Veteran actor-filmmaker Shashi Kapoor was on Sunday conferred the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award at the landmark Prithvi Theatre here by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley.
Kapoor, the younger brother of iconic actors Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, could not travel to Delhi because of his ill-health for the award ceremony which was held on May 3.
Therefore, the Minister came to Mumbai to give away the award.
“It is indeed an important moment as one of our veteran actors is getting the award. It is conferred on Shashi Kapoor, who is undoubtedly a versatile personality Indian cinema has ever produced… an actor par excellence who competed with the best and carved out best work as actor, producer and director. We are presenting this award symbolically at the institution he created,” Jaitley said after giving the honour.
The 77-year-old actor is the third person from the Kapoor family to receive the honour from the government, after his father Prithvi Raj Kapoor and elder brother Raj Kapoor.
“The way the Kapoor family is producing talent, I am sure this award is not the last one (for the family),” Jaitley said. “I wish him an improved health… long life… best in life,” the Minister said. Wearing a black outfit and an orange shawl, Kapoor arrived at Prithvi Theatre on a wheel chair.
Jaitley presented him a citation, shawl, medal and a cheque. Kapoor folded his hands and smiled at everyone after receiving the award.
He got a standing ovation from everyone present at the function. The event was moderated by noted actor and Kapoor’s nephew Rishi Kapoor. An audio-visual presentation of Kapoor’s cinematic journey, from a child artist to a lead actor, producer and a theatre personality, was shown.
It had a voice-over by Ranbir Kapoor and senior actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi, Shabana Azmi and Randhir Kapoor, who shared their experiences about Kapoor.
From the Kapoor family, those present on the occasion included Raj Kapoor’s wife Krishna Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor’s son Kunal Kapoor, Rishi with wife Neetu and son Ranbir, Babita with daughter Karisma and younger son-in-law Saif Ali Khan, Shammi Kapoor’s wife Neela Devi. Several big celebrities from the film industry were also present at the function.(PTI)
