Shashi Kapoor cremated with state honours as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan pay tribute. See pics

Veteran actor-filmmaker Shashi Kapoor, who passed away here on Monday at the age of 79, was wrapped in the tricolour and given a three-gun salute by the police for his last rites at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium on Tuesday.

Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Salim Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Supriya Pathak, Shakti Kapoor and Suresh Oberoi among others were present at the cremation.

Kapoor, a three-time winner at India’s National Film Awards, is survived by his three children – Sanjana, Kunal and Karan. His wife, English actress Jennifer Kendal, died in 1984. He was part of what became known as Bollywood’s first family, son of Prithviraj Kapoor and two brothers who were also leading men: Raj, who died in 1988, and Shammi who died in 2011. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan -- the third highest civilian honour -- by the Government of India in 2011. In 2015, he was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

1.50 pm, IST: Shashi Kapoor was given a state funeral, which was held amid massive security around 12 noon. The actor-producer's body was taken to the crematorium from his Juhu home in an ambulance at 11.45 am. His three children -- sons Kunal and Karan and daughter Sanjna -- were there as were other members of the Kapoor family and scores of film personalities to bid farewell to the actor.

About a dozen policemen draped the actor's body in tricolour, which was later removed for the rituals. This was followed by a minute's silence.

1.25 pm, IST: The last rites of the veteran actor Shashi Kapoor were held at Santacruz Hindu crematorium on Tuesday noon. The actor was honoured with a three gun salute in the presence of family and film fraternity members.

1 pm, IST: Bollywood celebs reached the crematorium to pay their last respects to Shashi Kapoor. Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Shashi Kapoor’s son Kunal were among those seen there.

12.43 pm, IST: Sonam Kapoor shared posts on Instagram remembering the actor. “There’s never has been nor will there ever be anyone like Shashi Kapoor. He was a man of his own and transformed what it meant to be an actor. We miss you and love you always,” she wrote in her post. “With the passing of an icon like Shashi Kapoor, the importance and influence of the work we do shines even brighter. Shashi Uncle was a star of Indian cinema and I know he will continue to inspire us!,” she added.

12.40 pm, IST: Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek reached Shashi Kapoor’s residence for the actor’s last rites. The Kapoor family members -- Rishi Kapoor with son Ranbir and Randhir Kapoor with daughters Kareena and Karisma -- also reached for the funeral.

12.20 pm, IST: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan reached Shashi Kapoor’s residence on Monday night as did Karisma with mother Babita. Ranbir Kapoor and grandmother Krishna were seen at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital after Shashi Kapoor’s demise.

11.50 am IST: Actors Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah reached Shashi Kapoor’s residence. The last rites of Kapoor will take place later today as Mumbai deals with torrential rain. Kapoor’s nephew, actor Rishi Kapoor, on Monday cancelled his shoot and rushed to Mumbai after hearing of his uncle’s demise.

11.30 am IST: Shashi Kapoor’s funeral will take place at Santa Cruz in Mumbai at noon. Bollywood celebs have started reaching the actor’s residence. Sanjay Dutt was among the first to reach. On Monday night, Amitabh Bachchan visited Kapoor’s family to condole his death along with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Kajol and Rani Mukerji also paid tributes to the actor.

11.15 am IST: Aparna Sen paid tribute to Shashi Kapoor, remembering how he had produced her first directorial venture 36 Chowringhee Lane and took care of every single technician. “I still remember that against the initial agreement to pay me Rs 30,000 for the film, he had paid me Rs 60,000 when 36 Chowringhee Lane was completed. I asked why he doubled the amount, he said please keep this amount with you," Sen said.

She said he had last met Kapoor two years back. "As he was seated on a wheel chair I went near him and introduced myself. He had a blank look and once I said can't you recognise the director of 36 Chowringhee Lane, his face lit up... He used to call me Coppola, after (film maker) Francis Ford Coppola, while I used to call him Sethji. We knew the end will come, but it was shocking," she said.

10.50 am IST: The sixth edition of Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF), which began here on Monday, paid homage to actor Shashi Kapoor on Tuesday morning. I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this festival to its sixth edition. Before we inaugurate this festival, we just got the news from (director) Tigmanshu Dhulia that... with immense remorse I have to announce to the audience sitting here that veteran actress Shashi Kapoor has passed away and his contribution will never be forgotten and will always be remembered by the film industry in India, world over," said founder-president Ramkishore Parcha Parcha.

10.30 am IST: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan penned a heartfelt post for late actor Shashi Kapoor, with whom he formed an enormously successful on-screen partnership. Big B, in his post, recalled the day when he first saw Shashi Kapoor's picture on a magazine, “Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor . son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read. And I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all.”

Dec 4: Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji, among several others visited Kapoor’s house late Monday to pay tributes to the late actor.

Dec 4: Actress-politician Hema Malini, who featured with him in about 14 films like Abhinetri and Trishul, tweeted: “My dear friend and co-star of many successful movies - Shashi Kapoor, is no more. He leaves behind many pleasant memories of the camaraderie we shared on the sets during our shooting schedules. RIP dear friend. I will surely miss you.”

Dec 4: His Siddhartha co-star Simi Garewal was also deeply saddened by Shashi Kapoor’s passing away. “The last of that generation of Kapoors gone. A gentleman and friend gone. An era gone. All that remains are his films and precious memories.”

Dec 4: Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar tweeted: “I am extremely sad about Shashi Kapoor’s demise. He was very nice human being. RIP.”

Shashi Kapoor, who underwent a cataract surgery in 2012, was the third and the youngest son of late actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Kapoor. He was the last one of the second generation of the illustrious Kapoor family to pass away. His brother Raj Kapoor died in June 1988 and Shammi Kapoor breathed his last in August 2011.

While Shashi Kapoor often shared screen space with actresses, including Sharmila Tagore, Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi, Zeenat Aman and Rakhee, he also worked with his wife in films like Junoon and Bombay Talkie.

Apart from showing his romantic side in films like Sharmilee, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Kabhi Kabhie, Shashi also starred in unconventional movies like In Custody, Siddhartha and Utsav. He also went behind the camera with films like Junoon, Vijeta and 36 Chowringhee Lane as a producer. Later, he made his directorial debut in 1991 with Ajooba. Among his numerous achievements, he was honoured with awards like Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan.

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