This actor’s first pay was just Rs 50, fell in love with heroine who worked with his brother, later married her overnight with a condition, his name is…

Shammi Kapoor, son of renowned Bollywood director and actor Prithviraj Kapoor, was a star whose screen presence mesmerized audiences. Known as “Elvis Presley” in Hindi cinema, Shammi Kapoor’s 94th birth anniversary is celebrated today, October 21, 2025. He won millions of hearts with his unparalleled acting and unique dance moves in films like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Kashmir Ki Kali, Teesri Manzil, and Andaz. Shammi left his studies, began his career as a junior artist, and later married an actress who had worked in his brother Raj Kapoor’s film Bawre Nain and was a year younger than him.

Leaving Studies and Starting His Journey with Theatre

After Shammi’s birth, his family moved to Kolkata, where they lived for 7-8 years. After returning to Mumbai in 1944, Prithviraj Kapoor founded Prithvi Theatre. At that time, 13-year-old Shammi played the role of Bharat in the theatre play Shakuntala, which affected his studies. He later enrolled in college, but Shammi wasn’t interested in his studies. Eventually, he left college and, at his father’s insistence, returned to Prithvi Theatre, where he began working as a junior artist, earning a salary of 50 rupees.

Filmy Style Marriage with Geeta Bali

Shammi met actress Geeta Bali through his friend and director Hari Walia during the filming of the film Coffee House (1957). Later, during Geeta’s cameo role in Rangeen Raatein (1956), they grew close and fell in love. Shammi was determined to marry Geeta. Geeta initially avoided the idea, but three months later, on the evening of August 23, 1955, she agreed, with the condition that the wedding would take place that night or never again. Shammi immediately called Hari Walia.

The three went to the temple, but the priest told them it was closed. The next morning, on August 24, 1955, at 4-5 a.m., the priest at the Baan Ganga Temple opened the temple, and Shammi and Geeta were married. Interestingly, when there was no vermilion, Geeta took lipstick from her purse, and Shammi filled her forehead with it — a truly filmy style wedding moment that perfectly reflected their love story.

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