They were the super-hit jodi in the late 70s and early 80s. The pleasant, exceedingly charming and handsome Shashi Kapoor with a twinkle in his eyes was the perfect foil to a lanky, brooding and intense Amitabh Bachchan.
Bachchan and Kapoor came together for several hits including Suhaag, Deewar, Namak Halal and were also a part of some of Bollywood’s most memorable films such as Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Shaan and Silsila.
In most films like Deewar, the two represented polar opposites of the world they were parts of.
Shashi Kapoor was the happy-go-lucky, privileged, do-gooder while Amitabh Bachchan was the underprivileged, wronged, resentful rebel who wanted to set things right. The clash and eventual coming together of the “angry young man” with the “happy young man” made for terrific viewing in films like Kaala Patthar.
Bachchan Was In Awe of Shashi Kapoor’s Good Looks
Bachchan penned his memories of Shashi Kapoor in his personal blog on Monday night after the veteran actor’s demise. Big B begins his note by recalling how complexed he was by Shashi Kapoor’s looks:
“Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor … son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read ..And I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all ..”Amitabh Bachchan
Why Bachchan Would Never Visit Shashi Kapoor In Hospital
In his blog, Bachchan also gives a reason as to why he had been reluctant to visit Shashi Kapoor while he was hospitalised:
“He had been ailing... somewhere he had let himself go after the passing away of his dear wife Jennifer .. I had visited him on occasion in Hospital during some of the times he had been hospitalised earlier .. but I never went to see him again .. I would never have .. I never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and ‘samdhi’ in the state I saw him in hospital…. and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone …”Amitabh Bachchan
Bachchan Begins and Ends With Rumi Jafri’s Sher
“The words of the ‘sher’ at the opening came to me minutes after Rumi Jafri, eminent writer in our film industry, sent them to me on learning of his death ..” writes Bachchan.
Big B begins his blog and ends it with writer Rumi Jafri’s sher which the actor himself translates in this way:
Shashi Kapoor Fondly Called Bachchan “Babbua”
Amitabh Bachchan ends his tribute to Shashi Kapoor by recalling his pet name by which Kapoor addressed him:
“He fondly addressed me as ‘babbua’ .. and with him have gone many incredible unread chapters of his and my life ..”Amitabh Bachchan
Watch Amitabh Bachchan speak about Shashi Kapoor in 2015, after Kapoor was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)