Shammi Kapoor's daughter Kanchan, from his first marriage to Geeta Bali, has plunged into the daunting task of portraying her father's life and career in a book. This book will cover both the professional and personal aspects of Kapoor's life as a husband, a father and a national icon.
The actor's son Aditya Raj Kapoor confirms Kanchan's endeavour. Kapoor's family is overwhelmed by the importance given to the legendary star in Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar that stars his nephew Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir.
Aditya reveals his father shot for Rockstar under great physical pain. He points out, "The level of pain he endured during his last days is inhuman and to see him perform is amazing.
To be able to move around, rehearse, pay attention, wear heavy and unusual clothes all the while on intermittent oxygen and dialysis and still have the ability to stay Shammi Kapoor this is commitment!"
Interestingly Shammi's father, Prithviraj Kapoor, too, had shot his last film under unimaginable physical pain.Says Aditya, "May be my father drew inspiration from his father who performed in Kal Aaj aur Kal in the last few months of his life. You can see that this is his benediction to Ranbir, someone he was very fond of."
That Rockstar is dedicated to Shammi Kapoor only adds to Aditya's sense of exhilaration. "Shammi Kapoor is the original rockstar. The shehnai-guitar jugalbandi with Ranbir looked like a transfusion of energy from the old to the new.
The audience moved from the theatre to the recording-room in the movie where the jugalbandi was held, wanting to reach out and feel the man for the last time. I did."
