Shashi Kapoor, the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, was a handsome Bollywood actor. This seasoned actor was the epitome of romanticism, with a magnetism that wooed the women and leading ladies of the 1970s and 1980s on screen. While his work enthralled millions of admirers, Shashi Kapoor’s personal life was enthralled by English actress Jennifer Kendal. He met Jennifer while working at the Prithvi Theatres with his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. Soon after, the couple fell in love, married in July 1958, and had three children: Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, and Sanjana Kapoor.
Jennifer and Shashi’s paradise hit a snag when Jennifer was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1982, and she died in 1984 after a long struggle with the disease. Shashi was shattered after she died, and it nearly killed him. Shashi’s life following the death of his wife Jennifer, according to an excerpt from Aseem Chhabra’s biography “Shashi Kapoor: The Man, The Star,” is devastating. Dev Benegal claims to have met Kunal Kapoor at a Prithvi Theatre memorial after Jennifer’s death: “Dad took this boat out in the middle of the sea,” Kunal told me when the family returned from Goa. That was the first time he sobbed when he arrived. He truly cried.”‘ Like Dev, I’m taken aback by the rawness of Shashi’s sorrowful time alone in the big open oceans. ‘Her death had a profound effect on him.’
After Jennifer Kendal Kapoor died, Shashi Kapoor continued to work, and some of his best work came out of that period. However, something within him did snap. Hanif Kureishi, who worked with Shashi on Sammy and Rosie Get Laid9 two years after his wife’s death, says, ‘I think the death of Jennifer was a great blow to him.’ ‘It completely demolished him.’ Jennifer had been Shashi’s true anchor, his sincere love. He became rudderless after she died. ‘Jennifer occupied or Shashi surrendered to her a major part of his personality,’ Simi Garewal said. They eventually merged. Shashi tried to identify himself now that Jennifer was gone. Jennifer had occupied a large part of his personality, but now it was empty. There is nothing there. I met him over dinner in London with Ismail Merchant and could tell he was struggling. He didn’t seem like himself.’
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