Shashi took Rs. 101 as signing-amount for 'New Delhi Times'
For 1986 film "New Delhi Times", which revolved around the nexus between politicians and media barons, veteran actor Shashi Kapoor took a bare minimum of Rs. 101 as the signing amount. Kapoor, a superstar in commercial films, was one of the few actors in the industry who loved alternative cinema and went to great length to nurture it as a producer and actor.
"New Delhi Times" is considered way ahead of its times
At the 10th BIFFES, film's director Ramesh Sharma presented the drama as a homage to the Bollywood superstar, who died in December last year. "New Delhi Times" was one such film and is considered way ahead of its time in its realistic portrayal of politics, crime and media. Sharma recalled his meeting with Kapoor, whom he met through Subroto Mitra, the cameraman in all of Satyajit Ray films.
When film's director Ramesh Sharma met Shashi Kapoor
"When I went to meet Shashi, he took me out to dinner. I narrated the story and told him I wanted him to play the lead in the film," Sharma said. "He asked, 'How much money do you have in your pocket?' I replied, 'I have a thousand rupees'. He said, 'Take out Rs 100. It's the signing amount. I'm working in your film," he added.
Interestingly, Shashi won National Film Award for this movie
Interestingly, in 1986, 'New Delhi Times' won the Indira Gandhi Award for the best first film of a director, and Shashi's performance, which was widely appreciated, garnered him a National Award for Best Actor - the only time he won this honor.