UAE residents mourn loss of veteran actor Shashi Kapoor

For many Indians and Pakistanis, and even Emiratis, veteran actor Shashi Kapoor's movie dialogues were something they grew up quoting.
"Mere paas maa hai (I have mother)," Shashi Kapoor's iconic line from the movie Deewar continues to remain a very popular catchphrase for UAE residents, young and old alike.
Born into the illustrious Kapoor show business family, Shashi was the third and youngest son of Hindi film and theatre pioneer Prithviraj Kapoor and the younger brother of actor-directors Raj and Shammi Kapoor.
To many UAE residents, Shashi's death thus ushers in the end of an era.
Emirati businessman Mansoor Al Obeidli said, "It is very sad. I feel really sad to learn that he is no more. He was the smartest looking actor of his time and was very stylish. I remember thinking that he looked like a Hollywood actor. He had such a distinct style of acting, and some of his dialogues were cult classics.
"I used to remember play acting to the dialogues. It is indeed a very big loss," Al Obeidli added.
Indian national Ursula Manvatkar, managing director of Medulla Consulting Services, said: "I really enjoyed watching his films, especially Deewar. He was a very classy actor, and it is a great loss for Bollywood as well as for Indian cinema. It is just sad to hear that such a legend has passed away. the news makes me sad and nostalgic."
Pakistani resident and HR administrator Mediha Zafar recalled watching Shashi Kapoor movies and learning all his dance moves by heart. She said, "I called my sisters as soon as I heard the news and we're all feeling gutted.
She added, "I've grown up watching his movies, and I feel it is the end of an era. It is truly a great loss, and we won't have another Shashi Kapoor for years to come. His movies were safe to watch with the entire family."
"He was my favourite actor growing up. In fact, all the Kapoor brothers were such legendary actors. I did watch most of his movies while growing up, and it is such a loss that the all the three Kapoor brothers from that era are no more," said Roshni Raimalwala, co-founder at the Care2Share social initiative.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com