BBC News At 10 Apologises For Shashi Kapoor Blunder Following Segment About Actor’s Death

BBC News At 10 editor Paul Royall has responded to viewers’ criticism after footage of the wrong actor was used during a tribute to Bollywood actor and producer Shashi Kapoor.

On Monday (4 December), it was announced that Shashi had died at the age of 79, having been admitted to the Kokilaben Hospital hospital in Mumbai earlier that day.

However, when the BBC covered the news of his death, viewers were quick to point out that they’d actually used footage of fellow Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan to illustrate the story.

To make matters worse, the BBC’s video montage later included a clip of Shashi’s nephew Rishi Kapoor, with many blasting the channel on social media for their mistake, which completely left Shashi Kapoor out of his own tribute.

@BBCNews At least show the picture of Veteran Actor Shashi Kapoor . BBC showing all other actors except his picture or video pic.twitter.com/6aups2hQrx
.@BBCWorld really disappointed on the errors made on BBC news at 10.00 just now. One of India’s most famous actors who passed away #RIPShashiKapoor was completely misrepresented with images of @SrBachchan and his uncle Rishi Kapoor being broadcast.

December 4, 2017
BBC News just reported death of Shashi Kapoor with clips of Rishi Kapoor and Bachchan. ??‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/HNO31n1sWr
@BBCNews – I know us Indians all might look alike to you 😉 but you just announced the death of #ShashiKapoor and showed clips of two other actors who are still alive – one who is his nephew (Rishi Kapoor) -maybe cross check this with Bollywood fans next time? #diversityfail #bbc

December 4, 2017
The veteran handsome Indian actor Shashi Kapoor has died and the BBC just showed a clip of Amitabh Bachchan!!
Well done #BBC news by highlighting the death of Shashi Kapoor by showcasing the wrong actors ? Amitah Bachan is not SK, nor is Rishi Kapoor – that’s his son! ??‍♀️

December 4, 2017
BBC news at ten shows Amitabh Banham clip instead of Sashi Kapoor- shame on its researchers
Sad to hear about Shashi Kapoor’s sad passing..Even sadder that BBC showed Amitabh and Rishi Kapoor. Duffers!
Dear @BBC just watched your inaccurate news coverage of Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor’s death while you showed pictures of @SrBachchan & @chintskap in error! Could you please do your research more thoroughly & have some respect please!

December 4, 2017
@paulroyall I hope you now have a photograph of the real Shashi Kapoor? Poor man can’t even rest in peace because the BBC credited another ‘brown person ‘ with his work. #NotTheSame

December 4, 2017
#BBC News hire proper researchers! Report on legend #Shashi Kapoor’s death and you show #Amitabh and his brother #Rishi Kapoor but no clip of him or his iconic movies. Call yourself a news channel?

December 4, 2017
@BBCNews I’m glad that you reported the sad passing of the Indian actor Shashi Kapoor on the BBC national news, however the images shown during the piece were not of him! One was Amithab Bachacn and the other was Rishi Kapoor. Oops

December 4, 2017
@BBCNews Too bad BBC News at 10 you broadcasted the news of Shashi Kapoors demise with film snippets of Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan in it, two completely wrong and totally alive actors. Correct film, Kabhi Kabhi, but wrong actors aired. Very stupid and rude indeed!

December 4, 2017
Got excited there for a mo – BBC reporting on sad demise of superstar of several decades, Shashi Kapoor, but neither clip showed the actor. Epic. Fail. @bbcnews @huwbbc

December 4, 2017
I’m really annoyed about the BBC Shashi Kapoor thing. DOES ANYONE GIVE A DAMN? If you do, please tweet the editor @paulroyall
The news show’s editor, Paul Royall, has now had his say in response to the backlash, issuing a short comment on his Twitter account.

He wrote: “[‘News At 10’] is is very sorry wrong images were used to mark the death of Shashi Kapoor. Not our usual standards and I apologise for any upset.”

#BBCNewsTen is very sorry wrong images were used to mark the death of Shashi Kapoor. Not our usual standards and I apologise for any upset.
Throughout his extensive career in the film industry, Shashi Kapoor starred in more than 175 films, most recently appearing in the English-language films ‘Jinnah’ and ‘Side Streets’ in 1998.

He also served as director on ‘Ajooba’ in 1991, as well as the Russian-language film ’Vozvrashcheniye Bagdadskogo Vora’ in 1988.

His nephew Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news of his death, explaining: “Yes, he has passed away. He had kidney problem for several years. He was on dialysis for several years.”

He is survived by his two sons, Kunal and Karan, and a daughter, Sanjana.