Why did Shammi Kapoor do so many films with B. R. Chopra?

 Though B.R. Chopra was a big admirer of Shammi's unique talent and was persistent in his efforts to collaborate with him, they collabrated together for just one film.

Both of them started their respective careers in the early 50s but Shammi regained fame in the late 50s with, “Tumsa Nahi Dekha”.

Shammi gained a romantic image and was a part of “swinging 60s” while B.R. Chopra was working as a (producer/director) on films like Ek Hi Raasta, Naya Daur, Dhool Ka Phool, Dharamputra, Gumrah, Kanoon, Waqt, Humraaz, Ittefaq etc.

The film trajectories of the two were fundamentally different, representing two distinctive pillars of Indian cinema.

One being the exuberant, musical “rebel star” while the other a socially conscious “message filmmaker”. Still B.R. Chopra intended to cast the Kapoor family Prithviraj Kapoor along with (Raj, Shammi and Shashi) in Waqt but Bimal Roy advised not to do so.

According to him, the Kapoor brothers resembled each other too much, which would make it hard to believe they were separated brothers, ruining the plot's dramatic tension.

Later, Shammi transitioned to character roles due to physical changes and knee injury. This was the time when B.R. Chopra and Ravi Chopra collabrated with Shammi Kapoor for Zameer in which Shammi played a pivotal role. Interestingly, he was cast with Saira Banu (whom he had previously romanced in Junglee). He played the father of Saira Banu in the film. In fact, it was Shammi Kapoor’s first role as a character artist.

B.R. Chopra did not have a direct blood relation with the Kapoor family but his family was closely intertwined with them through the Punjabi film industry community in Mumbai. Still, at a professional level, Zameer was the only film where Shammi Kapoor and B.R. Chopra worked together.

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How did Shammi Kapoor meet Waheeda Rehman?

 Despite being stars of the same era Shammi Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman never appeared as a lead pair in films and some reports noted it as a missed opportunity.

Their first notable public meeting occurred at the Film Fare Awards Ceremony, 1969. Shammi won the best actor award for Brahamchari while Waheeda won the best actress award for Neel Kamal.

However, they were seen together in Manmohan Desai’s “Naseeb’. The film had a song, “John Jani Janardhan”, where many superstars were seen doing a cameo. Waheeda had requested a special joint entry with Shammi Kapoor.

Though Waheeda never worked with Shammi as she had reservations about his flirting with his heroines, they shared a warm and respectful friendship. They had a close group of friends from the industry who would often meet, dine and spend time together. A bond that lasted for decades.

In an interview Waheeda had recalled fond memories of meeting Shammi Kapoor for lunch with friends like Saadhna, Asha Parekh and Nanda. She also admired his energy despite his illness.

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What's the real reason Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz never got married even though they were a popular on-screen pair?

 It was the fact that Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz got attracted with each other after they had worked together in the film Brahmachari which was released in 1968. The duo's romantic song, Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke … was a big hit and their on-screen chemistry got popularized.

At that time Shammi Kapoor was a widower and he had lost his wife Geeta Bali a few years back in 1965 and he wanted to marry with Mumtaz after they worked together in Brahmachari.

Though Mumtaz liked Shammi Kapoor very much she hesitated because as an actress she wanted to achieve something in her filmy career. It was also too early for her to think about her marriage, at that time she was 17 years old and also Shammi Kapoor was 18 years older than Mumtaz and he was also the father of 2 children. But still Mumtaz wanted to marry him but she hesitated due to the rules of Kapoor family.

Mumtaz wanted to work in the films even after her marriage but it was against the rules of Kapoor family, there was a tradition in Kapoor family that daughters-in-law should not work in the films, this rule was enforced by the head of the Kapoor family, Prithviraj Kapoor and at that time they were strictly following that rule.

Even Raj Kapoor, the elder son of Prithviraj Kapoor was strictly following that rule. So due to that reason he didn't give the chance to Mumtaz to perform in the film Mera Naam Joker because that character was supposed to wear very short cloths and Raj Kapoor hesitated to cast Mumtaz even after her screen test due to her friendship with Shammi Kapoor as it would have led to complications. Mumtaz even assured Raj Kapoor that they (Shammi Kapoor & Mumtaz) are not getting married but Raj Kapoor had a fear that they may change their minds at any time. Mumtaz said that Raj Kapoor was not only conserned about the film but also taking into consideration about the image of the Kapoor family.

Once Shammi Kapoor was asked about his memories with Mumtaz, he said that at that time he was a widower and Mumtaz was a very pretty little girl and for a short period the duo had dreams and then it turned into a nightmare. Finally he added, ‘I'm happy as I'm today’.

Shammi Kapoor had passed away in 2011 at the age of 79 years. His first wife Geeta Bali had passed away in 1965 due to smallpox after they lived together just for 10 years as they got married in 1955, then he got married with Neila Devi Gohil in 1969 to take care of his small children.

Mumtaz is now 77 years old. She had a successful filmy career and she was one of the glamorous and the finest actresses of her time.

She got married in 1974 with a businessman Mayur Madhwani and the couple have 2 daughters, Nathasha and Tanya. Nagin was her last film which was released in 1976. After a long break Mumtaz appeared in the film Aandiyan in 1990.