Shatrughan Sinha recalls Shashi Kapoor being the most cheerful on sets of their 1973 movie 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa'
Mumbai, June 23
Veteran star Shatrughan Sinha shared fond memories from his earlier film career, and working with Shashi Kapoor in the movie 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa'.
The actor, who appeared on the sets of the singing reality show Indian Idol, recalled how Shashi Kapoor was always smiling and never had a dull moment with him around.
When the host of the show Aditya Narayan asked him about his experience of working with Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore in the film, Shatrughan Sinha shared, "Pura Kapoor parivar ka toh main shuru se hi deewana raha hu, aaj bhi hu aur kal bhi rahunga. Main hamesha ye Raj Kapoor ke chote bhai aur Shammi Kapoor ke chote bhai Kapoor khandan ki aan, baan aur shaan Shashi Kapoor the great Prithviraj Kapoor ji ke suputra, ke saath kaam karna, jo itna hasmukh kalakar aaj tak maine nahi dekha."
(I have been an admirer of the entire Kapoor family from the very beginning, and I remain one today and always will. Working with Shashi Kapoor, the younger brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, the pride, prestige, and glory of the Kapoor family, and the son of the great Prithviraj Kapoor, was truly special. To this day, I have not seen an actor as cheerful and warm-hearted as him.)
Sharing his thoughts further on the importance of meaningful characters over lengthy screen time, he further added, "Never go for the length of the role, always go for the strength of the role. Role ka lamba hona bahut zaroori nahi hai, role ka badhiya aur majboot hona zaroori hai. Chote role mein bhi aap chha sakte ho. Aur ye picture mein mera role utna nahi tha jo log Shashi Kapoor aur Sharmila Tagore ko yaad rakhte hai, woh shayad mujhe bhi yaad rakhte hai."
(Never go for the length of the role, always go for the strength of the role. It is not important for a role to be long; what matters is that it is well-written and impactful. You can leave a strong impression even in a small role. In this film, my role was not as substantial as those of Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore, but perhaps the audience remembers me as well)
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's always a treat to hear these old Bollywood stories. Shatrughan Sinha has such a way with words - "Kapoor khandan ki aan, baan aur shaan" - beautifully said! The Kapoor family truly was the royalty of Indian cinema. Proud to have grown up watching these legends. 🎬✨
While the nostalgia is nice, I think we should remember that Shatrughan Sinha also had some controversial political statements in recent years. Still, his film memories are always interesting to hear. Shashi Kapoor was indeed a gem. Just wish people would focus more on the craft than the family legacy sometimes.
"Never go for the length of the role, always go for the strength of the role" - this is such a timeless lesson for every actor! Just shows how even in a supporting role, Shatrughan Sinha made his mark. These old school actors really knew their craft inside out. 🙌
This reminds me of watching 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa' with my grandmother - she would always talk about how Shashi Kapoor had the most infectious smile. Shatrughan Sinha's admiration for the Kapoor family is so genuine. It's rare to see such pure appreciation in today's film industry!
I have mixed feelings about these nostalgia pieces. On one hand, it's lovely to hear about old cinema. On the other, it sometimes feels like we're glorifying the past too much and ignoring the great work being done today. But I guess that's just how memories work - we remember the good times. Shashi Kapoor
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