It has always been so hard to put a finger on exactly what makes Shashi Kapoor such a distinguished man and a fine actor. It is a combination of his many strengths that have made him so loved and adored, even by women like me, who are just about old enough to be his granddaughter. It warms the heart to spot him in Prithvi Theatre, sitting quietly in a corner of the cafe and being his cordial self despite the many intrusions into his solitude, for selfies and small talk, by people whom he doesn’t know. But he has always cared for his father’s legacy, his wife’s dream, his children’s efforts, and for the people who keep Prithvi Theatre thriving.
That, is a man who leaves you feeling good.
Reflections on Shashi Kapoor, recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2014.
I’m not getting into the whole “does he deserve it?” debate, but the news about the Phalke filled me with a vague kind of happiness. There’s always been something wholesome, something nice about Shashi Kapoor. You probably remember the Friends episode that was about the crush-worthy celebrities you were allowed to sleep with – in theory; no questions asked – if the opportunity presented itself, and no, the spouse/significant other wasn’t allowed to get mad, because she or he had to understand. For a lot of women of a certain generation, that celebrity was… not Shashi Kapoor. It was Rajesh Khanna. Every female friend or relation of a certain age will admit to a crush on Shashi Kapoor – “soooo cute, yaar,” followed by a liquid sigh – but things never really got out of hand…
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