The wedding of Shammi Kapoor and his first wife, Geeta Bali, unfolded like a scene from a movie. In old interviews, the legendary actor reminisced about his initial attraction to Geeta, who shared many of his traits, how she turned down his first proposal, and how he later suggested a spontaneous wedding.
Geeta Bali starred in over 75 films throughout her career, which spanned more than two decades. Notably, she was the only Kapoor woman of that era who continued acting after marriage, at a time when Kapoor women traditionally stayed away from cinema. However, convincing Geeta to marry him wasn’t easy for Shammi.
In a vintage interview with Rajshri Unplugged, Shammi Kapoor described their bond: “I fell in love with her and she fell in love with me. When we came back to Bombay, I proposed to her. That was in April of 1955 and she said ‘no, I don’t think I can marry you. I have so many responsibilities and I have to fulfil them. But I love you.’ I said ‘alright, we’ll keep it at that’.”
Shammi shared that he repeatedly suggested, ‘let’s get married,’ but each time she responded with, ‘let’s wait and see.’
Reflecting on their wedding day, Shammi Kapoor recalled, “In August 1955 eventually, there came a moment, and I don’t know how she arrived at that, when she said ‘yes ok, let’s get married.’ I asked her ‘shall I inform your parents and my parents?’ She said, ‘no, let’s get married right now, today.’”
The pair then sought advice from comedian Johnny Walker, a close friend who had tied the knot just a week earlier. He suggested they marry at a temple, and so they did.
They headed to a temple complex near Banganga late at night. However, the temple priest asked them to return later, saying, ‘the gods are asleep, come in the morning at 4 am’. Shammi and Geeta waited in Matunga until dawn, then returned to the temple as instructed, and were married early that morning.
Recalling their unique wedding, Shammi Kapoor once said, “The gods were waiting for us. The temple doors were open and the pujari said ‘aayiye, hum aapki shaadi karva dete hain.’ Geeta did a wonderful thing, which I’ve never forgotten. She took out a lipstick from her purse, gave it to me and said ‘yeh aap meri maang mein lipstick bhar do.’ Wonderful gesture, and that’s what I did. That’s how we got married.”
Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali were married on August 24, 1955, and had two children, including actor Aditya Raj Kapoor. Sadly, Geeta Bali passed away in 1965 due to smallpox.
Geeta Bali began her career as a child artist in The Cobbler (1942) and achieved her first major success with Sohag Raat (1948). After appearing in Badi Bahen (1949), she established herself as a leading actress of the 1950s, delivering hits like Bawre Nain (1950), Albela (1951), Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Anand Math (1952), Vachan (1955), Milap (1955), Faraar (1955), Jailor (1958), and Mr. India (1961).
Meanwhile, Shammi Kapoor, born Shamsher Raj Kapoor on October 21, 1931, in Mumbai, was an iconic Indian actor known for revolutionizing the Hindi film industry in the 1950s and 60s with his unique style and charisma. A member of the famous Kapoor family, he was the second son of Prithviraj Kapoor and the younger brother of Raj Kapoor. Shammi initially struggled to find his place in Bollywood, but his fortunes changed with Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), which established him as a vibrant, rebellious romantic hero.
He became famous for his dynamic dance moves, infectious energy, and collaborations with music composers like Shankar-Jaikishan, which produced memorable soundtracks. Shammi’s most notable films include Junglee (1961), Teesri Manzil (1966), and Brahmachari (1968), the latter earning him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor. His style and exuberance earned him the moniker “Elvis Presley of India.”
Shammi Kapoor passed away on August 14, 2011, but his legacy endures through his iconic films, lively persona, and lasting influence on Bollywood’s approach to romance and style.
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