Shashi Kapoor Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award from Arun Jaitly

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, May 10: Shashi Kapoor received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at Prithvi Theatre on May 10. The 77-year-old actor is the third member of his illustrious family to have received the award after father Prithviraj Kapoor and elder brother Raj Kapoor

Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre is filled to brimming with Kapoors from Bollywood’s First Family this morning. Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian Cinema. Guests at the ceremony include not just his family but also several former co-stars.

 

 

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley presented the award Mr Kapoor, star of over 175 films over a 40-long-year career. Ranbir and Rishi Kapoor made introductions as the ceremony begun. Rishi Kapoor, the actor’s nephew, spoke about being directed by his uncle in Ajooba. He revealed that Shashi Kapoor was the only director who kept his actors in check on set with a stick - an anecdote that received instant and hearty endorsement from Amitabh Bachchan, who also starred in Ajooba, from the audience. Rishi Kapoor also quoted his uncle’s famous dialogue from Deewar - "mere paas ma hain."

Mr Kapoor’s son Kunal and daughter Sanjana accompanied him onto stage. He was presented with a ceremonial shawl and a certificate by Mr Jaitley. "He brought Hindi cinema and Hollywood closer," Mr Jaitley said after the presentation.

 

 

 

 

The 77-year-old actor, who has battled several illnesses in the recent past, arrived in a wheelchair. Draped in an orange scarf, he greeted well-wishers with a namaste.

Most of the Kapoors were present at the ceremony - Rishi Kapoor’s wife Neetu Singh who was Mr Kapoor’s heroine in films like Deewar, grand-niece Karisma, sisters-in-law Krishna Raj Kapoor and Neela Devi, and actor Saif Ali Khan who is married to Kareena Kapoor

Many of his former heroines were spotted at the ceremony. Waheeda Rehman, Mr Kapoor’s co-star from films like Kabhi Kabhie and Namak Halaal, and Asha Parekh, his heroine from films like Pyar Ka Mausam, were photographed with Kunal Kapoor.

The setting of the ceremony - Prithvi Theatre - was established by Mr Kapoor and his late wife Jennifer Kendal, both of who had strong roots in theatre and stage. The 77-year-old actor is the third member of his illustrious family to receive the award after father Prithviraj Kapoor and elder brother Raj Kapoor.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is usually presented with the National Film Awards in New Delhi. However, Shashi Kapoor was too unwell to attend the ceremony in the capital on May 3 and so is receiving his award in Mumbai today. A special tribute to Mr Kapoor voiced by the actor’s grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor was played at the National Awards.

Ranbir told NDTV in an interview: "This guy was gentle and always at ease. And being with such people is so comfortable. I always saw him as my grand uncle and not as Shashi Kapoor. Now I realize the value of Shashi Kapoor. He had the reputation of being a Mr Nice Guy. Everybody loved working with him. Great nature, great looking person."