Shammi Kapoor Was Questioned When Rajesh Khanna Became Superstar: ‘Bheed Kahan Hai?’ | Bollywood News

Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 07:48 IST

Shammi Kapoor, also known as the ‘Rebel Star’, was known for films like films include Professor (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Teesri Manzil (1966) and Brahmachari (1968).

Shammi Kapoor advised Ashish Vidyarthi about the fickle nature of stardom.

Ashish Vidyarthi has revealed that Shammi Kapoor was mocked and questioned when Rajesh Khanna became the new superstar of Bollywood. Recently, Ashish was talking to Siddharth Kannan when he recalled meeting Shammi ji and shared an incident that stayed with him for years.

“Shammi ji once told me something many years ago. I was doing a serial called Dastaan in Sharjah and he had come there with a producer for the shoot of Chattan. One day, out of the blue, he gave me a lesson. He said, ‘Son, remember one thing, people in this industry will prick your bubble. When my stardom began to wane, people came up to me and said, “What happened Shammi ji, where’s the crowd these days?” I told them, ‘Son, these days the crowd is outside Aashirwad’ (Rajesh Khanna’s bungalow),” Ashish said.

Ashish mentioned that Shammi ji’s words left a lasting impression on him and added, “What he meant was that the people will leave you. The same people who were hyping you up will walk away someday, and you’ll be left alone. It was your destiny that was making you succeed, so it’s important that you celebrate that moment, but don’t think of it as perpetual.”

Shammi Kapoor was a legendary Indian actor known for his iconic roles in Bollywood films. His dancing style, charisma, and versatility made him a household name. Some of his notable films include Professor (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Teesri Manzil (1966), Brahmachari (1968), and An Evening in Paris (1967). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contributions to Indian cinema. For her exceptional talent, Shammi Kapoor had also earned the title of the ‘Rebel Star’.

While Shammi Kapoor was a superstar in the 60s, he gradually stepped away from leading roles in the 70s after Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan took over.

Shammi Kapoor passed away in August 2011.

Chirag Sehgal

Chirag Sehgal works as a Senior Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing …Read More

Chirag Sehgal works as a Senior Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing … Read More