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A new role for Shashi Kapoor

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 10 . His love for children brings him to Rajasthan -- year after year. Of course there are other reasons also for Shashi Kapoor, the popular film actor of yesteryears, to visit the State, like the wild tigers of Ranthambhore and the nostalgia of the ancient movie houses in the Pink City and Bikaner where the Prithvi theatre under his legendary father Prithviraj Kapoor had staged plays...

Last week Shashi Kapoor was in the Pink City Press Club, squatting amid dozens of children from the local slums. The children did not know who he was as the good- old Kapoor had turned his back on the film industry some 12 years back, but they liked the man and were at ease in his presence. The children were there for a learning experience titled "Reading Day'' activity carried out by Pratham Rajasthan, an NGO.

While in Rajasthan, Shashi Kapoor also visited the district town Sikar to meet the children of Excellent School about which he speaks with passion. "It is a school where 2000 children study. No money is charged from the parents by way of tuition fees or other expenses.'' he explained. "You should visit the school to see the joy on the faces of children enrolled there. Their smiles indicate that it is a good school,'' he said. The Sikar school is a philanthropic initiative by Wahid Chouhan, the brother- in- law of the well- known Hollywood film maker, Ismail Merchant.

"I love children. I have five grandchildren. I am immensely happy in their company,'' Shashi Kapoor confessed to media persons at a Meet the Press Programme at the Press Club. "In 1992 my first grand child was born. Thereafter I decided to devote my time for children and other social causes,'' he explained.

"During the last 12 years I have been doing what my father used to do--supporting various social causes. We have set up a trust in his name,'' he said referring to the Prithviraj Memorial Social Trust. "I don't want any name for myself,'' he said sounding contented with life. Yet there was certain sadness in Shashi Kapoor's voice when he talked about the commercial failure of the films he produced--like Junoon, Kalyug, 36 Chowringhee Lane, Vidhatha and Utsav. "It was such a pity that the films failed to get the audience. Junoon and Kalyug were partial losses but 36 Chowringhee Lane was a total loss. I had to pay for the publicity charges and even at places had to hire the theatres myself to exhibit it,'' he lamented. "Yet I am proud of my productions. As far as I know they are good films,'' he said.

Shashi Kapoor, who has taken upon himself the responsibility of carrying forward the legacy of the Prithviraj Kapoor clan in theatre, is excited about "The Prithviwallahs'', the new book about the Prithvi Theatre. "It is a very good book. It contains good photographs too,'' he said. Shashi Kapoor who called on the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, to gift her a copy of "The Prithviwallahs'' was asked by the latter to do "something'' for the revival of the theatre in Jaipur, which he agreed. Come February he has also plans to stage plays here as the Prithvi Theatre used to do in its olden, roaming days.

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