New Delhi: Legendary actor and cinema icon Shashi Kapoor has been conferred the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2014. In 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award. He is also a recipient of three National Film Awards.
Shashi Kapoor is the son of Prithviraj Kapoor, the pioneer of Indian theatre and film industry and a Dada Saheb Phalke Award recipient himself. He is the younger brother of prominent actors Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.
Born on March 18, 1938 in Calcutta, Shashi made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film Dharmputra and went on to appear in 116 Hindi films, including 61 films as the solo lead hero and 55 multi star-cast films, 21 films as supporting actor and special appearance in 7 films. Technically, he debuted as a child artist in ‘Aag' in 1948.
His extensive filmography contains blockbusters like Deewar and Namak Halaal, acclaimed performances in Junoon and New Delhi Times, and Merchant Ivory productions like Heat and Dust and The Householder. He also turned director with 1991 film Ajooba and produced films such as 36 Chowringhee Lane and Utsav.
One of the most popular romantic heroes of Bollywood in 60s and 70s Shashi also worked in a few international projects.
Shashi has also received 4 Filmfare Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in his career spanning 37 years. His last film was ‘Side Streets' which released in 1998.
He was married to actress Jennifer Kendal, with who he co-starred in films like Bombay Talkies and Junoon, until her death in 1984. They have three children - Kunal, Karan and Sanjana Kapoor.
