Shammi Kapoor

Shammi Kapoor
Born Shamsher Raj Kapoor
20 October 1931
Mumbai, Maharastra, India
Died 14 August 2011 (aged 79)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Actor
Years active 1952–2011
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Spouse Geeta Bali
(m. 1955–1965; her death)
Neela
(m. 1969–2011; his death)
Website
junglee.org.in
Shammi Kapoor (born Shamsher Raj Kapoor; 21 October 1931– 14 August 2011) was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s.
Shammi Kapoor was hailed as one of the finest actors that Hindi cinema had ever produced. Extremely versatile as an actor, he was the leading star of Hindi cinema during the late 1950s as well as the 1960s. He debuted in Bollywood in 1953 with the film Jeevan Jyoti, and went on to deliver hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Bramhachari, and Andaz and Vidhaata. He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance in Brahmachari and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata in 1982.
He was given the name Shamsher Raj Kapoor at his birth in Mumbai to film and theatre actor Prithviraj Kapoor, Shammi was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), both of whom were, like their father, successful Bollywood actors. Though born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata, where his father was involved with New Theatres Studios, acting in films. It was in Kolkata that he did his Montessory and Kindergarten. After coming back to Mumbai, he first went to St. Joseph's Convent (Wadala) and then, to Don Bosco School. Shammi Kapoor finished his schooling from New Era School, at Hughes Road.
Shammi Kapoor had a short stint at Ruia College, in Matunga, Mumbai, after which he joined his father’s theatrical company "Prithvi Theatres". He entered the cinema world in 1948, as a junior artiste, at a salary of Rs. 1500 per month, stayed with Prithvi Theatres for the next four years and collected his last paycheck, Rs. 3000, in 1952. He made his debut in Bollywood in the year 1953, when the film Jeevan Jyoti was released. It was directed by Mr. Mahesh Kaul and Chand Usmani was Kapoor’s first heroine.
Film career
Kapoor started out with serious roles but with Filmistan's Nasir Hussain directed Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) opposite Ameeta and Dil Deke Dekho (1959) with Asha Parekh, he attained the image of a light-hearted, stylish playboy. Tall, athletic, lively, fair complexioned, green-eyed and with handsome features, Shammi was a heartthrob, and his good looks and physique complemented his image. Both the films were debut films of the respective actresses Ameeta and Asha Parekh and both went on to be big hits and are regarded as classics.
With Junglee (1961) his new image was cemented and his subsequent films were all in this genre. He particularly chose Mohammed Rafi as his playback voice. Though in his early career he had often played second fiddle to established heroines like Madhubala in films such as Rail Ka Dibba (1953) and Naqab and opposite Suraiya in Shama Parwana, producers after 1960 apart from the actresses from southern India, loved pairing Shammi with new heroines, three of them became huge stars in their own right in Hindi films: Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, and Sharmila Tagore of all his heroines, he said that Sharmila Tagore, Rajshree, and Asha Parekh were easy to work with He and Asha Parekh were paired together in four films, the most successful being the murder mystery Teesri Manzil (1966) and romantic film Jawan Mohabbat.
In the early fifties he accepted serious roles in women oriented films like Shama Parwana (1954), comedy flick Mem Sahib (1956) and thrillers like Miss Coca Cola (1956) and Chor Bazar (1954), which were all successful at box office and in tragic love story Mirza Sahiban (1957) (a box office flop), but did not gain recognition and fame among the masses. Other than the above hits, he had fifteen films as flops to his credit till 1957. It was only after triple success of Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957), Ujala and Dil Dil Deke Deko (both 1959), that he became popular with the audience and became a star. The other hits in late fifties included Mujrim(1958), Char Dil Char Rahen, Raat Ke Raahi (1959). In the first half of the 1960s, Kapoor was seen in successful films like College Girl, Basant, Singapore, Boy Friend, Professor, Dil Tera Diwana, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Bluff Master, Janwar and Rajkumar. Although nominated before, in 1968, he received the first Filmfare Best Actor award of his career for the film Bramhachari.
His pairing opposite Southern heroines were always a success at the box office. He delivered hits opposite B. Saroja Devi like Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya and Preet Na Jane Reet, with Padmini gave Singapore (1960 film), opposite Vyjayanthimala had hits like College Girl and Prince (1969 film). In the sixties his successful run continued untill new romantic incon Rajesh Khanna entered the scene in 1969. Sharmila Tagore and Saira Banu who made their Bollywood debuts with Shammi Kapoor in ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ and ‘Junglee’ respectively However Shammi did have commercial successes in late sixties, like Budtameez and Sachaai with Sadhana, Latt Saheb with Nutan, Tumse Achha Kaun Hai with Babita.
In the 1970s, Kapoor’s weight problem proved an obstacle in his path of success and ended his career as a romantic hero as his films started failing. His last hit film, in which he played the lead role, was Andaz (1971). With time, he moved to character roles and acted in films like Zameer, Hero and Vidhaata. In 1974, he donned the hat of a director and made Manoranjan, a film based on Irma La Douce. Two years later, he made Bandalbaaz (1976). However, both the films failed to create magic at the box office. His last appearance as a character actor was in the delayed 2006 film, Sandwich and in early 2011, he decided to act with his grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor, the grandson of his brother Raj Kapoor.
Shammi turned into a successful supporting actor in the 70's, playing Saira Banu's father in Zameer (1974), when he had been her leading man a decade earlier in Junglee (1961) and Bluff Master (1964) and playing Amitabh Bachchan's foster father in Parvarish. He also directed Manoranjan (1974) a copy of Irma La Douce and in which he played a supporting role himself and Bundal Baaz (1976) starring Rajesh Khanna, but neither were successful commercially though got critical acclaims and were hailed as classics and to be ahead of its time. In the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to play supporting roles in many films and won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Vidhaata (1982). He eventually cut down on film appearances by the late 1990s and early 2000s and made his appearances in the 1999 Salman Khan and Urmila Matondkar starring Jaanam Samjha Karo, 2002 release Waah! Tera Kya Kehna and delayed 2006 release Sandwich. He made his last appearance in Imtiaz Ali's directorial venture Rockstar co-starring his grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor, the grandson of his brother Raj Kapoor.
Film director Shakti Samanta directed Shammi Kapoor in six hit films like Singapore, Pagla Kahin Ka, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening In Paris and Jaane Anjane and quoted in an interview “I found Shammi to be a thoroughly good man. Even in his heydays, he was humble."
Personal life
Shammi Kapoor met Geeta Bali in 1955, during the shooting of the film ‘Rangeen Raaten’, where he was the leading actor and she played a cameo. They fell in love, but since she was a year older to him and had acted with his elder brother and father, they were skeptical. Four months after they first met, they married at Banganga Temples, near Napean Sea Road of Mumbai. Hari Walia as the sole witness. They informed their parents only after their marriage. Geeta Bali did cameo in Shammi starrers 'Rangin Raaten' and Mujrim (1958) and were paired together in Coffee House, a box office dud and the successful Miss Coca Cola.
Shammi and Geeta lived a life of bliss in the coming years. They had a son, Aditya Raj Kapoor, on 1 July 1956, at Shirodkar's Hospital, Mumbai, a year after they were married. Five years later, in 1961, they had a daughter, Kanchan.
Tragedy struck in 1965, during the filming of Teesri Manzil. Geeta died of small pox, leaving Shammi with two small children.
It led to a failed romance with Mumtaz, his co-star from Brahmchari (1968).
In 1969, he married his second wife Neela Devi Gohil from the former royal family of Bhavnagar in Gujarat. He was gaining weight rather significantly now and this ended his career as a romantic hero in the early 1970s. Andaz (1971) was one of his last hits.
Shammi Kapoor was the founder and chairman of Internet Users Community of India (IUCI). He had also played a major role in setting up internet organizations like the Ethical Hackers Association. Kapoor also maintained a website dedicated to the 'Kapoor family’.
In 2006, he told interviewers that he underwent dialysis three times a week. Irrepressible even then, this punishing regimen has failed to depress him. Rather, he said that he was thankful to God for giving him so much.
He died around 5:15 am, 14 August 2011 at Mumbai Breach Candy hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for chest infection. He died of renal failure.
Awards, nominations and other recognition
• 1962 - Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor--Professor
• 1968 - Filmfare Best Actor Award, Brahmachari
• 1982 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Vidhata
• 1995 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1998 - Kalakar Awards - Special Award for "contribution in Indian Cinema"
• 1999 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
• 2001 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2001 - Anandalok Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2002 - Invaluable Contribution To Indian Cinema at the IIFA.
• 2005 - Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bollywood Movie Awards
• 2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cinema at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).
• 2009 - Phalke Legend Actor Award by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy
• Recipient of the prestigious Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
• Rashtriya Gaurav Award
Partial filmography
• Jeevan Jyoii (1953)
• Rail Ka Dibba (1953)
• Thokar (1953)
• Laila Majnu (1953) Nutan
• Ladki (1953)
• Gul Sanobar (1953)
• Khoj (1953)
• Shama Parwana (1954)
• Mehbooba (1954)
• Ehsan (1954)
• Chor Bazar (1954)
• Tangewali (1955)
• Naqab (1955)
• Miss Coca Cola (1955)
• Daku (1955)
• Sipahsalar (1956)
• Rangeen Raatein (1956) Mala Sinha
• Memsahib (1956)
• Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956)
• Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film) Ameeta
• Maharani (1957)
• Coffee House (1957)
• Mirza Sahiban (1957)
• Mujrim (1958)
• Dil Deke Dekho (1958) Asha Parekh
• Ujala (1959) Mala Sinha
• Raat ke Raahi (1959)
• Mohar (1959)
• Basant (1960)
• College Girl (1960) Vyjayanthimala
• Singapore (1960) Padmini
• Boyfriend (1961)
• Junglee (1961) Saira Banu
• Dil Tera Diwana (1962) Mala Sinha
• Professor (1962) Kalpana
• China Town (1962) Shakeela/Helen
• Bluff Master (1963)
• Shahid Bhagat Singh (1963)
• Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963)
• Pyar Kiya To Darna kya (1963)
• Rajkumar (1964) Sadhana
• Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) Sharmila Tagore
• Janwar (1965) Rajashri
• Teesri Manzi (1966) Anil Kumar
• Preet Na Jaane Reet (1966)
• Budtameez (1966)
• An Evening in Paris (1967) Sharmila Tagore
• Laat Saheb (1967) Nutan
• Brahmachari (1968) Rajashri
• Prince (1969) Vyjayanthimala
• Tum se Acchaa Kaun Hai (1969) Babita
• Sachchai (1969) Sadhana
• Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) Asha Parekh/Helen
• Andaz (1971) Hema Malini/Simi
• Jawan Mohabbat (1971) Asha Parekh
• Jaane Anjane (1971) Leena Chandavarkar
• Parvarish (1973)
• Zameer (1973)
• Manoranjan (1974) Zeenat Aman
• Chhote Sarkar (1974) Sadhana
• Shalimar (1978)
• Meera (1979) .... Raja Vikramjeet Singh Sesodia
• Professor Pyarela (1981)
• Rocky (1981)
• Naseeb (1981)
• Prem Rog (1982) Sushma Seth
• Vidhaata (1982)
• Desh Premee (1982)
• Hero (1983) Urmila Bhat
• Betaab (1983)
• Sohni Mahiwal (1984)
• Hukumat (1987)
• Ijaazat (1988)
• Ajooba (1991)
• Tahelka (1992)
• Chamatkar (1992)
• Sukham Sukhakaram (1994) (Malayalam)
• Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1996) Shammi
• Kareeb (1998)
• Jaanam Samjha Karo (1999)
• East Is East (1999)
• Yeh Hay Jalwa
• Waah! Tera Kya Kehna (2002)
• Bhola in Bollywood (2005)
• Sandwich (2006)
• Rockstar (film) (2011)
Death
Kapoor was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on 7 August 2011 suffering from chronic renal failure. His condition remained serious for next few days, kept under ventilator support. He died on 14 August 2011, 05:15am IST, of chronic renal failure, aged 79.

Bikaner

Bikaner
Bikaner (Rajasthani: Bikana) is a District in the northwest of the state of Rajasthand in northern India. It is located 330 kilometres (205 mi) northwest of the state capital, Jaipur. Bikaner city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner District and Bikaner division. It was formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner. The city was founded by Rao Bika. Bikaner. in 1486 and from its small origins it has developed into the fourth largest city in Rajasthan. The Ganga Canal completed in 1928 and the Indira Gandhi Canal completed in 1987 have allowed the farming of crops such as mustard, cotton, groundnuts, wheat and vegetables. Other industries include wool production and the mining of Gypsum, plaster of Paris and bentonite. Bikaner is famous for sweets and snacks (or namkeens in Hindi).
History of Bikaner-: Genealogy of Bikaner Royal Family from its establishment by Rao Bika in 1488 Prior to the mid 15th century, the region that is now Bikaner was a barren wilderness called Jangladesh.[4] In 1488 Rao Bika established the city of Bikaner. Rao Bika was the second son of Maharaja rao Jodha of the Rathor clan, the founder of Jodhpur and conquered the largely arid country in the north of Rajasthan. As the second son of Joda he had no chance of inheriting Jodhpur from his father or the title of Maharaja. He therefore decided to build his own kingdom in what is now the state of Bikaner in the area of Jungladesh. Though it was in the Thar Desert, Bikaner was considered an oasis on the trade route between Central Asia and the Gujarat coast as it had adequate spring water. Bika’s name was attached to the city he built and to the state of Bikaner (“the settlement of Bika”) that he established. Bika built a fort in 1478, which is now ruins and 100 years later a new fort was built about 1.5 km from the city centre which is known as the Junagarh Fort. Around 100 years after Rao Bika founded Bikaner the region's fortunes flourished under the sixth Raja, Rai Singhji who ruled from 1571 to 1611. During the Mughal Empire’s rule in the country, Rai Singh accepted the suzerainty of the Mughals and held a high position of an army general in the court of Emperor Akbar and his son Emperor Jahangir. His successful military exploits, which involved winning half of Mewar kingdom for the empire, won him accolades and rewards from the Mughal emperors. He was given the jagirs (lands) of Gujarat and Burhanpur. With the large revenue earned from these jagirs, he built the Junagarh fort on a plain which has an average elevation of 760 feet (230 m). He was an expert in the arts and architecture and the knowledge that he acquired during his visits abroad are amply reflected in the numerous monuments he built in the Junagarh fort. Karan Singh who ruled from 1631 to 1639, under the suzerainty of the Mughals, built the Karan Mahal palace. Later rulers added more floors and decorations to this Mahal. Anup Singh, who ruled from 1669–98, made substantial additions to the fort complex, with new palaces and the Zenana quarter (royal dwelling for females). He refurbished the Karan Mahal with a Diwan-i-Am (public audience hall) and called it the Anup Mahal. Gaj Singh who ruled from 1746 to 1787 refurbished the Chandra Mahal (the Moon palace). Following him, Surat Singh ruled from 1787 to 1828 and he lavishly decorated the audience hall (see picture in info box) with glass and lively paintwork. Dungar Singh who reigned from 1872 to 1887 built the Badal Mahal (the weather palace) named so in view of a painting of falling rain and clouds (a rare event in arid Bikaner). Ganga Singh who ruled from 1887 to 1943 built the Ganga Niwas Palace, which has towers at the entrance patio. This palace was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Ganga Singh’s son Sadul Singh succeeded his father in 1943 but acceded to the Union of India in 1949. He died in 1950. During the 18th century, there was internecine war between the rulers of Bikaner and Jodhpur and also amongst other thakurs, which was put down by the British troops. Lalgarh palace built (Indo-Saracenic style) by Ganga Singh in the name of his father, presently a heritage hotel and also residence of the Royal family. Right: Ganga Singh as member of the Imperial War Cabinet. Bikaner came under the suzerainty of the British Raj under a treaty of paramountcy signed in 1818, after which the Maharajas of Bikaner invested heavily on refurbishing Junagarh fort. Ganga Singh was the best-known king among the Rajasthan princes and was a favourite of the British Raj. He earned the title of Knight Commander of the Star of India, served as a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, represented India at the Imperial (First World War Conferences) and the British Empire at the Versailles Peace Conference. His contribution to the building activity in Junagarh involved separate halls for public and private audiences in the Ganga Mahal and a durbar hall for formal functions. The hall where he held his Golden Jubilee as Bikaner's ruler is now a museum. He also built a new palace north of Junagarh fort which was designed and built by Swinton, the third of the new palaces built in Bikaner. He named the building Lalgarh Palace in honour of his father and moved his residence from Junagarh fort to this palace in 1902. The royal family still lives in a special suite in the Lalbagh palace, which they have converted into a heritage hotel.
The internal transport system in Bikaner consists of autorickshaws and city buses. Bikaner is connected to some of major Indian cities via broad gauge railway. The city has direct rail connections to Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Agra, Jalandhar, Baroda, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Surat, Jalandhar, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Ahmedabad. However, there is no rail connectivity for other major Indian cities like Chennai, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Gorakhpur and Puri. Bikaner is well served with roads and is linked directly to Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Ambala, Ahmedabad, Haridwar, Jodhpur, Indore and many other cities. National highways 11, 15, and 89 meet at Bikaner. There is a under construction domestic airport at nal 14 km from city which will start its flights for Delhi and Jaipur from January 2012
Bikaner is famous for -:
1) Its camel research farm (NRCC). 2) Its "Bikaneri Bhujia. 3) Its wool production. 4) Its sweets. 5) PATA culture ( Wooden made big square size table which is laid upon the streets where localites sit at their leisure )
Bikaneri Bhujia is a spicy snack made from moth dal, spices and edible oil. Bikaner is also known for its handicrafts and leather articles, for its palaces and for having Asia's biggest camel farm.
The city is also known for its intricately carved Jharokas. These red sandstone stone jalis (screens) are found on the windows of the Junagarh fort, temples and havelis (mansions of Northern India). Jalis would be used for ventilation and for women to watch the world while remaining hidden.
The red sandstone for these stone window screens was supplied by the nearby village of Dulmera.
Usta & Chadhwa Art
Bikaner was and is the centre for Usta Art, a generic term for the Manoti-Naqqashi (embossed and unembossed floral and geometric patterned objects layered with gold) media produced by Usta family master artistans of Bikaner. The Usta artists and artisans also controlled all production of the Bikaner School "miniature" paintings using translucent and opaque vegetable and mineral watercolours from the late-16th to late-19th Century. Famous painters of the Bikaner School were Hamid Rukn-ud-din, Ahmad, Nathu ji, Nure, Rahim, Isa, Iso, Sahab-ud-din, Rehim ji,Murad, and Abdul Shakoor.
. Fairs & festivals
• Karni Mata fair
• Gangaur
• Kapil Muni fair
• Punarasar Fair : This fair is held at punarasar village of Bikaner. The village is named behind lord Hanuman who is considered the god of power,knowledge,health and wealth. Hindus of Bikaner and its adjoining cities head towards this holy village twice (Sarad purnima & Bhaadava) in a year and celebrate this pious occasion with lot of offerings to Punarasar baba. Devotees who approach this holy occasion (following the path between hamlets) are served with food and refreshment by the gathering of another devotees. This fair is considered must visit among local public of bikaner hence a very longe que (More than 5 km) of devotees is witnessed at this occasion before the temple. Punarasar temple is situated closer to highway leads to Jaipur that's why this high way is known as Punarasar highway too!
• Kodamdesar Mela :- Kodamdesar mela is celebrated in the village of Kodamdesar 20 km far from bikaner where the temple of lord bhairoon is situated. This temple have no roof for covering the statue of bhairoon nath. It is said that your journey to Kodamdesar is incomplete until you visit the temple of sahu baba. Chura and Surdashani purohit are the casts who have utmost faith upon kodamdesar bahiroon.
• Kolayat Mela
• Siyana Bhairoon mela : This fair is known for the utmost celebration by Hindu casts Ojha, Bhadani, chhangani and derasri. Devotees from this community along with others reach siyana village of bikaner by cart, buses, car, bike and on feet. Siyana village is known for the temple of lord bhiroon who is believed to bless all amenities to his devotees they prayed for.
• Camel festival: each January the state government organises a camel festival with camel races, various cultural events and a fire dance performed by the Sidh people.
• Aksaye Tritya or "AKKHA TEEJ": the foundation day of Bikaner. This was the day when Rao Bika laid the foundation of the new empire. Every year on this day people from across the social spectrum enjoy themselves by flying kites or "CHANDA". They also enjoy a special meal, such as "Khichra and Imlani".
• Paryushan: The biggest festival of Jain community is celebrated with utmost fervour and dedication in the city in the Bhadrapad month of Hindu calendar. The temples are lavishly decorated. Spiritual ceremonies and fasting are seen everywhere in the city.
• Kartik Poornima: The Jain community takes out a huge procession on this day consisting of paintings, palki of tirthankar and musical bands. It traverses all the areas inhabited by Jains. Local bhajan mandalis or Spiritual Bands perform with great excitement on this occasion. This festivity is unparalleled in India.
Attraction:
The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner who reigned from 1571 to 1612. Rai Singh had conquered part of Marwar and had been granted territory in Gujurat and Burhanpur by the Mughal emperor Akbar as a reward for his services as military commander. This, as well as funding from Jodhpur, enabled him to build the fort. Rai Singh held high rank in the imperial courts of both Akbar and his successor, Jehangir. During his imperial service he travelled extensively, giving him an appreciation of art and architecture. These ideas have been incorporated meticulously into the architectural style of Junagarh Fort.