Original 'showman' Shammi Kapoor passes away aged 79

Mumbai, Aug 14: Shammi Kapoor, the flamboyant showman of Hindi cinema is no more. He died at 5:15am on Aug 14. He was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital and was aged 79. He was suffering from chronic renal failure and succumbed to related illness. He was on ventilator support since he was admitted to hospital a week back. [UPDATE:

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A person who can be easily termed a veteran, his fame shot to dizzying heights in the 1950's and early 1960's. He immortalized many Mohammed Rafi hits and set India swinging with his classic portrayal of filmy romance. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2009.

He made his debut in Bollywood movies in 1953 with the film Jeevan Jyoti, and acted in massive hits like Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Bramhachari, and Andaz and Vidhaata.

One of the early comments that came out via twitter expressing sorrow on Shammi Kapoor's death was Amitabh Bachchan and he tweeted, "Shammi Kapoor ji passed away this morning at 5:15 am .. Rushing there now .. the flamboyance and joi de verve of the Industry lost !"

Shammi Kapoor was born as Shamsherraj Kapoor on Oct 21, 1931. He married actress Geeta Bali, but the matrimony was short-lived when she died on small pox in 1965. He is survived by two children Aditya Raj Kapoor and Kanchan. He later remarried Neela Devi Gohil.

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