On Sanjeev Kumar’s 80th birth anniversary, here’s remembering Bollywood beloved (Hari Bhai). He is one of the most eclectic actors Indian cinema has produced, working in mainstream and realistic films with elan. There was no genre he didn’t dabble with, and then, who can ever forget Sholay’s Thakur
Sanjeev Kumar was born on 9th July 1938 in Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India and Died on 6th November 1985 at the age of 47 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India Because of Heart Attack. He was a Great Indian Actor.
Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur in Sholay.
It is heartbreaking when one gets to know that the life of one of our favorite stars was cut short by a heart problem. As if it wasn’t enough that iconic Indian screen beauty Madhubala died at a young age of 36 because of a hole in her heart, talented Bollywood actor Sanjeev Kumar (fondly called Hari bhai by many of his colleagues in Bollywood) too died rather young, aged 47, due to a massive heart attack.
Harihar Jethalal Jariwala (Sanjeev Kumar was his screen name) was born in Surat, Gujarat but soon his family moved to Mumbai (Bombay). He started out as a theatre actor, working in plays by Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) at a young age. In fact veteran character actor AK Hangal cast him in one of his plays, early in his career.
Sanjeev Kumar and Deepti Naval in Angoor.
Though Sanjeev made his film debut in 1960 with a small role in Hum Hindustani, it was a movie called Khilona (1970; remade from Tamil original Engerindho Vandhaal) that Sanjeev first tasted success. He played a man who loses his mental balance after being jilted. A courtesan (Mumtaz) is hired by the family to pretend to be Sanjeev’s wife and take care of him. In one his many bouts of madness, he rapes her. How he gets back his sanity and how the two get reconciled with each other, forms the rest of the story. The film helped Sanjeev display his acting prowess—importantly his ability to move from loud and often melodramatic moments to ones of restraint, making him a natural choice for many directors and storytellers.
He would go on to work with various directors and in many different genres, acing many styles of acting. With films like Manchali, Seeta Aur Geeta, Anamika and Aap Ki Kasam (in the last one, he played the second lead) he channelled the romantic side of his personality with ease. In films like Angoor, Biwi O Biwi, Itni Si Baat, Pati Patni Aur Woh among others, his comic timing wowed all.
Sanjeev Kumar with Hema Malini in Seeta Aur Geeta.
Thanks to his realistic acting, soon he would become a regular in Gulzar films as well. In movies like Mausam, Namkeen, Angoor and Aandhi, together they set the bar rather high for others to emulate. The thing about Sanjeev was that despite commanding the admiration of millions of fans, he never really allowed himself to be caught in an image of a star. Even in his days as a theatre actor, Sanjeev wouldn’t contend himself playing the ‘young hero’. True to his craft, through his career, he often played older characters. Watch him in Sholay, Mausam, Trishul and Koshish and you will understand what one is pointing at. In fact, often he played these roles where the other actors, often playing his sons, were much older than him. He played a dad to Shashi Kapoor in Trishul, while the virile Dharmendra in Sholay was also elder than him.
Sanjeev never batted an eyelid even when he was cast in much smaller roles, despite being a powerhouse performer. In films like Parichay (lead were Jaya Bhaduri and Jitendra) and in Silsila (where he played a small role as Rekha’s husband; watch him as he notices his wife flirt with her ex-lover, played by Amitabh Bachchan in the song Rang Barse).
If in the early ’70s he got lead roles, towards the late ’70s and early ’80s, Bombay filmmakers often cast him in character roles.
It is a measure of Sanjeev phenomenal acting prowess, that a filmmaker like Satyajit Ray was willing to cast him in a rather realistic (often bereft of any drama at all) in Shatranj Ke Khiladi even as Ramesh Sippy would think of him as Thakur in Sholay with all his typical mannerisms. What would Gabbar Singh’s ‘yeh haath humko de de, Thakur’ have been without Sanjeev heavy baritone ‘nahin’?
Such a consummate artist Sanjeev was that he worked in other language films as well, while he was among the most talked-about actors in Bombay. His Punjabi film, Fauji Chacha and Tamil films (in small roles) Bharat Vilas and Uyarndhavargal are cases in point.
Sanjeev was an immensely popular star but he never married. It is reported that he was in love with Hema Malini (he even proposed to her, it is said) and later got involved with actor Sulakshana Pandit. Sadly, they never married and she reportedly chose to stay single even after his death.
Sanjeev suffered his first heart attack in 1976. He went to the US and underwent a bypass. However, in November 1985, aged 47, he suffered a massive heart attack, which resulted in his death.
33 years have gone by since his passing away but his legion of fans, still remember him and say: Tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hai
Bollywood legendary versatile actor Sanjeev Kumar died on November 6, 1985. One of the most famous stars in the 60s and 70s, Kumar was popular for bringing offbeat characters to life. With a small debut role in Hum Hindustani, Sanjeev Kumar became one of the most influential actors of Bollywood.
Sanjeev Kumar was known for his iconic roles in the films like Sholay, Trishul, Shikar, Pati Patni Aur Woh etc.
Sanjeev Kumar (born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala; 9 July 1938 – 6 November 1985) was an Indian film actor. He won several major awards including two National Film Awards for Best Actor for his performances in the movies Dastak (1971) and Koshish (1973). He acted in genres ranging from romantic dramas to thrillers. Kumar did not mind playing roles that were non-glamorous, such as characters well beyond his age. Movies such as Arjun Pandit, Sholay and Trishul, along with the remakes of Tamil films into Hindi such as Khilona, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Naya Din Nai Raat, Devata, Itni Si Baat and Ram Tere Kitne Naam exemplify his talents. He also did suspense-thriller films such as Qatl, Shikar, Uljhan and Trishna. Kumar also proved his ability to do comedy in films such as Manchali, Pati Patni aur Woh, Angoor, Biwi O Biwi and Hero. He is well remembered for his versatility and genuine portrayal of his characters. His double role in the film Angoor was listed among the 25 best acting performances of Indian cinema by Forbes India on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema.
Personal life
Kumar remained single all his life. He had proposed to Hema Malini in 1973 and they remained in touch even after he suffered his first heart attack in 1976. Later he was involved with actress Sulakshana Pandit, but both of them remained unmarried. Kumar refused to marry her, as a result of which Sulakshana vowed to never marry anyone.
His closest friends from the film industry were Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Tanuja, Deven Varma, Shivaji Ganesan and B. Nagi Reddy. Among his juniors he was a very good friend of actor, producer, and director Sachin Pilgaonkar and actress Sarika.
Career
Kumar started his acting career as a stage actor, starting with IPTA in Mumbai and later joining the Indian National Theatre.[3] Even as a stage actor, he had a penchant for playing older roles; at age 22, he played an old man in an adaptation of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. In the following year, in the play Damru directed by AK Hangal, Kumar again played the role of a 60-year-old with six children.
Kumar made his film debut with a small role in Hum Hindustani in 1960. His first film as a protagonist was in Nishan (1965). In 1968, he acted alongside the famous actor of that time, Dilip Kumar, in Sangharsh.
He starred in the 1966 Gujarati film Kalapi, which was based on the poet Kalapi’s life, with Kumar playing the titular role, Padmarani playing the role of his wife, Rama, and Aruna Irani as the love interest. The film was directed by Manhar Raskapur. Later Aruna Irani was paired opposite Sanjeev in another Gujarati film, Mare Javun Pele Par (1968).
In 1970, the movie Khilona, which was remake of Tamil film Engerindho Vandhaal, brought Kumar national recognition. In 1972, he played in an Indo-Iranian film, Subah aur Shaam. This was when director Gulzar first spotted him. Later he cast Kumar in the roles of older men in 4 films Parichay, Koshish (1973), Aandhi (1975) and Mausam (1975). Gulzar casted Kumar in role of young man in the films Angoor (1981) and Namkeen (1982). Kumar won the BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) for his exemplary portrayal of a deaf and mute person in Koshish, in which the female lead was played by Jaya Bhaduri, who acted as his deaf and mute wife and was herself nominated for Best Actor award by Filmfare for the same role. He went on to star in the box office hits Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Manchali (1973) and Aap Ki Kasam (1974). In 1973, he made a guest appearance during a song in a Tamil movie, Bharatha Vilas (1973). He performed in nine movies directed by Gulzar. Hrishikesh Mukherjee directed him in Arjun Pandit, for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award.
He did three films opposite famous Tamil actress L. Vijaya Lakshmi, including Husn Aur Ishq and Badal which became hits. Their first film was Alibaba Aur 40 Chor which was unsuccessful. His Raja Aur Runk, released in 1968, was a great success. He did Kangan, Rivaaz, Zindagi, Beraham, Archana and Do Ladkiyan opposite Mala Sinha. He did Priya, Anubhav, Gustaaki Maaf, Bachpan and Khud-Daar with Tanuja. He was paired with Rakhee in Angaare, Paras, Trishna, Shriman Shrimati and Hamare Tumhare. His hits with Leena Chandavarkar included Apne Rang Hazar, Manchali and Anhonee. He was paired regularly with Sulakshana Pandit in films such as Uljhan and Waqt Ki Deewar and with Moushmi Chaterjee in Itni Si Baat and Daasi.
The producers and directors of the South wanted to remake their Tamil and Telugu films in Hindi with either Kumar or Rajesh Khanna in lead. It was these Hindi film remakes which elevated him to a great actor. The film Khilona and its Tamil version Engirundho Vandhaal were made simultaneously. Navarathri was remade as Naya Din Naya Raat. Kumar reprised the role played by Thengai Srinivasan in Yehi Hai Zindagi which was a remake of Kaliyuga Kannan. He starred as lead in the film Shaandaar in 1974 which was a remake of Kasturi Nivasa which had Kannada actor Rajkumar in the lead. He enacted the role played by AVM Rajan in Anadhai Aanandhan, in its Hindi version Chand Aur Bijli in 1970. Gnana Oli was remade as Devata in 1976 with Kumar reprising the role originally paid by Shivaji Ganesan. He also acted in the Telugu remake of Swargam Narakam, as Swarg Narak (1978). Though the film Suraag was a hit, during the mid 1980s, Northern Indian producers and directors casted Sanjeev Kumar primarily in supporting roles in films like Khudaar, Sawaal, Zabardast, Hero and Silsila. However southern Indian directors casted him in lead roles even in the period 1980 to 1985. He played the role which N.T. Rama Rao did originally in Devina Chesina Manushulu, in its Hindi version Takkar in 1980. Tayaramma Bangarayya was remade as Shriman Shrimati in 1982; Raman Ethanai Ramanadi was remade as Ram Kitne Tere Naam in 1985. Kumar reprised the role played by R.Muthuraman in Alukuoru Aasai in its Hindi remake Itni Si Baat in 1981. Shivaji Ganesan gave Kumar a role in his own home production Gauri (1968), which was a remake of Shanti (1965). The role played by S.S. Rajendran in Shanti was re-enacted by Kumar in Gauri.
Sanjeev Kumar’s excellent comic timing entertained audiences in films such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Biwi O Biwi (1981), Pati, Patni Aur Woh, Angoor (1982) and Hero (1983).
His performances in films such as Charitraheen, Angaare, Grihapravesh, Chehre Pe Chehra, Sawaal and Yaadgaar, though they became-box office flops, were appreciated by critics and during their subsequent screening on television. Kumar always demonstrated a willingness to take on unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. His role as Mirza Sajjad Ali, a chess-obsessed Lucknowi (citizen of Lucknow), in Satyajit Ray’s classic Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) exemplified that aspect. Perhaps his best remembered roles were in the blockbuster films Sholay (1975) and Trishul (1978). His portrayal of the character Thakur, from Sholay, released in August 1975 was one of his stellar performances. In Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974), Sanjeev Kumar reprised the nine-role epic performance by Shivaji Ganesan in Navarathri (Tamil; 1964), which was also previously reprised by Akkineni Nageswara Rao in Navarathri (Telugu; 1966). This film enhanced his status and reputation as a serious player in Bollywood. He stood his ground against leading superstars such as Rajesh Khanna in Bandhan and Aap Ki Kasam; Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor in the Yash Chopra multi-star cast film Trishul (1978) and Dilip Kumar in the film ‘Sangharsh’ and Vidhaata (1982).
He has done many regional films in different languages including Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Sindhi and his mother tongue Gujarati. In 1980; he starred in the Punjabi movie Fauji Chacha. He made guest appearances in two Tamil films Bharata Vilas and Uyarndhavargal.
