What Shashi Kapoor taught the Big B: Self-introduction, donning a smart hairstyle

MUMBAI: As brothers-in-arms or partners-in- crime, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has shared fond memories of spending his life - both onscreen and offscreen - with veteran actor Shashi Kapoor, the "incredibly handsome" star, who passed away yesterday.

The actor breathed his last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital here at 5.20pm last evening.

Having worked in around 14 films, including hits such as "Deewaar", "Kaala Patthar", "Trishul", "Suhaag", "Shaan", among others, the duo also collaborated in "Ajooba" (1991) with Shashi directing Bachchan for the first and only time.

The megastar, in his personal blog, remembered feeling a little uncertain as an aspiring actor about his future in the film industry with the likes of charming actor like Shashi around.

"I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all..."

Bachchan recalled coming face-to-face with Shashi in a glitzy magazine, which announced his debut in films.

"Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man..." he wrote.

The actor, who was fondly called 'babbua' by Shashi, said he knew the veteran actor had been ailing for a long time but he avoided visiting him.

"I had visited him on occasion in Hospital during some of the times he had been hospitalised earlier... But I never went to see him again... I would never have... I never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and 'samdhi' in the state I saw him in hospital...

"... and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone," he wrote.

Bachchan also recounted couple of incidents with Shashi at the centre - where he always ended up receiving something from the generous actor.

The "Pink" star said he learnt the "self-introduction habit" from Shashi, which he uses till date.

He said the "Waqt" actor would extend a "warm soft hand out" in his first acquaintance with someone, disarming people with the "twinkle in his eyes" and "mischievous, gentle, yodel in his voice".

And it was Shashi who inspired Bachchan to cover his ears with hair in the era that thrived with leading men in thick sideburns.

"'Hey! maybe you should think of covering your ears as well...' and off I went to Hakim the hairdresser at Taj Hotel with my plan... and executed, it remained till date..."

Kapoor passed away due to kidney ailment. His funeral will be held today in the afternoon.