MUMBAI, Dec 15: Shammi Kapoor, remembered as Bollywood’s most energetic romantic hero and the man who famously shouted “Yahoo!”, reportedly disliked the very image that made him a superstar, author and entrepreneur Bina Ramani has revealed.
In an interview, Ramani shared that the late actor was uncomfortable with the loud, playful persona audiences adored. “He hated the ‘Yahoo’ image,” she said, adding that Shammi was acutely aware that his on screen character did not reflect his real-life personality.
Ramani explained that Shammi continued performing in such roles primarily due to industry pressures. “I am doing this because my producers are making money,” he reportedly said, acknowledging that the films were commercially successful and that demand kept him in similar roles.
Feeling “trapped by success,” Shammi Kapoor reportedly told Ramani, “I’m signed one after the other, and they’re all roles like this.” Despite his discomfort, he romanced heroines, danced through songs, and entertained millions, balancing personal identity with professional expectations.
Bina Ramani documents these personal insights in her autobiography, Bird in a Banyan Tree: My Story, painting a nuanced portrait of Shammi Kapoor as both a beloved star and a man aware of the costs of fame.