Did You Know Shammi Kapoor Was One Of The First Internet Users In India?
Shammi Kapoor, regarded as one of the finest and most celebrated actors in Indian cinema, passed away on August 14, 2011. While he is widely remembered for his magnetic screen presence, remarkable acting, and energetic dance moves, few know that he was also a passionate tech enthusiast. The second of three sons of Prithviraj Kapoor, he was among the first Internet users in India.
The late actor was using the Internet even before it officially arrived in India in the 1990s. According to a report by MensXP, Shammi Kapoor had obtained a connection through Steve Jobs' Apple Inc. In his 50s at the time, the legendary actor began exploring the World Wide Web. In an interview, the Tumsa Nahi Dekha star shared, 'I discovered the Internet before you got Internet in India. You got it in 1995… VSNL. I took it up as a hobby. I am on Apple, and they gave us a website called eWorld."
He added, 'The British telecom gave us a line through VSNL, even though VSNL was not available at that time (1994). That was an eye-opener…something completely new. And by the time the Internet came to India, we were already the first marchers. Already sab kuch dekh liya tha (I had already seen everything)."
In the 1990s, Shammi Kapoor purchased an Apple Macintosh Classic desktop and applied for an international dial-up connection. One of his earliest Internet projects was a website dedicated to the Kapoor family tree, one of Bollywood's largest and most prominent film dynasties.
With the URL junglee.org.in, The Kapoor Family Website by Shammi Kapoor is still accessible today, retaining its original design created by the actor himself. It has not been redesigned or updated with the latest family information, but it continues to feature rare photographs of the Junglee star from film sets, along with details about the Kapoor family, starting from his father, Prithviraj Kapoor, to his nephew, Rishi Kapoor.
Shammi Kapoor Helped Establish Many Internet-Related Organisations
Moreover, he did not just create a website for his family tree, but also was the founder and chairman of the Internet Users Community of India (IUCI). The late actor also played a significant role in establishing organisations like the Ethical Hackers Association of India.
After retiring from films, Shammi Kapoor focused on computers and the Internet, telling people that they are yet to understand the potential of such advanced technology that would connect people from every nook and corner of the world. Throughout his life, the actor was a Mac person and had little knowledge of Microsoft computers. He had all the necessary gadgets and was also active on Facebook, Twitter and worked on his website.
view comments
First Published:
August 13, 2025, 08:17 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Reddy and setting Indian motor racing on the speedway
What's the most attention-grabber way to introduce Akhilesh Reddy? Call him India's Bernie? Reddy laughs at the suggestion and says, 'yes, you can say that'. (Think circuits, lanes and pits and you'll work out which Bernie). How about his own definition of what he's been up to for the past three years – 'more of a madness' – heading into its fourth edition this week? Let's put a price on the madness – a spend of about €50-60 million (approx. ₹50-60 crore) over three years. The Indian Racing League (IRL), the world's first city-centric, gender-neutral motor-racing franchise competition is the flagship event, one of the festival's three categories of races. (HT) Questions ranging from 'what', 'whatever for' and 'why on earth' come rushing. But Hyderabad-based Reddy is linked to creating, he says, ecosystems, pathways, and with it, an awareness of Indian motorsports at a time he believes is just right for his investment in finance, energy and emotion into his thought-through madness. This weekend marked the start of the Indian Racing Festival, a season of five racing weekends, owned and promoted by Reddy's Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL). The Indian Racing League (IRL), the world's first city-centric, gender-neutral motor-racing franchise competition is the flagship event, one of the festival's three categories of races. The IRL has six teams, with combination of superstar/businessmen owners – the Goa Aces (John Abraham), Kolkata Royal Tigers (Sourav Ganguly), Kichas Kings Bengaluru (Bengaluru-based movie star Kichcha Sudeep), Speed Demons Delhi (Arjun Kapoor), Hyderabad Blackbirds (Telugu film star Naga Chaithanya), and the Chennai Turbo Riders who are owned by Dr. Swetha Sundeep Anand of the Accord Group of Hotels, headed by its director Ranjith Amizdhan. Each team fields four drivers, two per car, including one woman. The first three races will take place on Coimbatore's Kari Motor Speedway (Aug 15-17 and Oct 3-5) and the Madras International Circuit (Aug 22-24). The venues for the last two weeks are not yet announced but they could feature that rare sighting: an Indian street race, like the one held in Chennai in last year's IRL. Besides Indian drivers, this year's IRL features 2016 Le Mans winner Neel Jani, who test drove for Sauber F1, and GP2 winner John Lancaster. The women drivers include Alexandra Herve, who finished third in the 2023 Formula Renault Cup championship, Laura Campos Torras, a product of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Reddy says, 'Motor racing is gender neutral and I wanted to push boundaries, putting men and women in the same category, and have them compete on the same platform. I want Indian girls to get into motor sport and want to participate.' As a teenager, Reddy, 39, had to be a part of the sport, 'but it was really unreachable… We didn't have opportunities, nothing was available, nobody had really pushed towards the sport.' He says Kari was the only proper race track then with at the most three-four karting tracks in the country. The IRL was devised to create an extra layer of public knowledge and familiarise people with the sport. Running alongside IRL is the pathway that Reddy believes will crystallise as the decade rolls over. RPPL has the FIA licence via the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) to run Formula 3 and Formula 4 in India. These are the first steps aspiring drivers must aim for after karting to make careers in international single-seaters. In 2023, as part of the Festival, RPPL held India's first F4 races alongside IRL. The Formula LGB Series (F4) of the JK Tyres National Racing Championship – an entry-level single racing platform – is also part of it. F3 will come into the programme only after FIA releases its latest Generation-2 F3 car. Reddy obtained licences for these two categories because, 'after karting, we don't have a ladder for our youngsters to get into motor sport…' Before 2023, Indian drivers needed to travel to Europe or the Middle East to race, spending between 150,000-180,000 Euros ( ₹1.5-1.8 crore) a seat. The Indian F4 seat costs only ₹50-70 lakh, he says. Reddy believes his timing to dive into creating motor racing opportunities in India is right as 'there are 3-4 karting tracks in every city'– three in Chennai, five-six in Hyderabad and 3-4 in Bangalore. The younger generation is also drawn to motor sport first lured by F1. By the time they enter working/earning adulthood, Reddy believes he will be at the stage 'where the whole league would be established'. More race weekends, 'year-round championships with 12 weekends, pre-monsoon and post monsoon.' He anticipates that IRL Season Four could come close to marking the turnaround. 'When I got into this, I had made up my mind that this league will take at least five-six years to stabilise – in its running costs.' He hopes the league becomes 'self-sustainable probably by next summer, next year'. His dream is 'by 2033 or 2034, we see at least one kid who has driven in RPPL… at least one female Indian driver in Formula 2 grid by 2032 or 2023.' And the Indian Bernie (Ecclestone) parallel? Many may dispute but Reddy is the man on the start-finish line owning and flagging off the races.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
'When She Started To Dance The World Stopped' Shekhar Kapur Remembers First Day Shooting With Sridevi
Mumbai: Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently shared a heartfelt memory of working with the late actress Sridevi, recalling their first day of shooting, which appears to be from their 1987 film 'Mr. India.' The film, which also starred Anil Kapoor, went on to become one of the most iconic movies in Indian cinema. However, for Kapur, it's the moments behind the camera that he still remembers fondly. On Sunday, the filmmaker took to Instagram to share a throwback picture from the sets. Along with the image, Kapur penned a heartfelt note, revealing how he was left "mesmerised" by Sridevi's dancing during a song sequence in Mahabaleshwar. He recalled that when she began performing, it felt like the "world stopped" for everyone on set. Also Read | Sridevi's 62nd Birthday: Janhvi Kapoor Shares Emotional Tribute And Visits Tirumala Temple "This was my first day of shoot with Sridevi ever. We were shooting a song in Mahabaleshwar. And when she started to dance the world stopped for all of us .. the only thing that moved was Sri Devi dancing ..," Kapur wrote. "We all just gawked. It was like another being had descended amongst us .. and I even forgot to say Cut ! Like everyone else in the set .. we were too mesmerised by Sridevi 's dancing ..," added. Kapur also reflected on Sridevi's loyalty during the difficult phases of filmmaking. He shared how she would "fiercely protect" him and often went out of her way to support her director. "There were other things about Sridevi that are not spoken about .. that she was fiercely loyal .. when the film got into trouble .. she would take any chance she got to protect me .. speak about how incredible I was .. she took it upon herself to fiercely protect her Director ..," Kapur wrote. "Yet, behind her stardom and incredible talent, lay such innocence, such vulnerability," he continued. "And she would use not only her talent to perform .. but bring to it her vulnerability and innocence to it too. As if the only person she would express her inner feelings to was the camera .. her protector in a way .. That's why she was such a star .. she was not afraid to reveal her inner self to the Camera ..," he concluded. Also Read | Janhvi Kapoor Faces Backlash Over Edited Video, Actress Says 'Roz Bolungi Bharat Mata Ki Jai...' Kapur and Sridevi collaborated only once, but 'Mr. India' remains one of Bollywood's most celebrated films. Sridevi's fiery performance in the song "Hawa Hawai" cemented her status as one of the greatest stars of her generation. Sridevi breathed her last on February 24, 2018, in Dubai, where she had gone to attend a family function.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
This 2014 suspense-thriller film had many bold scenes, climax will leave you in shock, movie name is…, lead actors were…
In the realm of cinema, certain characters blur the lines between love and obsession, sanity and madness. These portrayals captivate audiences, leaving them both intrigued and unsettled. One such enigmatic character emerged in a film that delved deep into the psyche of a woman driven by an all-consuming passion. Which film is this? The film in question is Zid, released on November 28, 2014. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, known for The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. This suspense-thriller introduced Mannara Chopra, cousin of actress Priyanka Chopra, in the role of Maya. What was the storyline? The narrative revolves around Maya, a young woman who becomes obsessively infatuated with journalist Rony, portrayed by Karanvir Sharma. Maya's love transcends normal boundaries, turning into a dangerous fixation that leads her to eliminate anyone she perceives as a threat to their union. The plot thickens with the mysterious death of Nancy, played by Seerat Kapoor, casting suspicion on Maya, Rony, and Priya (Shraddha Das). Maya's character is depicted as a complex blend of vulnerability and volatility, caring for her paralyzed father while battling inner demons. Her portrayal includes bold scenes that underscore her intense emotional state. How were the performances in Zid? The performances in Zid were mix of promise and limitations. Mannara Chopra, in her debut, garnered attention for her bold portrayal and screen presence. However, while she brought intensity to certain scenes, critics felt her emotional expressions lacked maturity and nuance. Karanvir Sharma, playing the male lead, delivered a more subtle performance, but his character was underwritten, leaving little room for impact. Shraddha Das, in a supporting role, brought confidence and some edge to her part, though her presence was limited by the film's narrow focus. How was the box office reception? Despite a decent opening weekend driven by curiosity, the collections dropped sharply after negative word-of-mouth and poor reviews. Zid earned approximately Rs 14 crore at the Indian box office against an estimated budget of Rs 10 crore. Critics slammed the film for its weak storyline and excessive focus on sensationalism over substance.
