Before the spotlight embraced him as one of Indian cinema’s most loved stars, Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendal lived through a harsh phase of financial struggle, far removed from the glamour of Bollywood. Their story is one of love, resilience, and the kind of hardship that could have broken even the strongest—but didn’t.
A Humble Beginning, A Rocky Start
Shashi Kapoor made his debut as a lead actor in the 1961 film ‘Dharmputra’. Despite his charming personality and screen presence, success didn’t come instantly. He went on to act in several now-iconic films such as ‘Sharmilee’, ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, ‘Dil Ne Pukara’, ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi’, ‘Kanyadaan’, ‘Pyar Ka Mausam’, and ‘Bombay Talkie’. But in the early days, Kapoor was just another struggling actor trying to find his place in the industry.
A Marriage of Love—and Survival
Off-screen, Shashi’s life took a romantic turn when he fell in love with Jennifer Kendal, a fellow artist from the Prithvi Theatre Group. The two got married, sharing not just their passion for performance but also a dream of building something together. However, the early years of their marriage were far from easy.They were met with immediate financial troubles—little work, no steady income, and rising living costs. Shashi Kapoor’s son, Kunal Kapoor, revealed in a 2017 interview with Rediff.com that the family had to make heartbreaking choices to survive. “There was no work and no money,” he said. “My father had to sell his sports car. My mother also began selling things from the house just to keep us going.”
Bollywood’s Cold Shoulder to a Newcomer
In the same interview, Kunal mentioned that when ‘Dharmputra’ was being made, many established actresses refused to work with a newcomer like Shashi. “No actress wanted to act with him,” he said. “Only Nanda, a big star at the time, agreed to work with him. She showed great courage and grace.”Despite this initial rejection, Shashi kept pushing forward. His perseverance paid off, but only after years of struggle.
Breakthrough with ‘Sharmilee’ and Reluctance to Direct
Things finally began to change after the release of ‘Sharmilee’ in 1971. The film’s success marked a turning point in his career and opened doors to better roles and financial stability.Interestingly, despite being passionate about storytelling, Shashi Kapoor never had much interest in directing. “He directed only one film, ‘Ajooba’,” Kunal said. “There was a huge party on set and everyone had a great time, but directing wasn’t his thing. He was an actor, not a businessman. He just wanted to make good cinema and give his cast and crew everything they needed.”
The Pain Behind Stardom
Even as Shashi Kapoor went on to achieve massive success—including working in crossover international films—personal tragedy would cast a long shadow over his later years.Jennifer Kendal, his wife and constant support, passed away from cancer on September 7, 1984, after 26 years of marriage. Her death devastated Shashi. According to family accounts, he turned to alcohol and withdrew from public life. The grief was too deep to recover from.Shashi Kapoor passed away on December 5, 2017, emotionally and physically worn out, but having lived a life full of passion, purpose, and perseverance.
