Remembering Father

Despite his success in films after Cinema Girl8212;his popularity grew with films like Vijay Kumar, Toofan and Alam Ara and he also delivered stunning performances as Alexander the Great in Sikander 1941 and as the booming Emperor Akbar in Mughal-E-Azam 19608212;Prithviraj8217;s first love was theatre and, in 1944, his travelling company Prithvi Theatres was finally realised with a repertory of 150 performers, technicians and backstage help. Being such a large group, Prithvi could rarely afford decent accommodation while on tour. Sometimes they even slept in tents and cow sheds. By the time Shashi was born, his father and mother Rama had already had brothers Raj and Shammi. Raj Kapoor was the stage manager and looked after costumes, lights and make-up. Shammi Kapoor, played multiple roles in the plays. 8216;8216;I was involved in lighting, which involved transporting heavy studio lights,8217;8217; he says.

Shashi remembers his father as an actor-manager who refused to acknowledge hierarchies and was fondly addressed as 8216;Papa ji8217;. 8216;8216;The theatres made about Rs 3,000 per performance with 10-rupee tickets but it was not enough to pay everyone8217;s salaries,8217;8217; recalls Shashi. Papa ji often spent his earnings from the big screen on theatre.

In 1978, Shashi and wife Jennifer opened Prithvi Theatre, which has evolved into a cultural laboratory, exactly the way Prithviraj envisioned it.