Prominent personalities from Bollywood on Tuesday joined the family members, friends and fans in bidding a tearful adieu to yesteryear romantic hero and veteran actor Shashi Kapoor, who was cremated with full State honours here.
Braving intermittent rains triggered by an incoming cyclonic storm “Ockhi”, who’s who of Bollywood – including veteran actor and his co-star in at least a dozen films Amitabh Bachchan, yesteryear script writer Salim Khan, three Khans of the industry and senior actor Anil Kapoor – turned out at the Santa Cruz Hindu crematorium, where the departed actor’s final rites were performed.
Kapoor, who had featured in memorable films like Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Deewar (1974), Kabhie Kabhie (1975), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1977), Silsila (1981) and Namak Halaal (1982), died on Monday evening at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where he had been admitted on Sunday. He was 79 and had been ailing for quite some time.
After the body arrived at the crematorium shortly before Tuesday noon, a posse of policemen present there wrapped it with national tri-colour for a while, before the cremation. The policemen paid tribute to the actor by playing the band and handing him a three-gun salute by Mumbai Police.
The entire Kapoor Khandan—including his three children - sons Kunal and Karan and daughter Sanjana, nephews Randhir, Rishir, Rajiv (aka Chimpoo) and grandson Ranbir -- were present at the funeral. At one stage, Big-B, who made it to the funeral along with son Abhishek, got emotional and was seen hugging bereaved Shashi Kapoor’s children and other family members.
Other than Bachchans, prominent actors and film personalities present at the funeral included Sanjay Dutt, Salim Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Shyam Benegal, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Supriya Pathak, Shakti Kapoor, Hansal Mehta, lara Dutta, husband Mahesh Bhupati, Anu Kapoor Nandita Das and Suresh Oberoi.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, the late actor's body was taken from the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital to the Santa Cruz crematorium with a stop at Prithvi Theatre. Shashi Kapoor's son Kunal and Randhir Kapoor, were among the family members who were spotted. Also photographed at the crematorium were Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah.
On Monday evening, Big-B, along with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya, visited the late actor’s Juhu residence. Apart from Bachchan, Kareena, husband Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor and mother Babita visited late Kapoor’s residence. Senior Rishi Kapoor, who cut short his shooting for his new film movie Rajma Chawal in New Delhi, was among the first Kapoors to reach the late actor’s residence. Earlier in the day, Big-B – who had acted with late Shashi Kapoor and heard the famous dailouge "Mere paas Maa hain" in iconic film “Deewar” paid a touching tribute to the departed actor in his blog.
“He (Shashi Kapoor) fondly addressed me as ‘babbua’ .. and with him have gone many incredible unread chapters of his and my life ..,” Bachchan concluded his piece.
“ Shashi Kapoor !” was what one heard as he extended a warm soft hand out to you in introduction ; that devastating smile complimenting the twinkle in his eyes. He needn’t have done so. Every one knew him. But this was his infectious humble self. When he spoke, there was a mischievous, gentle, almost inaudible, delicate, yodel, in his voice - most endearing and comforting to the one he was introduced to. The self introduction habit, was a gem,” Big-B wrote.
“Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read..,” Bachchan recalled.
