PHOTOS

Happy Birthday Shammi Kapoor: Naseeruddin Shah to Aamir Khan - What these celebs said about the ‘Rebel Hero’

Late actor Shammi Kapoor was the son of iconic Hindi film actor Prithviraj Kapoor and brother of actors Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Despite coming from an illustrious family of actors and film producers, Shammi made a distinct mark for himself in the entertainment industry. Known as the original ‘Rebel Hero’ Shammi Kapoor broke all the rules of the Hindi cinema of the time and carved out a niche for himself. Known for donning stylish clothes and dancing vigorously to songs at a time when socialism in movies and circling around trees during dance numbers was the norm. Shammi had 18 flop films before tasting success with ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’.

The actor was last seen in his great-nephew Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Rockstar’. Shammi Kapoor breathed his last on August 14, 2011.

Read what top Bollywood actors have said about Shammi Kapoor.

(Pics Courtesy: Movie stills)

Zee Media Bureau|

Updated:Oct 21, 2021, 01:11 PM IST

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Naseeruddin Shah on Shammi Kapoor

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is known to speak his mind without mincing his words. And according to the critically acclaimed actor, Shammi Kapoor was his favourite. ""Whenever I am asked who my favourite actors are, I say Shammi Kapoor and Dara Singh. People expect me to say Balraj Sahni and Dilip Kumar. I admire them too but Dara Singh and Shammi Kapoor were my favourites," shared the actor during a literary festival.

He further added, "Shammi Kapoor is the man who gave a form to song picturisation in India, what men should do in a song. Post Shammi Kapoor, every actor has done a Shammi Kapoor or tried to do a Shammi Kapoor and every choreographer has tried to make them do a Shammi Kapoor".

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Shatrugan Sinha calls Shammi Kapoor the 'Elvis Presley of India'

Actor turned politician Shatrughan Sinha in one of his tweets said that Shammi Kapoor deserves the title of ''Elvis Presley of India'. "Remembering the legend and the super energetic actor Shammi Kapoor who carved an extraordinary niche for himself... Especially for his grooving dancing style," Shatrugan had tweeted.

He further wrote that the actor "was ahead of his times in everything and was the first among contemporaries to have mastered the Internet. He was truly deserving of the title ‘Elvis Presley of India'. You live among us with your unforgettable songs, dances and movies! RIP."

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Rishi Kapoor called Shammi Kapoor an 'original Rebel Star'

Raj Kapoor's son and Shammi Kapoor's nephew - actor Rishi Kapoor has been full of praise for his uncle. In a tweet Rishi Kapoor had called Shammi an 'original Rebel Hero' and in another tweet had written, 'Never a star like him'.

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Aamir Kha called Shammi Kapoor greater than Elvis Presley

"Shammi Kapoor is said to be India’s answer to Elvis Presley, but I say that Elvis Presley is America’s answer to Shammi Kapoor," Aamir Khan had said about Shammi Kapoor.

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Subhash Ghai credits Shammi Kapoor for changing the image of Indian film hero

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai said, "Shammi Kapoor changed the image of the Hindi film hero from sad and brooding into one who revelled in singing and dancing".

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Ranbir Kapoor revealed what makes Shammi Kapoor the legend he is

Actor Rishi Kapoor's son was all praises for Shammi Kapoor who had done a cameo in his film Rockstar. In an interview, Ranbir revealed Shammi Kapoor called him a day before his shooting commenced and told him that he was nervous. He also shared that he would often ask director Imtiaz Ali if he is performing fine and it is this quality of humility and hard work that makes him a legend, according to Ranbir Kapoor.