Last glimpse of legendary Shashi Kapoor before funeral

Veteran Indian actor Shashi Kapoor breathed his last couple of days ago and was given a state-level funeral by the government in honour of the legendary star.

His last rites took place at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium. Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor were also in attendance.

About a dozen policemen draped the actor’s body in tricolour, which was later removed for the rituals. This was followed by a minute’s silence. The veteran actor was given a state funeral amid massive security. He was honoured with a three-gun salute in the presence of family and film fraternity members.

Born in 1938, Shashi Kapoor — brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor— carried forward the legacy of his father, the legendary Prithviraj Kapoor.

With more than 175 movies to his name, Kapoor was the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor — the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. The Kapoor family popularly named as Bollywood’s first family.

Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal met in Calcutta in 1956 while working for their respective theatre groups. Shashi Kapoor was both assistant stage manager as well as actor for his father’s theatre group, Prithvi. Geoffery Kendal’s Shakespearana group was also present at the same time in Calcutta and Jennifer was Geoffery’s daughter.

After their subsequent meeting, the couple fell in love and after facing initial opposition from Geoffery and support from sister in law Geeta Bali, they got married.

His wife died of cancer in 1984.

The actor is survived by his three children: Karan, Kunal and Sanjana Kapoor.