When Shashi Kapoor called himself 'foolish' while reflecting on his childhood dream of becoming a director

Shashi Kapoor is one of the renowned actors in the Bollywood industry starring in several hit films. However, the actor had admitted that he never wanted to direct a film.

Shashi Kapoor would have celebrated his 87th birthday on March 18. However, Prasar Bharati Archives has recently shared a throwback interview of the late actor to mark the special day.

In the interview, Shashi Kapoor reflected on working with his friend Prayag and experimenting with direction. The late actor also shared how Manmohan Desai and Shyam Benegal encouraged him to take up directing.

Why did Shashi Kapoor call himself foolish?

Shashi Kapoor reflected on his childhood dreams of becoming a director and claimed that he was a very foolish person. He said, “I am a very foolish person, first of all. Secondly, I am a very lazy and sluggish person.”

The late veteran actor recalled, “I have always had an interest in direction since childhood, when Prayag and I used to direct together. After that, my friends like Manmohan Desai and other friends also told me to direct something. Even Shyam Benegal sir told me that he would write the script and I could direct it.”

Shashi Kapoor reflects on how he never wanted to direct a film

Shashi Kapoor revealed that he never pursued directing because he believed he couldn't fully focus on both acting and directing in the same film. He explained that the problem was that if he was working as an actor in someone else's film, he felt it would be wrong to direct and act in the same movie because he wouldn't be able to concentrate properly on his own film, and he wouldn't be able to give enough time to his own picture.

Shashi Kapoor directed a film in 1991

Shashi Kapoor might have previously admitted that he never wanted to sit in the director's chair, but he did direct one film throughout his career. The late actor directed the 1991 film, Ajooba. Additionally, he also served as a producer of the film.

Ajooba featured an ensemble cast including, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in the pivotal role.

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Shashi Kapoor’s career spans around four decades. He made his acting debut as a child actor in 1948 with his brother Raj Kapoor's directorial Aag. However, he had bagged his first role as an adult in 1961 with Yash Chopra's political drama Dharmputra.

The late actor has also starred in blockbusters including, Waqt, Jab Jab Phool Khile, and Do Aur Do Paanch among others. He retired from acting after starring in Dirty British Boys in 1999.

For the unversed, Shashi Kapoor died in 2017 after battling with liver cirrhosis, as well as kidney failure. He was admitted at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai.