Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth18 March 1938
Age79 (at time of death)
BirthplaceKolkata, West Bengal, India
ProfessionActor, Filmmaker
NationalityIndian
Marital statusWidower (at time of death)
SpouseJennifer Kendal (m. 1958–1984; till her death)
FamilyFather: Prithviraj Kapoor; Mother: Ramsarni Mehra Kapoor; Brothers: Raj Kapoor (late), Shammi Kapoor; Sister: Urmila Sial Kapoor
Shashi Kapoor Biography
Shashi Kapoor, born Balbir Prithviraj Kapoor on 18 March 1938 in Kolkata, was an Indian actor and filmmaker whose career began as a child artist and grewto
Early life and backgroundShashi Kapoor was born Balbir Prithviraj Kapoor on 18 March 1938 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was the son of Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Mehra Kapoor and grew up within the famed Kapoor family of actors. He attended Don Bosco High School in Mumbai but left formal education early and began performing in his father's stage productions as a child.
Career
Shashi Kapoor’s screen career began in childhood. One of his notable early appearances was as the younger version of a lead character in the early 1950s. He made his adult-film debut in a leading role with Dharmaputra (credited as Dharamputra) in 1961 and went on to build a varied career as an actor and filmmaker.
Across the 1960s and 1970s he appeared in many commercially successful films, including titles that became widely recognized by Indian audiences. His performance in Deewar (1975) earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and one of the film’s lines became closely associated with his screen presence. He also featured in popular films such as Kabhi Kabhie, Waqt, Trishul, Namak Halaal and others that contributed to his reputation as a leading performer of the era.
Beyond acting, Kapoor moved into production and direction. He produced Junoon (1978), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. In 1991 he directed Ajooba. He also worked in television, appearing in the 1996 British/American mini-series Gulliver’s Travels.
Kapoor maintained a longstanding connection to theatre. In 1978 he acquired and reopened Prithvi Theatre in Juhu, Mumbai, and served as its Managing Trustee, continuing the family’s theatrical legacy.
Awards and recognition
Over his career Kapoor received multiple major national recognitions. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (1976) for Deewar. His work as an actor and producer was honored with several National Film Awards: a Best Feature Film in Hindi award as producer for Junoon (1979), the National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times (1986), and a Special Jury Award/Special Mention for Muhafiz (1994). Later civic honors included the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.
Personal life and family
Shashi Kapoor married Jennifer Kendal in 1958. The couple had three children: sons Karan Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor, and daughter Sanjana Kapoor. Jennifer Kendal predeceased him. Kapoor was known to spend Sundays with his family and maintained strong ties to the theatre world.
Physical characteristics and habits
Kapoor was approximately 175 cm (5'9") tall. Descriptions from his life note dark brown eyes and, in later years, white hair. He enjoyed music and playing musical instruments, with the piano cited among his favored instruments. Accounts indicate he did not smoke but did drink alcohol.
Later years and death
Shashi Kapoor passed away on 4 December 2017 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He was 79 years old. The reported causes of death were liver cirrhosis and kidney failure.
Public profile
Kapoor was part of a prominent film family: his father Prithviraj Kapoor was an actor, filmmaker and writer, and his brothers included Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. He earned the affectionate nickname "Taxi" from Raj Kapoor, a name tied to his routine of sleeping in cars during busy shooting schedules and to his habit of driving colleagues. During the 1970–1975 period he was among the highest-paid actors in India, frequently paired at the top of pay charts alongside contemporaries.
Kapoor’s generosity and commitment to the performing arts are reflected in anecdotes from colleagues who recalled his support for theatre and film projects and his financial help during tours. He invested primarily in theatre and cinema rather than other commercial enterprises.
Latest updates
Shashi Kapoor’s legacy continues through Prithvi Theatre, which he reopened and maintained as a cultural institution in Juhu, and through the films he acted in, produced and directed. His career earned him some of India’s highest cinematic honors and left an enduring imprint on Hindi cinema and theatre.
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Recent Work
Produced the film; won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
1978Directed the film
1991Appeared in the 1996 British/American television series
1996Career Highlights
- Debut as a child artist and early performances in his father's stage productions
- Adult screen debut in Dharamputra (1961)
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Deewar (1976)
- National Film Award (Producer) for Junoon (1979)
- National Film Award for Best Actor for New Delhi Times (1986)
- Padma Bhushan (2011) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shashi Kapoor born?
Shashi Kapoor was born on 18 March 1938.
What is Shashi Kapoor known for?
Shashi Kapoor is known for actor, Filmmaker.
What is Shashi Kapoor’s marital status?
Shashi Kapoor's marital status is listed as Widower (at time of death).
Who is Shashi Kapoor married to?
Shashi Kapoor is publicly listed as married to Jennifer Kendal (m. 1958–1984; till her death).
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