Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Bollywood pays tribute to Shammi Kapoor

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Shammi Kapoor

Legendary actor Shammi Kapoor passed into the ages on Sunday morning. He was 79.

Film personalities lost no time in turning to twitter and mourning the loss of the great actor:

Amitabh Bachchan, who broke the news on twitter, added later: 'Shammi ji ... An entire life full of optimism and happy spirit, caring loving to all ... Now suddenly silent.'

Priyanka Chopra tweeted: 'sometimes no amount of kind words can compensate for a loss! bhole baba ki jai shammi maharajji.. he was our guruji..im at a loss..
nothing will ever fill the void u have left @shamsheraj . im sorry i didnt try RESSEE.. but wil do.. only for u.. R.I.P'

Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: 'The narrative of Shammi Kapoor will not end with his passing away. His movies will continue to enchant the future generations!'

Shabana Azmi received the sad news at Brussels airport. 'At brussels airport learned d sad news about shammi kapoorji.we mourn the loss of d most zinda dil man I've ever met. condolence to d family,' she wrote.

Farhan Akhtar tweeted: 'Mr. Shammi Kapoor. Never before - Never again. Thank you for the wonderful cinematic memories and life lessons. RIP.'

Deepika Padukone will miss the veteran too: 'He was an inspiration not just for his style and the films he did,but also his attitude towards life...we will miss you Shammi uncle...#RIP.'

Dia Mirza tweeted: 'The happiest, caring, kind and considerate man...You leave with us memories that are precious... @shamsheraj RIP Shammi Kapoor love u forever.'

Shekhar Kapur tweeted. 'The great iconic Shammi Kapoor who defined an era n influenced music, dance n song even today has passed away, leaving a hollow vioid,' he updated.

Karan Johar said he was one of the strongest men he knew. 'One of finest and strongest men I knew...we will truly miss you shammi uncle....RIP,' he tweeted.

Manoj Bajpayee tweeted: 'May god bless shammiji's soul.may he rest in peace!ian era comes to an end with his demise!'

Neha Dhupia tweeted: 'RIP Shammi kapoor ji ... Ur magic will always be remembered !'

Minissha Lamba was saddened by the news. 'Deeply saddened by the news of @shamsheraj sir's demise, No1 in d fraternity can ever fit in your shoes. You will be missed, sir. R.I.P.' she wrote.

Riteish Deshmukh
tweeted: 'RIP SHAMMI KAPOOR- the most stylish actor ever- we love you n we will miss you.'

The Elvis of India

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Sonam Kapoor
He was fondly called the 'Elvis Presley of India' for his cool dance moves. And those famous dance moves got him a lot of fans from within the film industry.

Sonam Kapoor was one of them. 'Rip #shammikapoor was taking about you with dad while watching all your songs on tv just the other day. After elvis and johnny cash only u had that panache while dancing. You owned it,' she tweeted.

Neil Nitin Mukesh loved his dance moves too. 'An evergreen actor. An inspiration to a million. Dance moves you can't match up to. Shammi uncle RIP. Will miss you gizmo guru. :(' he wrote.

Manish Malhotra loved his style. 'Mr:shammi kapoor s great style will be always remembered and missed,' he wrote.

Vishal Dadlani tweeted: 'Mr. Shammi Kapoor, RIP. You danced like nobody was watching.'

The youth icon

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Raveena Tandon

Shammi Kapoor was seen as a youth icon by many Bollywood stars.

Raveena Tandon claimed she adored him since her childhood. 'Oh my god! Just read that shammi uncle no more! The answer to the mills n boon hero!Shammi Kapoor,have adored him since I was a child. n my early teens,and till date ,Adored him,the passion the intensity,when he looked into his heroines eyes, the flamboyant charm!! Whenever I met him,I'd tell him to do the ,dil deke dekho line from his song!the way he used to flick his head from side to side,with that mischievous glint in his eyes..the world has truly lost a charmer,a handsome soul,out and within!!I Love you Mr Shammi kapoor!' she tweeted.

Anupam Kher wrote: 'Shammi Kapoor ji was one of d 1st Youth Icons from Cinema. He liberated actors from being stereo types. Will miss his STYLE and SUBSTANCE.'

Vinay Pathak loved him since his childhood too. 'My fascination4this Great man grew incessantly in my childhood years for the clown he carried within him,n the spine of the artist he exhuds,' he wrote.

The Yahoo connection

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Anurag Kashyap

The Yahoo song became symbolic of Shammi's wild and loverboy image. But not many know that the actor was a enthusiastic internet buff. He was among the first Indians to have a website of his own. He was invited by the co-founder of Yahoo Jerry Yang when they opened its office in Mumbai years ago.

Anurag Kashyap tweeted: 'All indian netizens should mourn today. Pioneer of internet & the first president of internet soc of ind in the 80's Shammi Kapoor passed away.'

Shirish Kunder wrote: 'RIP The man who gave Yahoo its domain name.'

Madhur Bhandarkar called him the 'Yahoo' of Indian cinema. 'Sad to hear the demise of Shammiji, the YAHOO of Indian Cinema. Ur charmful exuberance & full of life style will forever be missed by all of us,RIP,' he tweeted.

Meeting Shammi

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Lara Dutta
Due to his health complications, Shammi Kapoor had become unapproachable for many people.

But Lara Dutta Bhupathi had the privilege of meeting him. 'The one time I went to see Shammi uncle for tea, was a surprise visit. He grinned and said-"now look, u've made an old man blush". I'm honoured at having the privilege of knowing the legend that was Shammiji! R.I.P. Shammi uncle. We love u lots. Always have, always will,' she tweeted.

Arshad Warsi had a few interactions with the superstar. 'I will miss our dear Mr Shammi Kapoor, the few interactions I had with him were n will always be deeply cherished... RIP Sir,' he wrote.

Aftab Shivdasani had interacted with him too. 'Another legend passes away..Shammiji Kapoor..such a jovial and positive person..had the good fortune of interacting with him..rest in peace,' he tweeted.

Lata Mangeshkar's tribute

Last updated on: August 14, 2011 16:03 IST
Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar, who has sung many songs in Shammi Kapoor's movies, paid her tribute to him:

'aaj shammi kapoor ji ke nidhan ki dukkhaadh vaarta sunkar mujhe bhot dukh hua,hamare film industry ke wo bhaot bade star the,per uuse bhi bade wo ek insan the,bahot zinda dil,aur himmat wale,wo kisi bhi mushkil ka samana badi himmat se karte the,kafi saalon se wo dialysis pe the, hafte mein 3 baar dialysis unhe lena padta tha, par phir bhi wo haste muskurate rehete the,functions me bhi jate the,jab hum logone unhe mere pitaji ke naam ka award diya tha, tab wo puna aaye the, jab dialysis nahi hota tab wo khud drive bhi karte the,wo bahot acche gayak the, unhone sangeet sikha hua tha,mujhe wo behen kehete the, mujhe unke jaane ka bahot bahot dukh hai,ishwar unki aatma ko shanti de,' she tweeted.