Mumbai. Shashi Kapoor used to have his own era in Hindi cinema. In the 70s, people used to be crazy about his films and songs. At a time when each and every member of the Kapoor family was showing their talent in Bollywood, Shashi created a distinct identity for herself in Bollywood with her charisma, style and acting skills. His gentle smile captivated the hearts of millions of female fans. Seeing Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor took off in his career under the supervision of his brothers, but his way of selecting films and choosing subjects was different. Shashi also thought that the tradition of the clan should carry forward. Thinking that acting is in the genes of the Kapoor family, they also encouraged their two sons Karan Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor towards Bollywood. But both his sons proved to be big flops. After this both of them almost kept distance from the film world.
Shashi Kapoor who was immersed in love songs. In real life, he also fell in love with a foreign girl. Actually, he had reached Kolkata to work in an Anglo-Indian theater run by Godfrey Kendall. There, along with learning the nuances of acting, Shashi gave his heart to Kendall’s daughter, Jennifer. Their love blossomed and they decided to give a name to their relationship. Jennifer Kendall and Shashi Kapoor got married in 1958. Shashi Kapoor has three children from Jennifer Kendall, Kunal, Karan and Sanjana Kapoor.
Shashi Kapoor wants his son to become an actor
Shashi Kapoor wanted both his sons to carry forward the name of the Kapoor family. But his children did not have a successful film career. Both of them did many films and both of them realized that they were not meant for this field. Both of them left film careers and established themselves in different fields.
Acting was never a dream
Shashi Kapoor’s elder son Kunal was born in Mumbai on 26 June 1959. Shashi sent him to Bombay International School. Being the heir of the Kapoor family, he knew that he had to do acting, but his dream was never to act. Papa wanted him to become an actor, so he was sent to England as soon as he passed 12th. Where, he enrolled in an acting school. Kunal Kapoor started his career with the film ‘Siddharth’ (1972). As a child actor, he played his father’s childhood role in this film. After this he also appeared in Shyam Benegal’s ‘Junoon’. After this, he acted in some films like ‘Ahista Ahista’, ‘Vijeta’ and ‘Utsav’, but they proved to be flops.
Shashi Kapoor wanted both his sons to become actors.
Flop actor became owner of crores in a few years
Films were continuously flopping, he told his father that he did not want to act anymore. The father was a little angry but then agreed. In 1987, he left acting and the work he did changed his fortunes overnight, as if someone had won the lottery. Actually, his hobby was towards production and direction of advertisements. As soon as he left acting, he formed his own company, named ‘Ad Filmwala’. He started making advertisements for big Indian and foreign brands in his company. Through these advertisements, within a short time he became the undisputed king of this world. His company made advertisements for 90 percent of the big brand cars sold in India. He directed more than 800 television commercials and within a short time reached the top in the list of advertising directors. A flop actor of Hindi films started earning crores of rupees in a few years.
Karan Kapoor could not attract the Indian audience
Karan Kapoor, the second son of Shashi and Jennifer, met with bad luck in Bollywood. He was also born in Mumbai on 18 January 1962. Karan also had pressure to become an actor. However, he never wanted to become an actor. Karan himself looked no less than a hero. Tall, short, beautiful face and tough body, but luck did not favor him. When he was 16 years old, he got his first film ‘Junoon’. He was seen in ’36 Chowringhee Lane’ but not as a hero. In 1986, he was launched with the film ‘Sultanat’. The film worked, but did not get the love of the audience. After this, he was also seen in films like ‘Loha’ and ‘Afsar’, but the Indian audience could not digest his foreign face and gray hair.
Photography made him rich
Now, like his elder brother, he had also decided that he would give up acting. When he told this to his father, he felt bad. But the father had to bow down to his son’s words, so Shashi Kapoor also did the same. However, the decision to leave acting proved to be right for him too. Karan was very fond of photography, he decided to make his hobby a career. Within a few years, stories about his photographs started becoming common. He became famous by organizing an exhibition of his photographs. People started liking his pictures so much that within a few years his name got included in the list of top photographers and people not only in India but all over the world started knowing him. Photography made him rich. Married Karan is an award winning photographer, who now lives with his family in London.
Tags: Entertainment Special, Shashi Kapoor
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 10, 2024, 07:05 IST
