Shakti Kapoor in High spirits

Bollywood actors add a dash of glamour to any function. But not all, like Shakti Kapoor, as one discovered at a special event at the United Services Institute Residency, Delhi Cantonment, just before the beginning of 2019. A live performance by military band and a welcome by ceremonial horses of 61st Cavalry regiment of the Army added colour to the celebrations. Apart from the large presence of the family of late actor Joy Mukerji, actors Shakti Kapoor, Kanwaljit Singh, Bhojpuri actor-singer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari (Delhi BJP president) and many more were present. Tiwari was the chief guest. Neelam Mukerji, wife of Joy Mukerji, unveiled the host, Sunil Kapoor’s collection of 61 poems, Punam ka Chaand.

After lunch, Shakti Kapoor enthralled the audience with anecdotes from his early days in Delhi’s Karol Bagh where he lived with his father, who owned a popular tailor shop in Connaught Place. But then he suddenly started cracking not-so-funny jokes, taking a dig at the author of Punam ka Chand and his family members. Then he claimed, “I am in high demand from all political party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning in the 2019 Parliamentary election rallies.”

He then tried to flatter the Delhi BJP chief by saying, “Tiwari is a great cricketer. Once he had played a great innings in a film industry match. I can say that Sachin Tendulkar is chavani (25 paise) in front of him.” No one laughed and Tiwari ignored him. About Shakti’s undignified behaviour, a little bird later told us that he was in “high spirits” since his arrival from Mumbai.