Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 15: Shamsher Raj Kapoor, better known to the world as Shammi Kapoor, was bid the final adieu by a host of Bollywood personalities, both past and present, at the Ban Ganga cremation ground here on Monday August 15.

The entire Kapoor clan was present to witness the funeral, which took place at 11 am. The last rites were performed by his son Aditya Raj Kapoor.

Shammi Kapoor, who was sufferering from renal failure, passed away on Sunday August 14 at Breach Candy Hospital where he was admitted a week ago. He was 79.

Apart from Shashi Kapoor, his brother who arrived on a wheelchair, nephews Randhir and Rishi Kapoor were also present along with grandnephew and Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir.

Bollywood personalities Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Fardeen Khan, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Kabir Bedi, Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bansali, Prakash Jha, Rakesh Roshan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Satish Kaushik, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Sudhir Mishra and many others witnessed the funeral and expressed their sorrow at the loss.

Actresses Priyanka Chopra and Madhuri Dixit were also present.

Aamir Khan paid his respects to the actor and said that 'Shammi Uncle' had always been full of life, which reflected on screen in his films. His liveliness brought joy to the lives of all those who watched his movies, he added.

Imran Khan reminisced that he first became a fan of Shammi Kapoor when he was nine or ten years old. He recalled the days when the great actor had gone out of his way to help Imran's grandparents get married.

In his blog, Big B recounted the moments when he first heard the news of the death.  "Its always that dreaded moment in the early hours or deep in the night when that phone call comes and bears the news of a crisis. Shweta, walked into my room gingerly and in the dark spoke up softly - 'Papa! Shammi uncle passed away just now! I sat up. The first words that come to your mouth are...Oh! God!...and then everything else takes over," Bachchan wrote.

He further said, "A million memories hurry past as you drive down to his 'Blue Haven' residence. A cozy warm and welcoming apartment where we had spent many wonderful evenings and nights with him and his effervescence. There as I walk past his still pale figure embalmed and kept in a freeze container, you feel as though he would spring out of it and with his feisty elan invite you over to dine with him."

Bachchan also wrote that Shammi had told his wife Jaya a few days ago that he was tired and had enough.

Shammi Kapoor was the second son of Prithvi Raj Kapoor, and made his debut in Bollywood in 1953, after working as a theatre artist for some years. He married co-star Geeta Bali in 1955, and after her death, remarried after some years. His second wife, Neela Devi Gohil was with him in his last moments.

He created magic on the screen in the 50s, 60s and even the 70s, with hits like Junglee, Tumsa Nahi Dekha, Kashmir Ki Kali and many others. He was particularly known for his unique dancing abilities and his Elvis Presley-like style.