Shamsher Raj Kapoor, better known as Shammi Kapoor, was the second born of Prithvi Raj Kapoor. His entry into films was through a non-descript movie called 'Jeevan Jyoti' with Chand Usmani. But before that he was busy in father's Prithvi Theatres. His first film went unnoticed.
So was his many other films after his debut. Films like 'Rail Ka Dibba', 'Laila Majnu', 'Hum Sab Chor Hain', 'Shaheed Bhagat Singh', 'Daku' and 'Coffee House' came only to be forgetton soon. But he did work with the likes of Madhubala, Nutan, Suraiya and Nalini Jaywant. His first major success came through 'Tumsa Nahin Dekha' in 1957. Then there was a flood of hit films like 'Dil Deke Dekho' and 'Basant'. But it was only 'Junglee' in 1961 which made him a star. There was no looking back for him from then on and which ever film he did was a hit. His hit films include Teesri Manzil, Laat Saheb, An Evening In Paris, Prince, Brahmachari and the likes. He bagged the best actor award for his role in Brahmachari, best supporting for Vidhata and the Lifetime Achievement award in 1995. In the later years, because of his burly frame he had make do with some character roles as in 'Parvarish', 'Prem Rog', 'Hero', 'Desh Premi' and 'Ajooba'.
He also directed two films - 'Manoranjan' and 'Bandalbaaz'. Some of his recent releases have been 'Prem Granth' and 'Janam Samjha Karo'. He has got addicted with Internet and has 'Yahoo' to his credit.
