Family, friends pay tribute to Shammi Kapoor

Nephew Randhir Kapoor, grandnieces Karisma and Kareena, co-star Amitabh Bachchan, director Imtiaz Ali and many other T'towners visited the Blue Heaven Society in Mumbai's Malabar Hill to pay tribute to Shammi Kapoor, who died at the Breach Candy Hospital today (August 14). He was 79.

He will be cremated Monday (August 15) morning.

Among the early birds from the film fraternity were Amitabh who came with wife Jaya, director Subhash Ghai, Anupam Kher, Imran Khan and his wife Avantika.

Industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani were also among the early ones to pay their homage to the actor, who died of kidney failure after a week's hospitalization.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal too came to pay his tributes to the legend.

"More than the industry's loss, this is my bigger personal loss. I was very close to him and we used to meet often. I used to go and see him. I was to make a documentary on him. But I didn't expect that he will leave us like this. Even at the age of 79, he was the representative of youth. His spirit was so young and youthful," Ghai told reporters.

"He even told me about his shooting for (grandnephew) Ranbir Kapoor's film 'Rockstar', for which he shot sometime back. He was so excited, he explained each and everything to me. He was looking forward to the movie," he added.

Kareena, who is Shammi Kapoor's elder brother, Raj Kapoor's granddaughter, came along with her boyfriend Saif Ali Khan. Among other family members were his nephews Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor who came with wife Neetu and his brother Shashi Kapoor.

Others spotted were Kajol, Farhan Akhtar, Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Rani Mukerji, Vinod Khanna, Bobby Deol and Imtiaz Ali.

"I was really fortunate to get his blessing and to get close to him and work with him. He is irreplaceable," a visibly emotional Imtiaz Ali said.

A lot of security personnel have been deployed in the area and also within the Blue Heaven Society complex because the actor's house is in a high security zone and lies close to the residence of the Maharashtra chief minister.

IANS