Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor passed away on 4th December 2017, and the Bollywood industry lost yet another star, which will now shine among other stars in the universe. Well, the actor may not be among us anymore, but he will always remain immortal among his fans through his films.
Shashi Kapoor is the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor and the younger brother of Raj and Shammi Kapoor. He hails from the eternal Kapoor family of Bollywood that is not only the oldest filmy dynasty but has also given us some of the biggest names in the industry. Shashi Kapoor was destined to become an actor right from his birth when he played the younger self of his elder brother Raj Kapoor in Awaara.
Despite hailing from the Kapoor Khandaan, the actor took the tough road when he stepped into Bollywood professionally. He started working as an assistant director and learned the art of filmmaking before making his real debut as the lead hero in the 1961 film Dharmputra.
Shashi Kapoor wasn’t an instant hit and struggled in the early years of his Bollywood career, unlike his brothers. However, he was offered roles in English films since 1961 making him one of India’s first actors to go international.
Best Shashi Kapoor Movies
Over the career span of 37 years, Shashi Kapoor has worked in 116 films including several English films. As a tribute to his contribution to the Hindi film industry, today I will like to share some of my favorite movies of the late Shree Shashi Kapoor Ji.
So, without further ado, let’s get on with the list of Best Films of Shashi Kapoor.
Deewar (1975)
According to me, the iconic film Deewar is the best film of Shashi Kapoor. Despite having Amitabh Bachchan in the parallel lead, Shashi Kapoor marked his presence in the movie with a single dialogue, “Mere Paas Maa Hai.” Directed by Yash Chopra, the film displays the rivalry between the two brothers who end up on the opposite side of the law. It’s a typical Bollywood film portraying a story about Good vs. Evil.
Also Read: Best Movies of Rajesh Khanna
Sharmeelee
Directed by Samir Ganguly, Sharmeelee is a romantic Hindi film featuring the love story of a soldier and young girl. However, the love story has an interesting twist which will intrigue some of us till the end. The film features Shashi Kapoor in the lead role, whereas Rakhi plays a double role in the movie.
Kabhi Kabhie
In our list of best Shashi Kapoor films, you will see a lot of movies featuring him and Amitabh Bachchan. One such film is Kabhi Kabhie. Directed by Yash Chopra, the film is a romantic drama film about love triangles. Other than the veteran actors, the film also featured a multi-star cast including Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Rakhee, and Waheeda Rehman.
Kalyug (1981)
Besides commercial cinema, Shashi Kapoor also featured in many films from the parallel genre. The 1981 Shyam Benegal film Kalyug is one of them. Kalyug is based on Indian Mythology Mahabharat, The film is known as the new age Mahabharata and features a story about family feuds. The film also stars Rekha, Raj Babbar, Anant Nag, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and others in pivotal roles.
Trishul (1978)
Trishul is another multi-star cast film centered upon family feuds. Directed by Yash Chopra, the film features an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Rakhee, and Waheeda Rehman in pivotal roles. The film tells the story of a young man seeking revenge on his father who left his mother while she was pregnant. It’s an exciting film, and yet again Shashi Kapoor shares the screen with the Shehenshah of Bollywood.
Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)
Satyam Shivam Sundaram was one of the first films in Bollywood that portrayed the actress most sensuously. The whole concept of the film was to draw our attention towards the harsh reality of this world which judges a person based on the outer beauty. Directed by Raj Kapoor, the film features Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman in the lead roles.
Suhaag (1979)
Suhaag is a typical Bollywood’s Good vs. Bad film directed by Manmohan Desai from the 70s era. The film uses the most popular cliché where two brothers are separated in the childhood and later unite to fight the villains. The two brothers are Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. Rekha and Parveen Babi play the female leads.
Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)
Aa Gale Lag Jaa is a 1973 romantic drama directed by Manmohan Desai. The film was received exceptionally well among the mass for its story and music. The film became an inspiration for many films in the future such as Pyar Jhukta Nahin and Akele Hum Akele Tum. Aa Gale Lag Jaa features Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore as the lead pair.
Shaan (1980)
Shaan is an action thriller film sharing the story of brotherhood and revenge. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film tells the story of two brothers who are intelligent but use it to deceive others. Their lives change after the death of their elder brother, and they seek revenge. The film features an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Dutt, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Johnny Walker, and Bindiya Goswami. His portrayal of Shakaal earned Kharbanda a lot of accolades in Bollywood.
Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968)
Haseena Maan Jayegi is an exciting thriller film featuring Shashi Kapoor in the dual role for the first time. The film tells the story of two lookalikes who fall for the same girl. The confusions heat up when one of them tries to impersonate the other. Directed by Prakash Mehra, the film features Shashi Kapoor and Babita in the lead roles.
Kranti (1981)
An epic historical drama film, Kranti became one of the best patriotic Indian movies of all time. Directed by Manoj Kumar, the film features a brilliant cast consisting of Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi, Sarika, Nirupa Roy, and Prem Chopra. The film tells the story of a freedom fighter under the pseudo name Kranti, who begins his expedition to drive the British out of India.
Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)
Since the 1970s, Shashi Kapoor has hardly worked in a solo film. In the 1980 comedy film Do Aur Do Paanch, he again shares the screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. The film tells the story of two thugs, played by Kapoor and Bachchan, who enter a school under the disguise of teachers to kidnap a rich kid. Eventually, both of them realize their mistake and later come together to save the kid from other kidnappers. It’s an exciting film with full of humor.
Chori Mera Kaam (1975)
Chori Mera Kaam is a Bollywood comedy film released in 1975. Directed by Brij, the film features a multi-star cast including Shashi Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Zeenat Aman, Deven Verma, Iftekhar, and Pran. The film shares an exciting story of cat and mouse chase between a policeman and a thief where Kapoor plays the thief while Pran is the policeman.
Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)
Jab Jab Phool Khile features a stereotypical plot where a rich girl falls for a poor boy, and the father of the girl doesn’t approve their love. Directed by Suraj Prakash, the film features Shashi Kapoor and Nanda as the lead pair. The film scored a silver jubilee at the box office and became one the biggest hits of 1965 Also one of the Best Films of Shashi Kapoor. Later, Aamir Khan starring Raja Hindustani also shared a similar plot.
Siddhartha (1973)
Siddhartha is a film based on a novel of the same name authored by Hermann Hesse. The film was shot in English and displayed some erotic and nude scenes featuring Shashi Kapoor and Simi Garewal. In 1973, it was a huge thing and controversial as the Indian Censor Board didn’t even allow kissing scene during that era. Conrad Rooks is the director of Siddhartha.
Over to you!
Shashi Kapoor was a versatile actor, and he marked his presence among the greats of his time. He was always portrayed as a romantic hero and even sustained his charm in the later years of his career as well. During his entire film career, he also tried his luck at film direction with little success.
Also share, Your favorite Shashi Kapoor Film in the comment section.
