Shammi Kapoor --- Some Memories
Afzal A. Khan
Shammi Kapoor is no more. It is natural that all of us have some
memories flooding back. But what I am writing here is not merely
a tribute. It highlights different facets of his personality and
also mentions some stories that I had heard about him.
Unfortunately, I never met him personally, though I did get to see
him on many occasions at close quarters.
In the early fifties, I saw almost all his films, which left me
entirely unimpressed about him. But I did enjoy their music which
was uniformly good. Some songs (particularly from Thokar, Jeevan
Jyoti, Laila Majnu(N), Shama Parwana and Rail Ka Dibba) are still
fresh in my mind.
Then came Memsaab (around 1955) which had some fine music by Madan
Mohan. Shammi played a negative character. Not having been very
successful in his career as a hero, I believe he was trying for a
change of image. After the film's release, his publicist/s gave
him the title of "the Rebel Star", with reference to his willingness
to play such a negative role. But this too didn't cut much ice
with film-goers.
He married Geeta Bali in 1955. IIRC, this was while he was doing
"Taangewaali". They had two children. Besides being a devoted
wife, she brought him good luck too. He had a fairly successful
release next year with "Hum Sab Chor HaiN", opposite Nalini Jayawant
--- with Ameeta playing a "sidey" role. It was a zany comedy, with
I.S. Johar and his side-kick Majnu providing much of the fun. Johar
had directed the film, besides penning the story. The credit for the
film's success must also be attributed to O.P. Nayyar's music. Its
songs were heard regularly on Binace Geet Mala, particularly the
"Antam fantam" song. Shammi, however, had only a minor, almost
insignificant, role.
And then came "Tum Sa NaheeN Dekha". Its phenomenal success cemented
his place as a bankable star. There was a story that the film was
first offered to Dev Anand, but he refused it. Maybe he was busy
with his own home production "Nau Do Gyaarah". I do not know if he
was to be paired with Ameeta (a relative newcomer who ultimately
played the leading lady) or someone else. Be that as it may, O.P.
Nayyar's music ensured the film's success. And then, Shammi didn't
look back.
"Junglee", released in late 1961, put the final seal of approval on
his acting career. I remember seeing the film in Bombay's Roxy
Cinema where it ran for several months. Some 30 years later, this
elegant theatre was completely razed, leaving a large and ugly hole
where the Cinema stood. I do not know whether it was rebuilt or
some other building came up there.
Shammi was fond of horse-racing and the betting which was part of
this hobby. He could be seen frequently at Bombay's Mahalaxmi
racecourse. Quite tall and extremely fair, he cut a dashing
figure. Many film people in those days were bitten by the same bug.
Some of them owned race horses too, like Mehmood, R. K. Nayyar
(Sadhna's husband), Dilip Kumar and Nadia. Her horse, Nijinsky, had
in fact won the Indian Derby in 1963 or 1964. In the betting
department, I believe Shammi was quite frugal, never going over -
board. He had no doubt learnt from the sad experiences of film
actors like Motilal and (before him) Chandramohan. He usually wore
light-coloured suits and sported sunglasses. But even at that time,
he had put on a lot of weight --- only his height sort of camouflaged
the effect.
At that time, he and Rajendra Kumar led two rival groups in the film
industry. Rajendra Kumar had had a very successfaul career in the
late fifties and early sixties, with many of his films celebrating
Silver Jubilees --- so much so that he was often referred to as
"Jubilee Kumar". He was on "very friendly" terms with Meena Kumari,
who was his leading lady in many of these films. She used to call
him "Dilip Junior".
Appearance-wise, the two (RK and Shammi) couldn't have been more
different. The former was of average height and quite dark, while
Shammi was quite tall and very very fair. The two had their
hangers-on and the rival groups lost no opportunity of putting down
each other and promoting their own films. Rajesh Khanna was in
Shammi's camp.
The two camps would often circulate wild stories about their rivals.
One such story (spread by Rajendra Kumar camp-wallahs) was :
"Shammi had become too proud and arrogant. Success had gone to his
head. With producers thronging his house, he had thought of a way
to discourage them. And this was to tell them that only those
willing to sip a few drops of his urine would be able to sign him
up." Quite grotesque and absolutely apocryphal, but that is the
film industry for you.
The longevity of success in the film industry depends on how much
success is enjoyed by one's last film. And, therefore, everybody
tried his utmost to reach the Jubilee-mark. In 1965, Shashi Kapoor's
film "Jab Jab Phool Khile", running at the (old) Minerva Theatre,
became a roaring success. When Shammi was asked about his reaction,
he said : "That is the only genuine jubilee
in town now and, naturally, I am jealous". It might have been a gibe
at Rajendra Kumar, though I think Shammi was quite serious in his
intent.
Shammi won a belated Filmfare Award for "Brahmachari" (1968). The
film had Rajshri as the leading lady and Mumtaz in a supporting
role. Geeta Bali had died a few years back (in January 1965). It
seems Shammi had fallen in love with Mumtaz while doing this film
and wanted to marry her. But, unlike Geeta Bali, he wanted her to
quit working after their marriage. And Mumtaz was quite unwilling
to leave the industry while being one of the top actresses of the
time. I don't know how true this story was, but one song from
this film ("Aaj kal tire mire pyaar ke charche..." was grist for
the media mill.
I thought Shammi had done fairly well much earlier in "Professor"
(1962) to win the Filmfare Award. Most people thought so too.
But it was perhaps in the fitness of things that Ashok Kumar
was conferred this Award for "Rakhi" in that year. He was the
seniormost thespian of the industry and the Award came to be
instituted when his career as a hero had almost come to an end.
Shammi could have quit around 1968 or so (after "Prince", "An
Evening in Paris" and "Brahmachari"), but continued acting as a hero
till the complete failure of "Jaane Anjaane" and "Pritam" convinced
him to hang up his (hero-) boots. His leading lady in both films was
Leena Chandavarkar, who looked quite puny against his tall and robust
figure (a tad too "robust" in film-goers' view).
Shammi then switched to character roles with a reasonable amount of
success. He tried his hand at Direction too, but the two films
(where he was at the helm) didn't do all that well. The first was
"Manoranjan" which was almost a carbon copy of "Irma La Douce". I
recall a funny song from this movie "Kaahe ko tu ro rahi hai, Dulhan
maike chali hai". The second was "Bundle Baaz", where the lead pair
was Rajesh Khanna and Sulakshna Pandit, and Shammi played a Genie.
In the late eighties and early nineties, when VHS parlours and libra-
ries were all the rage, Shammi Kapoor's song and dance compilations
were most popular with avid movie-buffs.
Shammi Kapoor was a well-read man. I recall an interview Sahrmila
Tagore had given to some film magazine when she candidly confessed :
"While shooting with Shammi Kapoor on the sets of "Kashmir Ki Kali",
I had bragged about having read some popular best-seller. It was
of course untrue, and Shammi had immediately exposed me". Rather
uncharitable and unchivalrous, but the man was like that.
I last saw Shammi Kapoor in 1993 in Leela Kempinski, a well-known
hotel near the Sahar International Airport. He was with a group
of people but I noticed only him. He wore a long orange kurta and
sported a beard and spectacles. Besides, he had a lot of maalaas
and beads. He was slightly stooped, unlike the ramrod straight
figure I had seen, way back in 1965. But he was still a most
striking figure.
RIP.
Afzal
Shakes
Really nice write up, Afzal saab. What struck me the most about him was
his total lack of any self-consciousness in front of the camera. He was
able to bring a certain "busy" kind of energy. Shah Rukh Khan, IMO, has
imbibed a lot of these aspects of Shammi Kapoor into his own on-screen
persona.
I am from a much later generation, but I always remember that when I
used to rent VHS of old movies growing up, it was mostly Shammi Kapoor
and Dev Anand. Raj Kapoor was next. I only saw very few movies of Dilip
Kumar in the leading role.
-Shekar.
vrk
though i believe that shammi kapoor was more about his music than his acting. but then if you think about it, so were dev anand and raj kapoor.
but he had a likeability that transcended generations. i remember many instances where the consensus movie to see on video or theatre would be the shammi kapoor film.
kcp
>
> Not having been very
> successful in his career as a hero, I believe he was trying for a
> change of image.
I read that not all was well between him and Raj Kapoor. Is it true ?
if yes, life must have been hell for him then.
> And then came "Tum Sa NaheeN Dekha". Its phenomenal success cemented
> his place as a bankable star. There was a story that the film was
> first offered to Dev Anand, but he refused it. Maybe he was busy
> with his own home production "Nau Do Gyaarah". I do not know if he
> was to be paired with Ameeta (a relative newcomer who ultimately
> played the leading lady) or someone else. Be that as it may, O.P.
> Nayyar's music ensured the film's success. And then, Shammi didn't
> look back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP5rbCKwLFQ
> Many film people in those days were bitten by the same bug.
I read that Guru Dutt had won a jackpot once. is it true ?
> Shammi won a belated Filmfare Award for "Brahmachari" (1968). The
> film had Rajshri as the leading lady and Mumtaz in a supporting
> role. Geeta Bali had died a few years back (in January 1965). It
> seems Shammi had fallen in love with Mumtaz while doing this film
> and wanted to marry her.
Not true. As told by Goldie in an interview, Shammi and Mumtaz were in
love and went for Teesri Manzil's rushes ( when 1/2 the movie was
shot ) . Goldie never allowed actors to see the rushes, was angry at
Nasir Hussain, but somehow continued. The initial chhed-chhad with
Mummu stopped and Shammi gave full attention to the movie as it
started, right till the end. He then rushed to Goldie and
congratulated him and lateron gave full cooperation till the movie was
complete ( earlier threw lots of tantrums )
Geeta Bali dies soon later.,
suhas
N
NICE informative article exceopt
for I was told - I heard -It was said kind of unauthenticated
items.Afazalbhai you have deep knowledge you need not idulge in it.
kcp
No heard. No told. All READ. By READ i meant that I had READ in film
magazines of THOSE times ( when the events occurred ). Raj Kapoor
kissa I am interested ( was intending to ask @shamsherraj , alas ! )
for it was related to Kishore Kumar , in some manner.
Guru Dutt, I had read in a magazine published from Indore - Rajatpat
of the late 50's.
Goldie - read in his biography, interview of which is available with
the author.
Srinivas Ganti
> Appearance-wise, the two (RK and Shammi) couldn't have been more
> different. The former was of average height and quite dark, while
> Shammi was quite tall and very very fair.
Afzal Saheb,
Thanks for the great writeup. I agree that Shammi was very fair but i don't think there was too much of a height difference between them atleast going by this picture
Afzal A. Khan
My dear Srinivas-gaaru,
Comparing heights by using such photographs can at times be quite
deceptive. For one thing, one has to consider, if possible, the
"height" of the shoe-heels of these people. It is my general
experience that short(er) people tend to have comparatively
"high" heels. And such photograps, even if 'life-size' seldom
reveal the shoes very clearly.
Coming to this photograph, even Raj Kapoor seems, to my eyes,
a wee bit taller than he actually was. Shashi Kapoor too was
shorter than Shammi. I have seen these folks at close quarters,
and this has been my impression. I would guess Rajendra Kumar's
height as being around 5-9 or 5-10. Shammi I would estimate as
6-2. But these are all guesses.
Afzal
Sukesh
Afzal Saheb
Excellent.
Between Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Junglee, there were two films with great
music - Ujala and Dil Deke Dekho (both 1959), which IMO were also
responsible for his growing popularity.
Regarding Roxy Cinema - they have built smaller theatre within the new
complex.
Regards
SUkesh
Sukesh
Afzal Saheb
Excellent.
Between Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Junglee, there were two films with great
music - Ujala and Dil Deke Dekho (both 1959), which IMO were also
responsible for his growing popularity.
Regards
Sukesh
Balaji Murthy
> On 8/22/2011 6:21 PM, Srinivas Ganti wrote:
>
> > On Thursday, August 18, 2011 3:32:52 PM UTC-4, Afzal A. Khan wrote:
>
> >> Appearance-wise, the two (RK and Shammi) couldn't have been more
> >> different. The former was of average height and quite dark, while
> >> Shammi was quite tall and very very fair.
>
> > Afzal Saheb,
>
> > Thanks for the great writeup. I agree that Shammi was very fair but i don't think there was too much of a height difference between them atleast going by this picture
>
>
> My dear Srinivas-gaaru,
>
> Comparing heights by using such photographs can at times be quite
> deceptive. For one thing, one has to consider, if possible, the
> "height" of the shoe-heels of these people. It is my general
> experience that short(er) people tend to have comparatively
> "high" heels. And such photograps, even if 'life-size' seldom
> reveal the shoes very clearly.
>
> Coming to this photograph, even Raj Kapoor seems, to my eyes,
> a wee bit taller than he actually was. Shashi Kapoor too was
> shorter than Shammi. I have seen these folks at close quarters,
> and this has been my impression. I would guess Rajendra Kumar's
> height as being around 5-9 or 5-10. Shammi I would estimate as
> 6-2. But these are all guesses.
>
> Afzal
Now, this may not be the most reliable measure, but I do recall a
scene in Dil Tera Diwana where Mehmood is being mistaken for Shammi
Kapoor and his height and weight, IIRC are being communicated to his
parents over phone. Upon being told that the patient is 5'10" tall,
the mother is worried as to what happend, since her son was 6" tall.
So, we may take Shammi's height to be 6'. I recall hearing of Raj
Kapoor's height to be about 5'8 or 5'9.
- Balaji
Afzal A. Khan
Dear Sukesh,
Thank you for the encouraging words, and also for your patience
in going through the long rambling article.
I agree I ought to have mentioned "Dil Deke Dekho", for several
reasons. It marked the debut of Asha Parekh. It had excellent
music by a new MD (Usha Khanna). It was an out and out entertain-
ment film, with a story-line that kept the viewers involved. To
boot, there was a new villain too, Sidhu. {Unfortunately, he died
when still very young, consumed by his alcoholism). Also, it was
the first full-fledged comic role for funster Rajendra Nath.
The audience lapped it up. Another noteworthy point about the
film was its photography. I thought it was quite fantastic. And
Shammi Kapoor's antics provided the icing on the cake.
But I confess I didn't like "Ujaala" all that much, though it had
some excellent music by Shankar-Jaikishan. Film-goers kept
talking about two songs filmed on KumKum, who put over two
sizzling dances. Raaj Kumar was more of an irritant. It seems
he was quite miffed that there was no song for him in the movie.
And the story was that he insisted upon it, so a song had to be
specially composed and included in the film --> "yaaro, soorat
hamaari pe mat jaao" that was filmed on Shammi and Raaj Kumar.
The film's theme was also quite serious which sort of distracted
from Shammi's usual image of a carefree and fun individual. Mala
Sinha looked (and was) rather dimunitive while acting opposite
Shammi. {My God! here I am at it again !}. Also, she was quite
overweight (to put it mildly). There was a scene in the film
where she was shown with a buffalo in the river. And the viewers
were wont to make fun of it, saying that there were in fact two
buffaloes in the river. Very unchivalrous, no doubt. But, truth
to tell, Mala could look stunning when she decided to trim down,
as in "Maryada" (with Rajesh Khanna).
Apart from the two KumKum numbers, the song "Jhoomta mausam" was
quite popular. But I thought the MD-duo made it a little too
raucous and the percussion accompaniment was rather loud. Just
my view.
Thanks for the info about Roxy Cinema.
Afzal
Gurcharan S Sandhu
Dear Afzal Sahib
Thank you very much for such an informative and very well written
article.
Kind regards.
Gurcharan