‘Babbua’ Amitabh remembers his friend Shashi with a heart touching post

In the 70s, the bond between Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan was the strongest. Both of them genuinely cared for each other and were literally inseparable. Both of them have worked together in some of the iconic films ever made, like ‘Roti Kapada Aur Makaan’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Trishul’, ‘Namak Halaal’, and ‘Silsila’. Both of them had a perfect understanding of each other as performers which made their camaraderie shine through the screen, be it a dramatic sequence or a comic one. It was yesterday that Amitabh Bachchan lost his dear friend as the legendary actor Shashi Kapoor passed away at the age of 79. Following this sad news, Big B shared a heartfelt message for the late actor on his blog.

He has written, “Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor… son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read… And I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all…” (Also Check: Best of Shashi Kapoor: The enigma of Hindi cinema that was and will forever be)

He continued writing, “1969, and those early years of efforts to join the Industry were also the times when there was a close proximity, to the area of an atmosphere, that swivelled around this most attractive man. On and off, common friends in the Industry, which I was just getting acquainted with, would introduce me to him at select social gatherings…”

“ “Shashi Kapoor !” was what one heard as he extended a warm soft hand out to you in introduction; that devastating smile complimenting the twinkle in his eyes. He needn’t have done so. Every one knew him. But this was his infectious humble self. When he spoke, there was a mischievous, gentle, almost inaudible, delicate, yodel, in his voice – most endearing and comforting to the one he was introduced to. The self introduction habit, was a gem. The one being introduced to, was, quite obviously, prompted to say his or her name as well, when they heard his. It was a remarkable tool to come to know the other persons name .. and .. if and when there was to be another meeting after many forgettable years, the same technology was most helpful in remembering the other persons name, in case you had forgotten it..!!”

Further, talking about his ailing health, Amitabh wrote, “He had been ailing.. somewhere he had let himself go after the passing away of his dear wife Jennifer.. I had visited him on occasion in Hospital during some of the times he had been hospitalised earlier.. but I never went to see him again.. I would never have.. I never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and ‘samdhi’ in the state I saw him in hospital.. and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone…”

“He fondly addressed me as ‘babbua’.. and with him have gone many incredible unread chapters of his and my life..” concluded the megastar.

Indeed, this was a heart-warming post from a dear friend remembering his best friend.

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.