Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957)

After 18 flops as a hero, Shammi struck gold with Tumsa Nahin Dekha, opposite Ameeta. The film also marked Nasir Hussain’s debut as director. Shammi shaved off his pencil moustache, cut his hair ducktail style, wore leather jackets and T-shirts. The Rebel Star was born to challenge the might of Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand.

 

Junglee (1961)

“My first colour picture Junglee was released in 1961 and I became a Star” — Shammi Kapoor in his website http://junglee.org.in.

With Shammi at his versatile best and Saira Banu looking like a dream, this was a superhit film directed by Subodh Mukherjee — Rani Mukerji’s uncle — with music by Shankar-Jaikishan. Junglee lives on with Ya-hoo chahe koi mujhe Junglee kahe, Ayee-ayee-ya karun main kya Suku Suku and Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par.

China Town (1962)

A thriller set in Calcutta that had Shammi in a double role, a gangster and his humshakal. Directed by Shakti Samanta and written by Ranjan Bose with music by Ravi, this black-and-white film starred Shakila and Helen. Was remade in Tamil as Kudiyiruntha Kovil starring MGR and in Telugu as Bhale Thammudu with NT Rama Rao. Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan, borrowed some plot points from China Town.

Professor (1962)

Directed by Lekh Tandon, this had Shammi disguised as an old tutor, since his employer, the strict aunt of heroine Kalpana, would not allow a youngster into the house. A fun film with Shankar-Jaikishan’s score (Main chali main chali, Aye gulbadan, Aawaz deke humein tum bulao).

Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)

Directed by Shakti Samanta with Sharmila Tagore opposite Shammi. He plays a millionaire in love with Champa, a flower girl. The film was a hit, the songs were superhit and the Shammi-Sharmila pairing a super-duper hit. Deewana hua badal, Isharon isharon, Tarif karun kya uski sung by Rafi and Asha are still a treat.

Teesri Manzil (1966)

Remains one of Bollywood’s best in the romantic-comic-whodunit genre. An effective plot, energetic performance, happening music and great song picturisation make for a must-see. Asha Parekh showed a lot of spunk in matching Shammi scene for scene while Helen sizzled with haseena zulfon wali. RD Burman introduced a new sound with Aaja aaja main hoon pyar tera, mere sona re sona re, Deewana mujhsa nahin, Tumne mujhe dekha...

An Evening In Paris (1967)

The stylebook of that era. The sight of Sharmila Tagore in a bikini and Shammi the hunk, and the sound of An evening in Paris, Akele akele kahan ja rahe ho, Raat ke humsafar...

Brahmachari (1968)

Written by Sachin Bhowmick and directed by Bhappi Sonie, this Sippy production starred Rajshree opposite Shammi. Mohd. Rafi, Shankar-Jaikishan and Shailendra teamed up to churn out Dilke jharoke mein, Main gaon tum so jao....

Vidhaata (1982)

Shammi shone bright in a supporting role in this huge multi-starrer. This Subhash Ghai film was among the biggest Bolly films of the year with Namak Halal, Khuddar and Shakti.