Shammi Kapoor once reminisced his first encounter with Madhubala: ‘I could not take my eyes off her… I was like hit by a thunderbolt’ |

Behind the charming persona and iconic dance moves, Shammi Kapoor once carried a silent affection for one of the most celebrated actresses of Indian cinema—Madhubala. As we remember the beloved actor on his 10th death anniversary, a look back at his heartfelt recollections reveals a lesser-known, poignant chapter from his early days in film.On his 10th death anniversary, it’s worth revisiting Shammi Kapoor’s candid reflections on his feelings for Madhubala. In an old interview with Rediff.com, he recalled being instantly captivated when he first met her on the sets of Rail Ka Dibba. Her presence left him so awestruck that he struggled to remember his lines, while she, fully aware of the impact she had on him, seemed to enjoy the moment.In the same interview, Shammi Kapoor reflected on how Madhubala was already romantically linked with Dilip Kumar and Prem Nath at the time. Despite knowing she was in love, he admitted he couldn’t stop himself from falling for her. As a newcomer with no fame then, he felt invisible in comparison and humorously questioned how he had ended up entangled in such a situation. Still, his feelings for Madhubala remained intense and undeniable.Shammi Kapoor eventually married fellow actor Geeta Bali, one of the leading stars of that era. In a conversation with journalist Rauf Ahmed, he shared how their relationship unfolded. Though Geeta was a year older than him and had acted with both his father Prithviraj Kapoor and brother Raj Kapoor, Shammi was certain she was the one he wanted to marry. While he was briefly unsure of how his family would respond, his conviction never wavered. Ironically, it was Geeta who hesitated. A practical and grounded person, she loved Shammi deeply but was reluctant to marry him out of concern for her family’s dependence on her.Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali got married in 1955 and had two children—Aditya Raj Kapoor and Kanchan. Shammi passed away on August 14, 2011.