Kapoor clan celebrate Shashi’s Phalke honour

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday conferred with the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award to veteran actor and film-maker Shashi Kapoor at a special function in Prithvi Theatre in suburban Mumbai. Kapoor was unable to attend the award ceremony in Delhi (scheduled for May 3) because of ill health.

The 77-year-old is the third member of the famous Kapoor family to receive the award. The other two recipients were his father Prithviraj Kapoor and elder brother Raj Kapoor.

Jaitley said it was an honour to present an award to someone like Shashi Kapoor. “He is the most versatile personality that Indian cinema has ever produced. Mr Kapoor is an actor par excellence,” the minister said

The actor came to receive the award accompanied by his family members – son Kunal, daughter Sanjana, nephew Rishi Kapoor, grand nephew Ranbir Kapoor, grand niece Karisma Kapoor and sisters-in-law Krishna Raj Kapoor and Neela Devi. Several of Kapoor’s co-actors, including Amitabh Bachchan – with whom he has starred in films such as Deewar, Trishul, Shaan and Namak Halaal ­-- were also present.

Many heroines with whom he has starred in several films were also present. Those present included Waheeda Rehman, Kapoor’s co-star Kabhie Kabhie and Namak Halaal; and Asha Parekh, co-actor from Pyar Ka Mausam. Kapoor’s Junoon heroine Nafisa Ali was also present. Rekha, Raj Babbar and Zeenat Aman, among others also graced the occasion.

Ranbir paid a special tribute to the veteran actor. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the veteran actor.