As news of the demise of Shashi Kapoor came in on Monday evening, one news channel seems to have confused the legendary Bollywood actor with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
Times Now put out a tweet, which has since been deleted, stating filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar remembered "Shashi Tharoor" for his work in parallel cinema.
And the culprit here !!! pic.twitter.com/Vw0ePXk6QW
— Sangeeta Tyagi (@sangeeta_tyagi) December 4, 2017
Shortly after, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, known for his sharp wit, tweeted saying that his office had been receiving condolence calls.
"Reports of my demise are, if not exaggerated, at least premature," he quipped.
We're getting condolence calls in the office! Reports of my demise are, if not exaggerated, at least premature. @TimesNow #ShashiKapoor https://t.co/nbtZGcdQTa
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 4, 2017
I feel a part of me is gone. A great actor, smart, cosmopolitan, impossibly handsome & w/a name that was often confused w/mine. (My office got two calls from journalists today about my reportedly serious ill-health!) I will miss #ShashiKapoor. Condolences2his family&all his fans pic.twitter.com/fSz3jafPZJ
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 4, 2017
Times Now later put out another tweet apologising for a "typographical error".
"We apologize for the typographical error on our end. @ShashiTharoor we wish you good health," it said.
We apologize for the typographical error on our end. @ShashiTharoor we wish you good health.
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) December 4, 2017
The typo, predictably, got several reactions from social media users.
As much as some of these channels dislike me they’ve never killed me off. You have a unique distinction here Shashi
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 4, 2017
Farrago of misunderstanding
— niral (@niralsoni) December 4, 2017
Rest in premature peace Mr. Tharoor . I am sure I would be sad to hear this news anytime in life
— Sarah (@sarskhan2) December 4, 2017
Well said
— Ravi Rajagopal (@RR1965) December 4, 2017
Shashi Kapoor, the romantic screen icon of the 70s and early 80s, died on Monday at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani hospital. He was 79.
"Shashi Kapoor expired at 5.20 pm on December 4 at Kokilaben Hospital, here," Dr Ram Narain, Executive Director of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, told IANS.
Shashi Kapoor's nephew and actor Randhir Kapoor too confirmed the news.
"He has passed away," Randhir told IANS.
The third and youngest son of late Prithviraj Kapoor and brother of late Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, Shashi underwent a cataract surgery in 2012.
Married to Anglo-Indian theatre actor Jennifer Kendal, Shashi had three children – Kunal, Karan and Sanjana Kapoor.
He made his debut with Yash Chopra's Dharamputra in 1961 and acted in over 175 films.
Shashi Kapoor had to his claim many accolades, including three national awards. He was also felicitated with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contribution to Indian cinema nd the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2015.
Condolences have been pouring in from the film fraternity with many stating that an era has come to an end.
Actress Simi Garewal tweeted: "Am deeply saddened by the passing away of my co-star ShashiKapoor. The last of that generation of Kapoors gone. A gentleman and friend gone. An era gone.. All that remains are his films...and precious memories.. ?? RIP Shashi-ji."
Taran Adarsh, film critic and business analyst, tweeted: "ShashiKapoor ji is no more... An era comes to an end... Thoughts and prayers with the family... RIP."
With IANS inputs