Iconic actor Shashi Kapoor given highest award for Indian cinema

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

Veteran Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor is to be given the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema, reports the BBC.

In his long career the actor appeared in hits like Deewar, Sharmilee, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Kabhie Kabhie, and belongs to the well-known Kapoor family.

Kapoor turned 77 this year. The star began acting when he was only four years old, when he used to perform in plays directed by his father Prithviraj Kapoor, says The Indian Express.

Kapoor has appeared in about 160 films to date. — Photo: AFP

He's already won several national film awards and was given the civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2011, but the Dada Saheb Phalke Award will be his crowning achievement. Kapoor is the 46th winner of the honour, which is awarded for "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema".

Kapoor has appeared in about 160 films to date, including a dozen in English like the 1983 Merchant Ivory production Heat and Dust.

Soon after the announcement celebrities took to social media to congratulate the actor. Indian PM Narendra Modi gave him a shout out as well:

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Rajat

Mar 24, 2015 02:34pm

superb and a very understated actor of his time. Very cheerful, his acting in the movie Aa Gale lag ja can not be forgotten

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Nisar

Mar 24, 2015 03:07pm

Congrats, truely a great actor, such class, which is missing from many current Indian Actors.

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Gaurav Arya

Mar 24, 2015 03:21pm

I wonder if many Pakistanis have seen the iconic film "Junoon", starring Shahsi Kapoor. Awesome.

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irfan farooqui

Mar 24, 2015 03:27pm

who is shashi kapoor????

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S.M.Shabbir

Mar 24, 2015 03:30pm

Excellent actor ,Shahsi Kapoor . He deserve appreciation for his wonderful performances .

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vijaykumar

Mar 24, 2015 03:49pm

@irfan farooqui He is the son of Prithvirajkapoor, brother of Rajkapoor, shammikapoor etc etc and they all belong to your own Peshawar.LOL

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Dwaraka Nath

Mar 24, 2015 04:05pm

@irfan farooqui He is 3rd son of one of the great actor , Prthivi Raj Kapoor who migrated from Pakistan before independence .His eldest brother Raj Kapoor was producer ,director and the greatest actor of Indian cinema .he contributed many classic movies like Mera Naam Joker , Bobby ,Sri420 ,and many more.

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Sareen

Mar 24, 2015 04:35pm

@irfan farooqui - Shashi Kapoor's maternal uncle ( Mother's brother) actor Jugal Kishore Mehra , converted to Islam and married actress/ singer Anwari Begum. Their daughter was actress Nasreen Agha. Nasreen's daughter is actress/ singer Salma Agha .This made Shashi Kapoor a cousin of Nasreen. Hence Shashi Kapoor is the uncle of Salma Agha. I hope you get it now ;-)

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 24, 2015 05:01pm

The man is half dead. What will this award do for him? Get him a front row seat upstairs? Give it to some younger generations so they can cherish it for a while.

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mechatron

Mar 24, 2015 06:02pm

A true picture of - everything / one has a decline in the oblivion - take a lesson. He was on silver screen for decades but no one knows him now - soon no one will not even remember his DSP award.

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Sivaram Pochiraju

Mar 24, 2015 06:13pm

@Syed Ganga Din , Dada Saheb Phalke award is the highest award bestowed on veteran actors for their lifelong service to cinema. As such this award can't be given to younger generation actors.

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Rienz

Mar 24, 2015 06:44pm

One of the most memorable songs "Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe , Wo Teri Yaad Mein" (sung by Moh. Rafi in 1969) is from Shahi Kapoor's movie "Kanyadaan" - such beautiful song and amazing performance by Shashi Kapoor.

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AYZA

Mar 24, 2015 07:46pm

Shashi Kapoor and the entire Kapoor family is awesome, and their roots are from Pakistan of course : )) Congrats to my Khala's fav actor with love from Karachi!

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Mar 24, 2015 08:03pm

@Syed Ganga Din > What will this award do for him? Get him a front row seat upstairs? Give it to some younger generations Its a lifetime achievement award. So, its entirely for people who finished their careers. There are other awards for young artists and directors.

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SHAHID LATIF

Mar 24, 2015 09:22pm

A very fine actor. Gave his audiences some very happy moments. Congrats.

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madhusudan

Mar 24, 2015 10:43pm

@irfan farooqui who is fawad khan?

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Black Sabbath

Mar 25, 2015 12:27am

@Syed Ganga Din : "The man is half dead. What will this award do for him? Get him a front row seat upstairs? Give it to some younger generations so they can cherish it for a while." That is a really comment man. Shashi Kapoor may be old but he has achieved something in his life. What is your achievement? Commenting on every article on Dawn everyday? Don't forget we all get old & die one day, including you!

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Contented Frog

Mar 25, 2015 03:38am

of all the awards in India, the 3 most prestigious are the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for contributions to Indian Cinema, Sahitya Academy Award for Literary Achievement and lastly the Gyanpeeth Award for lifetime contribution to Indian literature. Truly a great honor for Shashi Kapoor...Congratulations

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Dev

Mar 25, 2015 04:26am

@Syed Ganga Din Do you think it should be given to Ali Zaffer or Fawad khan?

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Ivolina

Mar 25, 2015 07:15am

@Gaurav Arya Yes, sure we have. One of my favourite movies! Master piece by Shyam Benegal.

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Khalid

Mar 26, 2015 01:34am

I am surprised that some people here do not appear to know Shashi Kapoor ji, the man is an absolute legend in hindi cinema and well known and respected worldwide. Congrats and hats off to you sir, for your immense contribution to the silver screen.

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