From empowering Simi Garewal during a nude scene to bringing Sharmila Tagore’s shoot to a halt with his charm: Why Shashi Kapoor was adored by his co-stars

Shashi Kapoor and Simi Garewal in a still from their 1972 film Siddhartha. (Pic: Express Archive)

On Koffee With Karan Season 8, Neetu Kapoor admitted to having a crush on her uncle Shashi Kapoor.Though her revelation was met with a shocking reaction from Karan Johar, Shashi’s female fans would probably be thinking, ‘Join the club!’ Despite being the least flamboyant of all the Kapoors during his era, Shashi Kapoor was widely regarded as one of the most handsome men in the film industry.

However, his charm went beyond his looks. What truly endeared him to his female fans was his simplicity, honesty, family-oriented persona and his respectful demeanor towards his co-stars.

Shashi Kapoor’s female co-stars have often spoken about his supportive nature on sets, recalling instances that reflect his gentlemanly qualities. Let’s delve into some of these recollections:

When Shashi Kapoor gave confidence to Simi Garewal to shoot a partially nude scene

In Aseem Chhabra’s book “Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, The Star,” Simi Garewal recounted an instance from their 1972 film Siddhartha, where Shashi made her feel comfortable during a nude scene. Simi was nervous before the scene, but Shashi’s encouraging words gave her the confidence to proceed with grace and confidence.

“I can’t tell you how nervous I was before these scenes,” she said. “I finally wore a body-stocking from the waist down, but when I had to go topless, I was stricken. I couldn’t look up and just lowered my eyes. Shashi sensed what I was going through and said to me, ‘Don’t be shy, Simi. You are beautiful.’ Buoyed by his words, I found the courage to go through it all with confidence,” she said.