Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor died today at the age of 79.

Kapoor was unwell for quite some time. The actor was admitted to the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. He was administered several rounds of dialysis while at the hospital.

Shashi Kapoor is survived by two sons, Kunal and Karan, and a daughter, Sanjana, who takes care of the iconic Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai (Read: Goodbye Shashi Kapoor, the rainbow star).

The third and youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor made his Bollywood debut in 1961, as the lead actor, in the film Dharamputra. He began his career as a child artiste in the 1940s.

He took on the name 'Shashiraj' for his roles in commercial films back in the 40s, instead of using his own name because there was another Shashi Kapoor, a child artiste, who was best known for his roles in mythological films.

Shashi began work as an assistant director on Sunil Dutt's debut film, Post Box 999, before going on to make his proper film debut as a lead actor in 1961, with the film.

In 1961 itself, Shashi began working in English films too. He went on to immortalise characters like Prem Sagar in The Householder and Sanju in Shakespeare-Wallah respectively.

Through the 1970s and 80s, Shashi Kapoor rose to stardom with films like Sharmilee, Kabhi Kabhie, Pighalta Aasmaan, etc. Kapoor acted in more than a hundred films, of which he played the solo lead in 61.

TRIBUTES POUR IN

News of Shashi Kapoor's death saw reactions pouring in from nearly everybody. From politicians and sportsmen to the entire Hindi film industry, leading personalities took to Twitter to express their condolences.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the late actor's versatility and his passion for theatre, while President Ramnath Kovind paid tribute to Shashi Kapoor's repertoire of Indian and international films. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi called Shashi Kapoor a legend and said he will "remain in our hearts forever."

Meanwhile, Bollywood stars, including Kapoor's Deewar co-star Amitabh Bachchan, made a beeline to visit the late actor's home in Mumbai's Janki Kutir even as the Kapoor clan flocked to the city's Kokliben Ambani Hospital, where Shashi Kapoor breathed his last.

Kapoor's funeral is scheduled for tomorrow, at around noon.

KAPOOR-THAROOR MIX-UP

Kapoor's death was covered by several prominent international media publications even as media websites and channels back home hurried to churn out obituaries and articles celebrating the legandary actor's life.

In the hurry, some made embarrassing mix-ups, calling up the offices to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to ask after his health. Not the one to take offence at such goof-ups, Tharoor cleared the rumours around his health in his distinctive style.

" I feel a part of me is gone. A great actor, smart, cosmopolitan, impossibly handsome & w/a name that was often confused w/mine. (My office got two calls from journalists today about my reportedly serious ill-health!) I will miss #ShashiKapoor," Tharoor said in one tweet, adding, "Reports of my demise are, if not exaggerated, at least premature."

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