From the 1970s to early 1980s, Kapoor starred alongside Pran in 9 films which include "Biradari", "Chori Mera Kaam", "Phaansi", "Shankar Dada", "Chakkar Pe Chakkar", "Rahu Ketu" and "Maan Gaye Ustaad". Earlier, Shashi had worked as child artists with Pran in "Sanskar". He made a popular pairing with Amitabh Bachchan and the two co-starred in a total of 12 films: "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" (1974), "Deewaar" (1975), "Kabhi Kabhie" (1976), "Trishul" (1978), "Kaala Patthar" (1979), "Suhaag" (1979),"Do Aur Do Paanch" (1980), "Shaan" (1980), and "Namak Halaal" (1982) were hits, while "Immaan Dharam" (1977), "Silsila" (1981) and "Akayla" (1991) were flops. He is particularly famous for his role in "Deewaar" (1975), a film written by Salim–Javed about two brothers on opposing sides of the law, with Kapoor playing a cop. One of his lines in the film, "Mere paas Maa hai" ("I have mother"), is a famous phrase that has become part of Indian popular culture.