Jennifer Kendal was an English actress and the founder of the Prithvi Theatre. She is best known for her role in the film “36 Chowringhee Lane (1981),” for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Early Life and Career
Jennifer Kendal Kapoor, born on February 28, 1934, in Southport, England. Her parents, Geoffrey Kendal and Laura Liddell, ran the travelling theatre company “Shakespeareana.” She had a younger sister, Felicity Kendal, who is a famous actress herself. The family relocated to India during Kendal’s childhood. This company brought the works of Shakespeare to life across India, which deeply influenced Jennifer’s early years and her passion for acting.
They traveled extensively with the theatre troupe. This nomadic lifestyle exposed her to diverse cultures early on. Kendal received informal education through her parents’ company. She learned acting skills on the road. By her teens, she performed in Shakespeare plays. Kendal joined Shakespeareana professionally in the 1950s. This marked her formal entry into entertainment.
It was during one of these theatrical tours in Calcutta, 1956, when she was playing the role of Miranda in the play “The Tempest,” Jennifer met the charming Shashi Kapoor. After dating for two years, their shared love for theatre culminated in marriage in July 1958.
Jennifer Kendal’s Acting Career
In 1965, James Ivory of “Merchenct-Ivory Productions” directed Shakespeare Wallah, based on the Kendals’ touring company in which Geoffrey, Jennifer, Felicity, and Kapoor played fictitious versions of themselves. It was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and produced by Ismail Merchant.
Together, Jennifer and Shashi were instrumental in the revival of the Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai, a space that would become synonymous with contemporary and classic theatre in India. Their efforts in 1978 to open the theatre in the Juhu area of Mumbai provided a platform for many aspiring actors and directors.
Other Works
Jennifer doesnt act in many films, but whever little she done was outstanding. Some of her nuanced performances came in films like “Bombay Talkie (1970),” “Junoon (1978),” “Heat and Dust (1983),” “The Far Pavilions (1984),” and “Ghare-Baire (1984). Her collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions alongside her husband brought forth a series of memorable films.
Her most notable work, “36 Chowringhee Lane” (1981), earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role, a testament to her profound impact on the arts. She was also got a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination for Shyam Benegal‘s “Junoon.” Her legacy continues to inspire actors and theatre enthusiasts around the world. She also worked as a costume designer for films like Shakespeare-Wallah (1965) Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Mukti (1977), Doosara Aadmi (1977), Suhaag (1979), Kalyug (1981), and Vijeta (1982).
Personal Life
Jennifer Kendal married Shashi Kapoor in 1958. Together they had three children: sons Kunal Kapoor and Karan Kapoor, and daughter Sanjana Kapoor.
Unfortunately, Jennifer was diagnosed with “Terminal Colon Cancer” in 1982. After a long fight with the disease, She passed away on September 7, 1984, in London, England, UK.
Jennifer Kendal on IMDB
