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SHAMSHERRAJ
KAPOOR
This is my real name. Shammi Kapoor is my pet
name and I, son of Prithviraj Kapoor, was born on the 21st October
1931, in Bombay. I studied at the New Era School from where I did my
Matric. After a short and sweet stay at the Ruia college, I joined my
father on the stage in his theatrical company "Prithvi Theatres" as a
junior artiste in 1948 on a salary of Rs.50/ per month. I stayed with
the theatre till 1952, my last paycheck being Rs.300/.
I signed up as a hero with the Kardar film company, under the
direction of Mr. Mahesh Kaul and the film was "Jeevan Jyoti". My
first heroine was Chand Usmani.
During the early years, 1952 to 1955, I acted in the following
films: "Rail ka Dibba" with Madhubala. "Laila Majnu" with Nutan.
"Thokar" with Shyama. "Shama Parvana" with Suraiya. "Hum Sab Chor
Hain" with Nalini Jaiwant. Sahil, Tangewali, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Miss Coca Cola, Mohar, Rangeen Raten, Gul Sanobar, Daku, Coffee
House, Naqab, Mirza Sahiban, Chor Bazaar, Sipah Salar and some more
nondescript films followed, I remained a male starlet.
I got married in 1955 to the famous film heroine, Geeta Bali. She
was an accomplished actress and had established herself as a Star. In
1956 our son Aditya Raj was born.
My first COLOR picture Junglee, was released in 1961 and I became
a Star. The same year my daughter Kanchan was born.
In 1965 my wife expired.
I got the 1968 Filmfare Award for the best actor for my film Brahmchari.
In 1969 I married Neila Devi of Bhavanagar.
In 1972 my parents expired.
I ventured into a different field of Film Direction for the first
time with a film called Manoranjan, adapted from a french play, Irma
La Douce (also made by Billy Wilder into a hilarious movie in '62),
which starred Sanjeev Kumar and Zeenat Aman. This was an incredible
experience but the film met with mediocre success. This was followed
by a film with Rajesh Khanna and Sulakshna Pandit called Bundalbaaz.
The end result at the box office was miserable.
After this I began doing character roles and some of these are:
Zameer, Prem Rog, Hero, Meera, Harjai, Yeh Vada Raha, Aan aur Shaan,
Betaab, Ahista Ahista, Parvarish, Daata, Wanted, Rocky , Romance,
Mama Bhanja, Ek Jaan Hain Hum, Shalimar, Armaan, Badal, Karmdata,
Sohni Mahiwal, Ek se Bhale Do, Biwi O Biwi, Salaakhen, Professor
Pyarelal, Ehsaas, Allah Rakha, Desh Premee, Bade Ghar Ki Bahu,
Balidaan, Himmat aur Mehnat, Mast Kalander, Ijjazat, Batwaara,
Hakumat, Ajooba. I had the opportunity to do some films in other
languages such as Bengali and Tamil as well.
In 1982 I got the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in
Vidhaata.
For a short period of time I produced my own Video Entertainment
Magazine called "Shammi Kapoor presents Manoranjan". Six volumes have
been already released and then I stopped because there were too many
people doing the same thing.
In 1995 I got the Filmfare Lifetime Acheivement
Award.
My recent releases have been: Khule Aam, Lakshman Rekha, Hum
Shakal, Tehelka, Chamatkar, Heer Ranjha, Gardish, Pyar Ka Rog, Megha,
Dosti Ki Saugandh, Aaja Meri Jaan and a couple of South films. My
latest release is a film called Prem Granth which is directed by my
brother late Raj Kapoor's youngest son, Rajiv Kapoor. I am also doing
some serials for the TV, the most enduring being a social melodrama
called "Chattaan". It ran for more than a year on the Zee
Channel.
My most recent films were "Aur Pyar Ho Gaya"
with Bobby Deol and Aishwarya Rai and a cameo I did again with Bobby
Deol in "Kareeb" which surprised many because they did not expect me
to do what I did in the movie. But then that is exactly why I did it.
At the moment I am playing Salman Khan's grandfather in a film called
"Jaanam Samjha Karo".
My foremost activity is still surfing on the Internet
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