his intention of marriage. In an interview to News Tak, Shashi had mentioned, ‘When I noticed Jennifer, I used to be 18 years outdated, I needed to marry her instantly. My dad and mom (shocked expression) mentioned, ‘My God is eighteen a bit of younger’. So I mentioned, ‘Okay, I’ll wait’. I waited two years, then he requested me ‘do you continue to wish to?’ I mentioned ‘sure’ and he mentioned okay.”
Late actor Shashi Kapoor and his spouse Jennifer Kendall. (Photo: Express Archives)
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
