‘He would always do his own thing on sets’

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Veteran actor Shamsher Raj Kapoor a.k.a Shammi Kapoor’s demise is certainly a big loss for the film industry, as his death has left a void we can’t fill. Through Sunday, his South Mumbai residence Blue Heaven saw the who’s who of Bollywood paying their respects to the cinematic legend.
Apart from the Kapoor family, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Imran and Avantika Khan, industrialist Anil Ambani, Kajol, Tanuja, Rani Mukherji, Karan Johar and many more showed up. Grandson Ranbir Kapoor, said to be currently shooting, was conspicuous by his absence.
“He was so full of life,” recalls Sharmila Tagore, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shammi Kapoor. “I remember we would rehearse for some scene or dance steps. We would practise it for hours, only for him to do his own thing during the final take. That was, to me, typical Shammi: Spontaneous and unpredictable.”
Another actress who started her career opposite Shammi is Saira Banu. “I debuted opposite him, so I learnt several things from him,” says Saira. “Shammi was, like Dilipsaab, an institution. I will miss him immensely.”
In a perfect ending to a life lived well, Shammi was surrounded by his wife and children in his last moments. “He was a happy and lively person. His life was going good even though he was on dialysis. He eventually died of kidney failure,” said son Aditya Raj Kapoor, adding that the cremation will take place on Monday morning at 9 am at the Banganga funeral grounds.