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Veteran Bollywood actor and director Shammi Kapoor passed away

By ANI

Shammi Kapoor, Sharmilla Tagore

Shammi Kapoor, Sharmilla Tagore

Veteran Bollywood actor and director Shammi Kapoor passed away today at the age of 79. Shammi was suffering from chronic renal failure and was admitted at Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital. Born on born October 21, 1931, in a Punjabi Khatri family, Shammi was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema during the late 1950s and 1960s.

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.

Extremely versatile as an actor, Shammi 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.

Here are some of the articles that are published on mohdrafi.com, written by Rafi fans:

Shammi Kapoor, Sharmilla Tagore at One Evening in PARIS screening for Radio Mirchi's Purani Jeans in PVR on 21st Aug 2010

Shammi Kapoor, Sharmilla Tagore at One Evening in PARIS screening for Radio Mirchi's Purani Jeans in PVR on 21st Aug 2010

Proclaim your love for Rafi Sahab on twitter

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44 Blog Comments to “Veteran Bollywood actor and director Shammi Kapoor passed away”

  1. Yasmin Banu says:

    What is pain? This is quite inexplicable, sometimes we do not have words, sometimes the words are not suffice, sometimes we are unable to emote.

    I am going through this trauma and torment since the day I heard about Shammi Ji’s untimely demise. I want to cry it loud or want to speak it loud whether to my inner self or the unknown audience or to my mother who always gives her gentle ear to me. In spite of so many variations to my thoughts, I am still perplexed or is it my trepidation. I heard and understood the voice of Rafi Sahab from childhood but knew the man behind the mercurial voice only after his death, fortunately; at least I am better off with respect to Shammi Ji.

    My first take on Shammi Ji was during annual vacation to my Aunty’s home, a Doordarshan era. The transmission was limited only to the metros extended to certain miles in radius. Saturday’s nights transmissions devoted for Hindi movies and Sunday’s nights were for regional movies. It was in the Black and white TV set of Solidaire that I saw the 1961 Classic ‘Junglee” after more than twenty years since its release. To a teenager, it was my awakening call to the word Romance, as I had not even read Mills and Boon. I was irrevocably stuck to the demeanor and antics of the hero, who exhibited no inhibitions in professing his love to the leading lady. The charming Shammi Ji along with petite Saira Banu gliding at the glaciers of Kufri in Shimla was stuck to my memories with as much innocence as he yelled “Yahoo”. He without reservations enchanted not only his contemporaries but also generations to pursue.

    From 1984 as ISRO was launching various satellites to our orbit our Doordarshan expanded its coverage through the length and breathe our country. The era of BPL, Onida and Dyanora took centre stage in every home. We were flaunting our antennas and cricket matches, Wimbledon, late night movies, Siddarth basu Quiz and Prannoy Roy – World this week became an integral part our living. Chitrahaar on Wednesday nights and Rangoli in Sunday morning became our appetizers. Shammi Ji was always a welcome to Mandi House, his movies featured intermittently and slowly and steadily we anticipated, revered and enjoyed his presence amidst us.

    The non-availability of Hindi music cassette in my place embarked me to record Rafi’s Sahab voice songs in my tape recorder, when it played in Doordarshan silencing the people in our home. That was a memory of the teens that I grew, relished and integrated.

    In the 90’s I left to Abu Dhabi, though we did not get access to Indian channels, the VHS shops helped my unsated desire for Shammi Ji’s films. I became a proud owner of his works nestled as VHS cassettes in my personnel video library. Right now, they are in my hometown. The vicissitudes of life is beyond our realm, the more we try to understand it, the more it becomes a stranger. The ebbs and flows made me seek asylum to the bouquet of Shammi Ji’s movies and Rafi’s Sahab songs. This trait is continuing until day. Now I have few movies downloaded to my Laptop and ‘Junglee’ and “Kashmir ki Kali’ remains a permanent fixtures of them. I had requested my friend to pick up few of his movies from Bombay now.

    I wanted to understand the filament that got me floored to this gentlemen, is it the candyfloss location, the petite woman that came under his stride or the voice of the mercurial Rafi Sahab or the music and lyricist that touched my poetical senses. I always convinced myself the umbilical cord that connected me to Shammi Ji was just the voice of Rafi Sahab. It was the loss of Rafi Sahab 31 years ago that I am filling it with Shammi Ji. Now I realized that NO it is not just Rafi Sahab voice that took me to admire him and go through this ordeal of pain.

    His quest for panache gratified my senses be it humour, emotion, music, dance or himself. He followed a trajectory that never unraveled by his contemporaries, which could be the defining moment in his career and millions of his fan followers. He breathed entertainment and cascaded to us. He made us understand love and Romance wrapped in the inner conscious of human mind.

    Various tributes were paid to him, so many self-confessed fans from distinct walks in life, had their say, I for once lost with the words of M.J. Akbar, Shammi Ji’s son – Aditya Raj Kapoor and Imran Khan newphew of Aamir Khan who have their take on this picture perfect kapoor.

    A multi-facet man who lived life in full was contributing to the society in all possible way he could. As he conveyed in his tweet “A renaissance man, retired actor and computer buff”. A giver all the way amidst the mayhem that surrounded him, probably he searched and longed for placidity. Well deserving so, he found his serenity in the Dal Lake as his ashes immersed in Jhelum river that passes through Pakistan, the place of his forefathers. Shammi Ji lost his voice 31 years before on the 17th day of Ramadan (Rafi Ji’s death) and his fans lost now both the voice and the body on 14th day of Ramadan (Shammi Ji’s death).

    For more than two decades, the question that I confronted was if I hail from Kashmir. For this pure south Indian, the reply was I never visited Kashmir even in my wildest dreams. The zeal for visiting the valley never came into my thoughts with the turmoil in the valley and rightly, so I never regret it as Shammi Ji portrayed it beautifully in his movies than I envisaged. Now I decided Insha Allah for once, to visit the lovely Kashmir, to have a ride in the Shikara because he dwells there. Probably, I can hum “A chand se Roshan Chehre, Diwana Huwa Badal and Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee kahe since Shammi Ji and Rafi Ji appropriated predicted “Tum Mujhe Yun Bulana Pawoge”. We did not at least not me until my lungs can inhale oxygen and exhale carbon-di-oxide in this planet.

    Regards,
    Yasmin Banu – Abu Dhabi

  2. yasmin banu says:

    The song Akele Akele was shot near Interlaken in Switzerland, as even Sharmila tagore when reminiscenting about Shammi Ji, said that she received a call few years before from Shammi Ji and said that he was in Interlaken and remembering the shooting of the song in “An evening in Paris”. He wanted to share that moment with her therefore, he called her from Interlaken, Switzerland. So Mr. Haldar Ji, you did the right thing of this pilgrimage. Every fan is unique, I want to visit Insha Allah at least Dal Lake, as his ashes is immersed there.

  3. Parkash Kumar says:

    I wish to lend my sincere condolence for all Kapoors family of Bollywood for the depart of great soul Shammi Ji….He is the best actor at his time and unique with the combination voice of Mohd Rafi….shammi Ji will be remember and honour by all of us..good by Shammi Ji may your soul blessed and rest in peace…

  4. P. Haldar says:

    post 40:

    Mr. Cherian, I am not sure about that but it’s possible. If you look at the shots, though, none of the signs in the background are in German. You have shots of Moulin Rouge and Eiffel Tower in the title song, and in the other songs, Shammi and Sharmila are seen in front of the Louvres and on the banks of the Seine. But it is always possible to superimpose the actors’ images on those backgrounds. Actually, those days, Beirut used to be called the “Paris of the East”, so it’d make more sense to shoot in Beirut, which was far cheaper than Hamburg.

  5. Anil Cherian says:

    Haldar sir,
    Can you please enlighten me on one point? I heard that the title song of evening in Paris was picturised not in Paris but somewhere in Germany (Hamburg, if I remember correctly). Is that correct?

  6. P. Haldar says:

    As part of my Shammi-Rafi pilgrimmage, I had visited most of the dhams where their songs were picturised: China Town, Singapore, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Batasia Loop, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Paris. But there was one dham I hadn’t visited, where the famous “Akele akele kahan jaa rahe ho” song was picturised. Friends, I am happy to report that last year I was able to complete my pilgrimmage by taking a cable car going up the hills from a place near Interlaken in Switzerland. And as I was going up, I could hear the sound of “rahe ho… rahe ho…” reverberating in the Alpine valley.

  7. santosh says:

    Dear Haldarji,

    First of all dont adress me as ji as i am very much younger to you.Thanks for the respect.My mail id is vishwanathsantosh6@gmail.com.also pl give me ur mobile number if u feel fit.Again thanks for replying to me.Jai rafi saab

  8. P. Haldar says:

    Dear Santosh ji,

    Thanks for your kind words. Please provide your email id and I’ll contact you.

    Regards and best,
    P. Haldar

  9. Binu Nair says:

    The first ever ‘Tumsa nahi dekha” musical tribute to Yahoo Shammi Kapoor and Saxo wonder Manohari Singh will be held at Mumbai, vile parle On:

    Aug 21, Sunday 5 pm to 9 pm at Parle College, Now Sathaye college, Ville Parle East, Mumbai.

    Professional singers : Aslam Parvez, Nivedita, CS PANT will belt out evergreen numbers of the blissful golden era.

    Its being presented by the Rafi foundation.

    rsvp…. 9833 250 701

  10. Ali says:

    Shammi ji we will miss u…no words I have to say about this great actor and honest man

  11. JYOTI MOHANTY says:

    tear jerking in to eyes!!the voice is gone and now the body ,probably the best ever popular combination in the history of Bollywood .may his sole rest in peace.

  12. Jas Bhakar says:

    From Jas Entertainments Jas , Nisha and Gargi

    Shammi Kapoor Ji was a true inspriation to us ,we have followered him from childhood . we always sing the songs from his films thats mohd . Rafi hits , we will truly miss such a great man , may he rest in peace

  13. santosh says:

    Dear Haldarji,

    I always read ur comments with great zest because i find ur writings to be simple and to the point.And ur knowledge is remarkable.It will be my honour if u can give me ur mobile number.I am a friend of Mr.Narayan sir, and also known to rafi saab’s family for quite a time now.I am waiting for u reply sir.

  14. P. Haldar says:

    The last song I heard Rafi saab sing live was “Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera” to rapturous applause from a 10,000+ crowd in February 1980. In all his concerts I’ve attended, he would always sing this number as well as “Yahoo, chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe”. On behalf of all Rafi fans, I would like to thank you Shammi ji for giving Rafi saab that unique dimension, which I call the Junglee Rafi, the Badtameez Rafi, the Janwar Rafi, the Pagla Kahin Ka Rafi. Without you, this dimension would have never been possible.

    Like your eldest brother, you were one of the few actors who really understood music. And among all the actors Rafi saab playbacked for, you, along with Rajendra Kumar, have been his greatest fan. Your tribute clearly shows why he is considered to be the greatest playback singer ever.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOwwUKPodBs&NR=1

    Thank you Shammiji for all the fun and entertainment you’ve provided us over the years.

    P. Haldar

  15. Rafi saheb was the soul of shammi saheb and shammi saheb was the body of rafi saheb. Now the body has gone to meet its soul. Both legends were gone heavenly abode in the holi month of ramadan. Shammi saheb was truely a magician. his dancing style and steps were amazing and matchless even today and same was rafi saheb, a matchless voice and a great human being. Long live shammi saheb long live rafi saheb.
    Birendra Singh

  16. BOLLYWOOD HAS LOST ITS GREATEST HERO OF ALL TIMES, RAFI SAAB SHAMMIJI WERE A PERFECT COMINATION,THEY WERE BORN FOR EACH OTHER. RAFISAAB AND SHAMMIJI GAVE BOLLYWOOD AUDIANCE THE GREATEST ENTERTAINMENT FROM EARLY SIXTIES TO MID SEVENTIES. HAVING MET RAFISAAB PERSONALLY IN 1972 WHEN HE CAME FOR A STAGE SHOW OF ZAMBIA AND HAD THE CHANCE TO BE WITH RAFISAAB FOR ABOUT A WEEK GOING WITH HIM FROM ONE TOWN TO ANOTHER FOR HIS SHOWS AND THEY WERE THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN MY LIFE.RAFISAAB WAS A JOLLY PERSON ALWAYS SMILING TO EVERYONE THAT MET HIM AND DURING HIS CINCERT RAFISAAB SANG ALMOST ALL THE HIT SONGS FROM SHAMMIJI AND MADE ONE FEEL THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY WATCHING SHAMMIJI ON THE STAGE. THESE TWO LOVELY HUMAN BEING WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN PEOPLES HEARTS AND NOBODY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO FILL UP UP THE GAP THAT THEY LEFT BEHIND. FINALLY MY DEEPEST SYMPHATY TO THE FAMILY OF LATE SHAMMIJI AND THE YOUNG BROTHER SHASHIJI AND THE NEPHEWS RANDHIR AND RISHI KAPOOR.MAY SHAMMIJIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.RAFI DIED IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMSAN ON FRIDAY THE 17TH ROZA AND SHAMMIJI FOLLOWED HIS IDOL 31 YEARS LATER AND THAT TOO IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAAN ON THE 13 TH ROZA. MEHBOOB BHAYAT, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

  17. J.Ketwaru ,dr says:

    In my youth Shammi saab was for me my identification figure.His first picture I saw in Surinam with a metamorphosis of Shammi Kapoor was Dil Dekee Dekhoo.I saw this picture more than twelve times.Most of his pictures I can see several times because of the assimilation of the voice of India ,Badsha Rafi and Shammi Kapoor ji.Once Shammi saab said :without Rafi sahab,Shammi Kapoor was not possible.Both died in the holy month Ramzaan :masha Allah! I hope they will meet each other so that both can create beautiful things again. Shammi saab was a flexible human being,he was a respectful gentleman, that is why I can say Assalamo Alaikum to him, your friend ,brother Jai.Ketwaru

  18. N K V RANGA RAO says:

    Bollywood has lost the most flamboyant actor of yesteryear,I myself was a great fan of Shammi Kapoor in my school days.I have seen almost all the movies acted by him and nobody can forget the great combination of body and soul in Shammiji and Rafisaab,they together gave great songs to us which are evelasting melodies.

  19. SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST 2011 IS THE DARKEST DAY OF MY LIFE AS MY MOST BELOVED STAR SHAMMIJI DEPARTED FROM THIS WORLD.I HAVE WATCHED ALMOST ALL THE GREAT MOVIES OF THIS VETERN KING OF ROCK FROM BOLLYWOOD.MURHOOM RAFISAAB AND SHAMMIJI WERE THE GREATEST UNMATCHABLE STARS WHICH ONLY COMES ONCE IN A LIFE TIME.RAFIFI DIED ON FRIDAY THE 17TH ROZA IN 1980 AND SHAMMIJI DIED ON SUNDAY THE 13TH ROZA AUGUST 14TH 2011.SINGERS AND ACTORS COMES AND GOES BUT THIS PAIR WILL NEVER EVER BE REPLACED BY ANYONE. MY DEEPEST AND HEARTIEST CONDOLANCES TO SHASIJI THE ONLY BROTHER LEFT OF SHAMMIJI AND ALSO MY DEEPEST CONDOLANCES TO THE SHAMMI KAPOOR AND THE REST KAPOOR FAMILY. MAY ALLAH BLESS THIS WONDERFUL PERSON ETERNAL PEACE IN THE LIFE HERE AFTER.LONG LIVE SHAMMIJI IN OUR HEARTS.

  20. Jayant Sanyal says:

    Rafi Sahab ki Aawaz aur Shammi Kappor jee ke Abhinaya ka Jadoo
    In dono ne mil kar woh samaa baandha ki har koi inki taraf khichtaa hi Chalaa gaya!
    “Nazar Bachaa kar Chale gaye woh,
    Varna Ghayal kar Deta”
    Nazar Bachaa kar aap chale toh Shammi Kappor Sahab,
    Par Ghayal Hum sabko Kar Gaye!
    Long Live Shammi Kapoor Sahab! Long Live Rafi Sahab!

  21. santosh says:

    A very sad day for all rafians.Because Rafi saab and Shammikapoor shared a special chemistry that is very rare till date.Just as rafi saab sang spontaneously , shammi kapoor also acted spontaneously.that is the reason why we find him so much pleasing.There is so much engergy in him , the way he acted, dance.This happens when the performer be it singer or actor is a good human being.There was nothing artirfical in his acting just like singing of rafi saab.May god rest his soul in peace.

  22. achal rangaswamy says:

    there was a man. and there was his voice. both blended beautifully to give us some great energetic, enthusiastic, romantic, sad, touching, boisterous……and oh so many different songs of such a wide range !!!!

    we shall miss shammi kapoor ji.

    but perhaps he and rafi saab, and shankar and jaikishan too…are all sitting up there…making some great music together….for the Gods to enjoy

    it is truly the end of a magical era

    achal rangaswamy

  23. Anil Pargaonkar, Pune says:

    I had the occasion to be in the company of Shammiji in July,1973 in Pune for 3,4 days. There was shooting of the film of JAMEER at Loni, Pune on a private stud of Mahendras Jeep-people and I was a young (26) Bank Officer then. My job was then to carry daily Rs.One lakh in cash,( yes, one lakh in cash) to the shooting site in the morning and return at the end of the shooting to the Bank. There were close-up shots of currency notes to be scattered in the hit of quarrels amongst characters like Shammiji, Amitabh, Saira Banu etc. The money was being taken from the a/c of Producers – B R Chopra against his cheques. I was excited to be close to Shammiji, who was my childhood idol and he was making a lot of fun of me as I was continuously holding tight my cash bag being my responsibility. Shammiji tried to grab it a couple of times funnily but I was scared then. During lunch time, he used to pull me close to him and make me to share their dabbas from Blue Diamond Hotel. I was rather embarrassed/felt shy to share food in the company of Shammiji,Saira Banu, Amitabh, Indrani Mukherjiee, B R Chopra. I have a large photograph of mine with them as a memoire. Today I miss Shammiji very much. May his soul rest in peace.

  24. M V Devraj says:

    Shammi Kapoor came,he conquered and now he has gone before we all could say,’zara thaharo,zara thaharo,sada mere dil ki zara sunte jaao’. We loved you Shammiji,we will love you till we die and meet you in your own world.Have a quiet and peaceful rest in the meanwhile,my friend.

    M V Devraj

  25. Jagmohan Singh says:

    Shammi Kapoor has left this world.He has left this world in the month of Holy Ramzan as Mohd.Rafi also passed away in the Holy Ramzan days.Shammi Kapoor oftenly spoke in the public that MOHAMMED RAFI is my voice.Mohd Rafi was very close to Shammi Kapoor as there was a common factor in both of them that both were PUNJABIS.Mohd Rafi always talked in punjabi language with Kapoors and all other punjabis of the film industry.Mohd Rafi induced the style and emotions in the songs as Shammi wanted to perform on the screen.We pay tribute to the departed soul.

  26. Nasreen says:

    Shammi Kapoor no more. It is a shock to think this. For us girls from a certain era, Shammi Kapoor was the one who set our hearts racing. so handsome, debonair, so funny…..and so in synch with the greatest voice that has ever lived, our Rafi Sahab. Shammi was the ultimate “hero” girls could go crazy about. He had some similarity with that other legend of the west, Elvis. Just like Elvis, he simply rocked in “Teesri manzil” and was even called Rocky! And like Elvis, he will not be forgotten.

    When one hears the word “antics” one thinks of comedian not hero. Yet, Shammi did have his peculiar antics which he performed for every song, that sudden lurching forward etc. but far from making him comic, they made him all the more attractive. It is not something one can cultivate, these are things that are an inherent part of a person.

    “Tareef karoon kya uski”…suffice to say there will not be another Shammi Kapoor. He will be missed. May God rest his soul in peace.

  27. vinod mehru says:

    badatmeeaz, jungalee, jaanwar. prince, raajkumar aur laatsaheb bhi rafi saheb ko milne chala gaya , aur dono milkar ek dusre ko kahte hai ki tumsa nahin dekha.

    rafi saheb aur shammi g ke last gaano mein se ek zindgi hai safar ek suhana yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana, rafi saheb aur shammi g jitna bhi jiye sar utha kar sanmaan ke saath jiye, aab to un mahan hastiyon ki yaaden hi rah gayi hai mere pass .

    dono ki aatma ko shanti mile

    vinod mehru
    09768245368

  28. Rashid Diwan says:

    Today there is a MILAN of two souls, two friends and the face and the voice. When we think of Shami Kapoor we automatically think of Rafi. May his soul rest in peace.

  29. anurag says:

    Shammi Kapoor matched the difficult Harketein Mohd Rafi used to take. Both synchronized to highest level.
    Rightly said by P haldar: Greatest rafians has gone…”
    SK will always live in our memories.

  30. tjayaraj says:

    Sahmmi,the yahoo man.Long before @yahoo became a house hold name,Shammi introduced and popularized YAHOO in Junglee.I remember shouting yahoo in college days.He still lives with us thru his songs ,thanks for the youtube they are forever etched in stone.My favorites :tumes atcha kaun hai-from Janwar,nazar batcha–from del tera diwana,tumsa nahin dekha,hummatwale naujawan–from shararat,bar bar dekho-china town,him aur tum—dil dekhe dekho and the list goes on.May his soul rest in peace!

  31. Binu Nair says:

    Coincidences about legends:

    On legend Shammi Saheb 21 white roses were placed by three mohd rafi and shammi kapoor lovers yesterday Sunday at 8.30 pm. this was on behalf of ‘those’ who culd not have come down personally to give their ‘last’ respects to the legend.

    Mohd rafi died on July 31st. exactly 31 years and 31 days later, his great friend shammi has left us. it was also the 13th day of fasting for muslims. Both of them went away during the holy month of ramadan..

    The rafi foundation salutes the heroes. Legends never do die…

  32. mohanflora says:

    Shammi kapoor’s unique style of acting, dancing and ‘singing’ kept us coming back over and over again to the theaters to watch him during our childhood. He has got his ‘Voice ‘ back again up there!

  33. H.A.K. Walijah says:

    This is sad indeed. What a vibrant and nice man, full of energy and life. A great actor of our times. When I was young and he at his peak,I never missed his films. We will always remember his songs and the way he enacted them . A great actor who produced genuine entertainers. Something that is missing today in Hindi film industry. Shammi Ji was the greatest entertainer of all times. Bollywood will never produce an equal. I cherish his memory through his great films.

    Legendary Singer Muhammed Rafi Voice had played a great role in moulding filmy carrier of Shammi Kapoor. Singer par excellence human being Rafi Saheb has indeed was the backbone for his endurance in his filmy life.. Shammi Kapoor was great human being , have great regards for human values.. Feeling void passing. May his soul rests in peace.

  34. Harvinder says:

    Another star falls. Shammi sahab was, to me at least, the best artist in Kapoor dynasty. He had a style that was so natural and is unmatched till date. To me, his best acting is in Pagla Kahin Ka, Andaz and Brahmachari. His expressions were matchless and did full justice to Rafi Sahab’s singing.

    I pay highest tribute to this great actor.

  35. biman baruah says:

    It was today’s shocking news for every Indian Movie & Music Lover. He was the rebal & zany star of hindi cinema with special characteristic as the first dancing star. Till death, Kapoor recognised importance of Rafi Saheb in his career with his remark, “I am incomplete without Mohammed Rafi”. Mohd. Rafi Sahab was the meticulous voice of Shammi Kapoor from his first film JEEVAN JYOTI (1953) with Chand Usmani to JAANE ANJAANE (1971) with Leena Chandravarkar. Shammi Kapoor started his career with serious roles, got the playboy image with films like TUMSA NAHIN DEKA (1957) and DIL DEKE DEKHO (1959) due to musical hit with Rafi songs. He became a star with “Yahoo” image from his first colour and huge hit film JUNGLEE (1961) where Rafi shouted “Yahoo! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe” which gave the actor his identity. This matchless singer-actor combination followed by a number of hit films PROFESSOR, RAJKUMAR, KASHMIR KI KALI, TEESRI MANZIL, AN EVENING IN PARIS, BRAHMACHARI, ANDAZ. Mohd. Rafi nominated for Filmfare Award for the song “Aye Gulbadam Aye Gulbadan” from PROFESSOR (1962) and won Filmfare Award for the song, “Dil Ke Jharoke Mein Tujko Bithakar” from BRAHMACHARI (1968). In the same way, Shammi Kapoor nominated for Filmfare Best Actor Award for PROFESSOR and won Filmfare Best Actor Award for BRAHMACHARI. The signature song of Rafi, “Tum Mujhe Yoon Bhula Na Paaoge” from PAGLA KAHIN KA will immortalise this singer-actor permutation. Both this two soul will be remembered in this earth for their respective contribution. God bless them in heaven.

  36. P. Haldar says:

    Last Sunday, when I switched on the TV in my hotel room in Mumbai, I found Shammi ji talking about OP’s contribution to the Rafi-Shammi magic. Shammi ji was Rafi saab’s favourite actor. May his soul rest in peace.

  37. Binu Nair says:

    Just returned after placing ‘white roses’ on Yahoo Shammi Kapoor today around 8.30 pm (sunday ).

    the flowers were kept on behalf of the rafi foundation and lovers of shammi saheb and rafi saheb – who had called up from different parts and asked to keep white roses on their behalf.

    the kapoor family was there in great strength and received the mourners .

    aditya kapoor son of shammi saaheb was there. Shammi saheb lay there in a glass coffin with his face uncovered. lots of grieving friends, fans and filmfolk came in with flowers and paid their last respects to the elvis priesly of india.

    Its a coincidence that mohd rafi and shammi kapoor died during the holy month of ramadan.

    today is 13th day of holy ramadan. mohd rafi died on july 31st.

    and 31 years later and 13 days later, shammi kapoor left us.

    mohd rafi was buried on a friday and shammi kapoor permanently rested very early friday morning.

    the body and the voice has ‘now’ left us. but legends never die. they live in our hearts.

    the rafi foundation bows to two finest men of our times : mohd rafi saheb and yahoo shammi kapoor saheb.

  38. J.K. Bhagchandani says:

    Shammi Kapoor was a trendsetter, a rebel. He was the first and the original rock and roll star of Hindi films. His dance style was unique and ahead of times. Many stars of today try unsuccessfully to imitate him. Rafi was the perfect foil for him. He and Rafi saab created a kind of magic not seen before or after. Long live Shammi Kapoor-Rafi legacy.

    Shammi ji: When you reach up there please ask God why did he take away Rafi saab from amongst us so early. Tell him how badly you missed him, how badly his fans on earth miss him.

    -J.K. Bhagchandani

  39. Dr. Chandrasekhar says:

    The veteran actor shammi kapoor was great hero in bollywood – Many songs of rafi for this actor are famous – kashmir ki kali, professor etc.etc. May god bless his soul.

  40. Abhishek says:

    Friends,

    Veteran actor shammi kapoor passes away – May his soul rest in peace. The beautiful song Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra by rafi ji in kashmir ki kali is one of my favourite songs for shammi kapoor by rafi ji.

  41. Anil Cherian says:

    Finally Shammi sahab has followed ‘his voice’. As Haldar sir has rightly put it, he was the greatest Rafian of them all. The world will be poorer by his departure. R I P sir, you will live on in our hearts.

  42. P. Haldar says:

    The greatest Rafian is gone. Long live the King of Rock ‘n Roll. Shammi ji, you will be always with us.

  43. ZTEK-7 says:

    It was a shock to hear of Shammi’s death today. Shammi Kapoor was an iconic actor of the Golden era of Indian cinema. He started the dance trend through generations. His was known for his great songs on screen with the loyal aid of Rafi saab which he acknowledged only last year at the Mohammed Rafi academy “Without Rafi, Shammi Kapoor would have been uncomplete”
    Although somehow you felt Shammi himself was singing the songs himself (the greatness of Rafi saab). Shammi Kapoor and Rafi saab had the perfect chemistry together!

    I loved watching Shammi movies especially “Evening in Paris”, “Kashmir Ki Kali”, “Teesri Manzil”, “Andaz” (his last movie as a leading role) etc..

    He was the original dance mover on screen and a wonderful actor who had a sense of style and presence on screen!

    Shammi kapoor will be always remembered as one of the all time legends of the indian screen. RIP Shammi uncle!!

  44. It is really a sad news for us today that a grt8 legend of Hindi Film Industry Shammi Kapoorji passed away at morning. He was a unique artist who have acted lot of films and all his films have been super hit, but in other department it was Mohd Rafisaab gave his voice to shammi at a maximum time. All his songs been super hit. It was a unique understanding between this two legends. In one of the interview which Shammi kapoorji gave that in many of the songs it was Rafisaab gave expression the way the hero wanted to give and he told it was a unique type of talent which Rafisaab had. The song “Dil ke zaroke mein” the song is so fast that it would have been difficult to other singer and hero to do. Today we lost a highly respected legend from this world. I will pray to god, keep his soul in peace. Now we are without rafisaab and shammi kapoorji here, but their songs and films will be remembered forever.

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