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the-south-asian.com April 2003 |
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APRIL 2003 Bhabesh
Sanyal Rahul
Sharma Technology Pakistan's
IT Markets
People
Celebrity
Offsprings Meet the 3 Finalists of Serialisation
of 'Knock at every alien
Lehngas - a limited collection Books
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SHASHI KAPOOR - REFLECTIONS OF ANOTHER DAY by Isidore Domnick Mendis
In an era when many of his contemporaries including Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha are visible even more than before, Shashi Kapoor has taken a conscious decision to move away from the arclights. No, not as a recluse but---in his own words—" I made a conscious decision not to sign any film after 1992 because there are no scripts for a character of my age." Films, he says, have become frivolous and puerile. Today, he devotes a considerable amount of his time to the care of cancer patients. He maintains " It’s only service to the needy that gives you peace. In the end it is only this which will give you strength. Not your wealth not your stirring performances." Thirty-eight years after his super hit film Jab Jab Phool Khile, the star appeal of Shashi Kapoor has not changed. Fan mail still floods his letter box, his song sequences are still a rage amongst youngsters, his movies still have a loyal following and are stocked in VCD stores.. In short, the Shashi Kapoor legend is still alive. The heart-throb of 200 odd movies can still bring back the excitement that hit his fans almost four decades ago. And when he bowed out in the nineties he left behind an uncontrived star appeal. Ironically, nothing matters to him today. Neither money, nor the good life, nor the publicity. No longer does he want to live up to the image. Shashi Kapoor has hung up his dancing shoes and virtually shut himself from the world. In an era when many of his contemporaries including Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha are visible even more than before, Shashi Kapoor has taken a conscious decision to move away from the arclights. No, not as a recluse but---in his own words—" I made a conscious decision not to sign any film after 1992 because there are no scripts for a character of my age." Films, he says, have become frivolous and puerile. " A sad commentary considering that Hindi films had a strong tradition for serious cameos. In Mughal-e-Azam, Dilip Kumar was the hero but Prithviraj Kapoor in the role of Emperor Akbar created the impact. In Kanoon Rajendra Kumar had the lead role but Ashok Kumar stole the show as he did in Gumrah. In Waqt Raj Kumar walked away with the honours. Sadly, the character actor has gone missing. He has been degraded." But Shashi is quick to remind you he is not taking sanayas from films. " If there is a good role befitting my age I’ll certainly make a comeback." Right now, of course, his mind is far from films. He devotes a considerable amount of his time to the care of cancer patients. " I serve three organizations---the Imperial Cancer Society of London, the Cancer Patients’ Aid Society and I am a patron of Care India, Pune a society providing palliative care to the terminally ill patients," says the actor who lost his wife Jennifer Kendal, father Prithviraj and mother to cancer. " There is no greater joy than trying to mitigate a little pain and suffering of cancer patients and their families," says Shashi Kapoor who was instrumental with Rajiv Gandhi in establishing the Amar Jyoti Trust in 1982. The trust has been serving physically challenged people and has rehabilitated hundreds into the mainstream. " It’s only service to the needy that gives you peace. In the end it is only this which will give you strength. Not your wealth not your stirring performances."
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