What Neela Devi Kapoor Spoke About Late Husband Superstar Shammi Kapoor Will Move You

Shammi Kapoor may have serenaded dazzling beauties on TV, but his true love remained at home. Someone who helped him out of a bad situation. Someone who chose not to have children of her own in order to care for his two children from a previous marriage to the late Geeta Bali with the utmost fairness. Neila Devi Gohil, a member of Bhavnagar's royal family, knew she wasn't living out a fairytale when she consented to marry celebrity Shammi Kapoor. Yes, Shammiji was a great fan of mine. All of his newspaper clippings, including those from Filmfare, were in my possession. I was also aware of his colourful reputation. I was aware of both his positive and negative attributes.

Neila Devi Kapoor is now a shadow of her former self. Her hair is dye-free and she isn't wearing any jewellery. "As I was going to age 70 and he was ready to turn 80, Shammiji (Kapoor) gave me with a diamond necklace just a few days before his death." He even took a photograph. "I knew that was the final time I'd wear it," she adds, her voice trembling with sadness at the end of a 42-year friendship. "We were one because I had become so close to him." After we married, I never spent another night at my parent's house. Shammiji was the only person I'd ever left, but now he's left me."

When Neila Devi brought all of Shammi's 'ladies' to his 75th birthday celebration five years ago, it best defined the equilibrium the two Librans had achieved over the years. "I invited all of his ex-girlfriends to dinner." They came with affection after I called them with respect. How could I be so possessive when he had never let me down? He'd flirt with the nurses even in the hospital. 'Now I have the licence to kill,' he'd said to me.

THE PROPOSAL

Neila Devi recalls Shammi tugging her pigtails as a nine-year-old when he travelled to Bhavnagar with his father, actor the late Prithviraj Kapoor's theatre troupe. Raghuvir Singh, Neila Devi's brother, became a friend of Shammi's. Several years later, Krishna Kapoor was adamant that her brother-in-law Shammi marry Neila Devi, who had been left in severe mental distress following the sudden death of his wife Geeta due to smallpox. "In college, Ritu was my friend. Krishnaji had a soft spot for me. She had faith in my ability to care for Shammiji and the kids." So, at Ritu's sangeet, Krishnaji and Urmiji invited Shammi to meet Neila Devi. However, the actor was on set. "However, Shammiji contacted my house at 1.30 a.m. that night and requested for me. My sister couldn't believe it was 'Shammi Kapoor' at first. He seemed like a prankster to her. Regardless, our chat, which began at 2 a.m., lasted until the break of morning. He told me everything about himself, including his wife, children, girlfriends, mistresses, wild side, and good side.Finally, he added, 'Come for breakfast tomorrow and stay for a lifetime.' "He also advised that we get married in the middle of the night at the Banganga Temple," remembers Neila Devi. However, I stated that we were not committing a crime and that we should have a minor ceremony in front of our parents." "The next day, my father-in-law  begged for my hand jholi pehlakar," she continues. We were married in this house on that very day. Ritu's wedding was planned to take place on February 1st. On January 27, 1969, we married."

MINDING MY MAN

Neila Devi's first few months were the most hardest. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Every day, there would be a celebration at home, with paya and biryani being served all the time. Shammiji was a heavy drinker with a bad temper. But God provided me with the strength to persevere. Urmiji and Krishnaji were also really helpful. My in-laws were enamoured with me." On the other hand, while Shammi was 'caring and protective,' he was hesitant to accompany Neila Devi anyplace. "He was used to working for a different firm. We didn't go anyplace together for the first six months — no honeymoon, no shooting. But I never did anything to provoke him. He'd have gone crazy if it had been me. I realised he'd had a terrible day and needed someone to console him." "What I respected the most about him was that he had come clean about his background," she continues. He was remorseful for certain things he had done in his youth, in his rashness, in his insanity! And I never made him pay for his mistakes."

Neila Devi and her husband eventually became friends. "I didn't tell him anything when he got intoxicated and misbehaved." But the next morning, I'd tell him everything that had occurred. He finally got it, and we were able to come to an agreement." Shammi began bringing her around after six months of marriage. "We went to Europe on our own for two months." He felt at ease and at peace. After that, he didn't go on any outings or outdoor activities on his own; I used to accompany him on shikars, shootings, vacations, and so on. As a demonstration of respect, I never went on the sets. I'd return to the motel." Despite their quarrels, Neila Devi claims she never regretted marrying him. "There were occasions when he'd go to sleep after a disagreement, but I'd lit agarbattis in the mandir and cry all night." 'You got us married; now you must take care,' I'd tell God. The next morning, everything would be OK. We never had huge quarrels in which we went our own ways. "I believed in myself and in my marriage." Neila Devi admits that she was irritated at times when ladies openly expressed their feelings for him. "It was only a matter of time before I became possessive." Women flocked to him even at this young age. My sister-in-law Urmi, on the other hand, taught me something. 'Never become a martyr,' she said. If you have a problem, tell your parents about it, but don't tell anyone else. In the bedroom, we worked out our issues."

GEETAJI AND ME

Neila Devi acknowledges the importance of the late Geeta Bali in her husband's life. "Geetaji's remembrance never made me feel frightened." I knew I'd always be second billing when I married. I also realised that I had to prioritise being a mother before becoming a wife. That was my main concern." "Shammiji spoke often about Geetaji," she recalls. He yearned for her. He loved me and couldn't live without me, but his love for Geetaji was different. He never loved me as much as he did her. They had both loved one other in a unique way. She had a spouse, two gorgeous children, and a lovely home when she was 31. Her death was heartbreaking."

Geeta is revered by Neila Devi. "My husband took me into the bedroom where there was a temple the day we wedded. The photograph of Geetaji was kept there. He referred to her as his deity. She was supposed to be my conscience, I said. I'd have to answer to her if I ever mistreated the kids or did anything wrong." "I wore Geetaji's clothes; I converted her sarees into salwar kameez," she continues. I gave the youngsters some money that I found in her purse as prasad. All my life, I wore her wedding ring, a diamond 'S' ring that Shammiji had given her. I only took it down after he passed away. In all I do, I seek Geetaji's blessings."