Finding his Hollywood fame following his appearance in the 1966 romance drama, Alfie as a womanizer, Michael Caine has worked with some of the most beautiful women in the industry. However, unlike a few of his scandalous colleagues, Caine never strayed. And the credit solely goes to his wife Shakira Caine.
Falling in love with his wife, after watching her in Ridley Scott’s coffee commercial in the 70s, Michael Caine married his soulmate a few years later. Following their long-standing marriage, the actor noted in his autobiography and via several interviews, how his wife has always been a good influence on him, and certainly saved his life.
Michael Caine’s Wife’s Good Influence Saved His Life
Michael Caine met the love of his life through Ridley Scott’s coffee commercial in the 70s. Watching television with his friend, the actor spotted Shakira Baksh in the background of the advertisement and instantly fell in love with her. After that, the actor went out of his way to make Baksh fall in love with him. Arranging a meeting after calling her 11 times, Caine made his wife fall in love within 2 hours.
However, while Michael Caine and Shakira Baksh’s romance appears right out of a fairy tale, the actor’s life was a complete mess when he met his wife. Drinking a bottle of vodka and smoking several packs of cigarettes a day, the Oscar-winning actor was on the verge of drinking himself to death. However, Caine told RadioTimes how Baksh evidently saved his life.
“Without her, I would have been dead long ago. I would have probably drunk myself to death. I was a bit of a p*** artist when I was younger, I used to drink a bottle of vodka a day and I was smoking too, several packs a day…There was always some stressful thing. Meeting Shakira calmed me down.”
Giving all due credit to his wife, Michael Caine mentioned how meeting Baksh changed his life forever. Turning his life for good, Caine’s wife evidently saved him from slowly ending his life.
Michael Caine’s Devotion For His Wife Shakira Caine
Devoting himself to his wife, Michael Caine discussed with The Telegraph how he found his confidant in Shakira Baksh. Stating how meeting his wife changed his life in a positive way, the Oscar-winning actor mentioned finding a friend and an influential partner in his soulmate.
“She’s my right-hand man, my confidante. I tell her everything. I was famous when I met her, but I couldn’t have got this far without her.”
He later on clarified how his wife never stopped him from drinking or smoking, but his desire to spend his life with her, made him end his addiction. However, he later added that Baksh has always been anxious for him to stay alive and healthy.
“She didn’t say, ‘You’ve got to stop drinking,’ but being with her made me want to stay sober and be alive with her…And of course, she was very anxious for me to stay alive.”
Finding his peace and happiness in his wife, Michael Caine also added that Baksh was the only reason why he never strayed. Despite working with beautiful women in the industry, Caine always wanted to come home to his wife as soon as possible. Thus, with trust, faith, and good influence, Michael Caine and Shakira Caine (née Baksh) completed 50 years of marriage.
Source: The Telegraph, RadioTimes
