PM condoles Shammi Kapoor's demise

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday condoled the death of veteran Bolywood actor Shammi Kapoor.

'I am sad to learn of Shammi Kapoor's demise. He was an accomplished actor who entertained millions and millions of fans in India and abroad. I share his family's grief,' Manmohan Singh was quoted in an official statement.

The 79-year-old actor was the second of three sons born to the iconic Prithviraj Kapoor. His equally versatile actor brothers were the late Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, who is ailing.

Shammi Kapoor joined the cinema world in 1948 as a junior artist for Rs.150 a month. His debut in Bollywood came in 1953 with the film 'Jeevan Jyoti'.

In a career that stretched into the 1970s, the tall, athletic and green-eyed hero starred in numerous hits, including 'An Evening in Paris', 'China Town', 'Kashmir Ki Kali', 'Janwar' and 'Junglee'.

He was on dialysis for the last few days and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai where he breathed his last at 5 a.m. Sunday.