Stories from Hindi cinema’s legendary Kapoor family have always fascinated fans, but rarely have they been shared with such warmth and detail. In a recent podcast conversation with actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, Kunal Kapoor, son of the late Shashi Kapoor, opened a window into the extraordinary, unconventional life within the Kapoor household and the boundless generosity that defined his grandfather, theatre icon Prithviraj Kapoor.
Kunal revealed that during the Partition, the Kapoor home functioned less like a private residence and more like a public shelter. Doors were never locked, and refugees freely entered and exited the house. Many slept wherever space allowed — in corridors, on staircases, and even on the terrace. At a time of immense turmoil, the Kapoor home became a sanctuary, embodying Prithviraj Kapoor’s belief in shared humanity.
One of the most memorable anecdotes Kunal shared involved his parents’ wedding night. Shashi Kapoor had just married British actor Jennifer Kendal when she walked into their bedroom only to find two complete strangers calmly sitting and drinking coffee. Shocked, she asked who they were. For the Kapoor family, however, this was entirely normal. Their home was always open to guests, acquaintances, and people in need, often blurring the line between family and strangers.
Kunal also fondly recalled Tara Bai, a cook who arrived at Prithviraj Kapoor’s home after losing her entire family during Partition. With nothing but determination, she built her own tandoor in the Kapoor courtyard and began cooking naan. Soon, she wasn’t just feeding the household but the entire neighbourhood. Kunal affectionately described her as a pioneer of portable tandoors, whose food became legendary in the area.
The conversation also touched upon Shashi Kapoor’s deep connection with Kolkata’s iconic Fairlawn Hotel. It was there that he first met Jennifer Kendal, who was staying with her parents. The hotel became a recurring chapter in their love story, eventually witnessing their marriage in July 1958. Kunal joked that he might have been conceived at Fairlawn, adding that the hotel later reserved a permanent suite for his father. During the filming of 36 Chowringhee Lane, the entire crew stayed there, and to this day, the staff fondly remember Shashi Kapoor as “Shashi Baba.”
Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal had three children — Kunal, Karan, and Sanjana. After Jennifer’s untimely death in 1984, Shashi was heartbroken, but her artistic legacy lives on through Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai. Today, Kunal and Sanjana continue to run the iconic space, preserving a family tradition rooted in theatre, generosity, and an open door to the world.