Shamsher Raj Kapoor, also popularly known as Shammi Kapoor was born on October 21, 1931, to the pioneer of Indian theatre and cinema Prithviraj Kapoor and homemaker Ramsharni Kapoor.
The actor is the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj; the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, both successful actors in Hindi cinema.
Shammi Kapoor spent most of his childhood in Kolkata, where did his Montessori education and Kindergarten. He went to St. Joseph's Convent, Don Bosco School and New Era School till matric (10th standard) in Mumbai.
Kapoor went to Ramnarain Ruia College for a brief time after joining his father's theatrical company Prithvi Theatre. The actor worked as a junior artiste, at a salary of Rs. 50 per month. In 1952, he collected his last paycheck of Rs. 300 after four years of experience in Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.
The actor made his debut in 1953 with 'Jeewan Jyoti', directed by Mahesh Kaul and Chand Usmani was Kapoor's first heroine.