Sanjeev Kumar (actor)
Encyclopedia
Sanjeev Kumar was one of the most prominent Indian actors in Bollywood
.
family. His first home was in Surat
and family based in Mumbai
. A stint in the film school took him to Bollywood, where he eventually became a movie star. He remained a bachelor all his life and died of a massive heart attack in 1985. He has two younger brothers and a sister.
in 1960. Sanjeev's first film as a hero was the 1965 Nishan
. In 1968, he played opposite the famous actor Dilip Kumar
in Sangharsh
. In 1970, Khilona
made him a star. He went on to star in the hits Seeta Aur Geeta
(1972) and Manchali
(1973). He started working with the well-known director Gulzar
in the early 1970s. He did nine films with Gulzar, including Aandhi
(1975), Mausam (1975), Angoor
(1981) and Namkeen
(1982). Many of his fans believe that these are some of the best films that he did.
He was always ready to take unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. He played Mirza, a chess-obsessed Lucknowi (citizen of Lucknow
), in Satyajit Ray
's classic Shatranj Ke Khiladi
(1977). Perhaps his best-remembered roles were in the blockbuster films Sholay
(1975) and Trishul
(1978). In Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974) Sanjeev Kumar reprised the nine-role epic performance by Sivaji Ganesan
in Navarathiri (1964), which was also previously reprised by Akkineni Nageswara Rao
in Navarathri (Telugu; 1966). This film has enhanced his status and reputation as a serious actor in Hindi cinema.
During the early 1980s, Sanjeev Kumar did more supporting roles than playing the lead. In 1980, he starred in a Punjabi movie Fauji Chacha. In 1985, when he was 47 years old, he had a massive heart attack, resulting in his death. He never married. He was however involved with actress Sulakshana Pandit
, whom he did not marry, having been turned down by Hema Malini
, with whom he was in love at the time. Hema Malini
went on to marry her frequent co-star Dharmendra
. Ironically for an actor who played many elderly roles, he did not live to the age of 50.
Ten of his already completed films were released after his death, with his final film Professor Ki Padosan being released in 1993. At the time of his death only three-fourths of this film was complete, and it was decided to alter the story in the second half of the film to explain the absence of Sanjeev Kumar's character.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
.
Personal life and background
Sanjeev Kumar was born as (Haribhai ?) Jariwala in Gujarat to a GujaratiGujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
family. His first home was in Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
and family based in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. A stint in the film school took him to Bollywood, where he eventually became a movie star. He remained a bachelor all his life and died of a massive heart attack in 1985. He has two younger brothers and a sister.
Career
Sanjeev Kumar made his debut in the film Hum HindustaniHum Hindustani
Hum Hindustani Hum Hindustani Hum Hindustani (Hindi: (हम हिन्दुस्तानी) (Translation We Hindustani people ) is a 1960 Hindi movie produced by S Mukherjee and directed by Ram Mukherjee. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Joy Mukherjee, Asha Parekh, Jagirdar, Helen, Leela Chitnis, Agha and Sanjeev Kumar in...
in 1960. Sanjeev's first film as a hero was the 1965 Nishan
Nishan (1965 film)
Nishan is a 1965 Hindi movie directed by Aspi Irani . The film stars Sanjeev Kumar , Nazima, Prem Chopra, Helen, Mukri, Sulochana and Shammi. The films music is by Usha Khanna. Lyricist Javed Anwar....
. In 1968, he played opposite the famous actor Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
in Sangharsh
Sangharsh
Sangharsh is a 1999 Bollywood film directed by Tanuja Chandra. It stars Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta and Ashutosh Rana. The movie is based on the 1991 Academy Award-winning film The Silence of the Lambs.-Synopsis:...
. In 1970, Khilona
Khilona
Khilona is a 1970 Indian film directed by Chander Vohra and recipient of the Filmfare Best Movie Award. Mumtaz won the Filmfare Best Actress Award....
made him a star. He went on to star in the hits Seeta Aur Geeta
Seeta Aur Geeta
Seeta aur Geeta is a 1972 Hindi film directed by Ramesh Sippy. The story is by Salim-Javed and the music by R.D. Burman.The story is about identical twins who are separated at birth and grow up with different temperaments. The twins then swap places...
(1972) and Manchali
Manchali
Manchali is also a 1973 Hindi film starring Sanjeev Kumar, Leena Chandavarkar, Nazima and Nirupa Roy.The title track was very catchy and popular. The story is about a rich spoiled girl who does not want to get married and hires a husband. The film was directed by Raja Nawathe. It was one of the...
(1973). He started working with the well-known director Gulzar
Gulzar (lyricist)
Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...
in the early 1970s. He did nine films with Gulzar, including Aandhi
Aandhi
Aandhi is a 1975 Indian movie supposedly based on then-prime minister Indira Gandhi's life, but in reality, it was inspired by Tarkeshwari Sinha, apart from Indira Gandhi. It was directed by Gulzar...
(1975), Mausam (1975), Angoor
Angoor (film)
Angoor is a 1982 Bollywood Hindi comedy film. It is based on Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors.-Story:The film is about two pairs of identical twins separated at birth and how the circumstances go haywire when they meet in adulthood.Raj Tilak and his wife are on a trip with their twin sons...
(1981) and Namkeen
Namkeen
Namkeen , 1982 Hindi film, directed by Gulzar, with Sharmila Tagore, Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi and Waheeda Rehman as leads. It was yet another movie by Gulzar made on some very sensitive but untouched aspects of Indian society especially in rural areas. The story was by Samaresh Basu on whose...
(1982). Many of his fans believe that these are some of the best films that he did.
He was always ready to take unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. He played Mirza, a chess-obsessed Lucknowi (citizen of Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
), in Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
's classic Shatranj Ke Khiladi
Shatranj Ke Khiladi
The Chess Players is a genre painting of 1876 by American artist Thomas Eakins . It is a small oil on wood panel depicting Eakins' father Benjamin observing a chess match. The two players are Bertrand Gardel , an elderly French teacher, and the somewhat younger George Holmes, a painter...
(1977). Perhaps his best-remembered roles were in the blockbuster films Sholay
Sholay
Sholay is a 1975 Indian action-adventure film produced by G.P. Sippy and directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. It is considered among the greatest films in the history of Indian cinema. Released on 15 August 1975, it stars Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and...
(1975) and Trishul
Trishul (film)
Trishul is an Indian Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra and produced by Gulshan Rai in 1978. It is written by Salim-Javed, with music by Khayyam and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. The movie was a "blockbuster" Hit at the box-office and one of the top grossers of 1978, along with Muqaddar Ka Sikander...
(1978). In Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974) Sanjeev Kumar reprised the nine-role epic performance by Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
in Navarathiri (1964), which was also previously reprised by Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
in Navarathri (Telugu; 1966). This film has enhanced his status and reputation as a serious actor in Hindi cinema.
During the early 1980s, Sanjeev Kumar did more supporting roles than playing the lead. In 1980, he starred in a Punjabi movie Fauji Chacha. In 1985, when he was 47 years old, he had a massive heart attack, resulting in his death. He never married. He was however involved with actress Sulakshana Pandit
Sulakshana Pandit
Sulakshana Pratap Narain Pandit is a Filmfare Award winning Playback Singer & Actor.Her brothers are the composing duo Jatin Lalit and her younger sister is Vijeta Pandit who achieved fame with her debut movie Love Story. Her uncle is the accomplished classical vocalist Pandit...
, whom he did not marry, having been turned down by Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
, with whom he was in love at the time. Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
went on to marry her frequent co-star Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
. Ironically for an actor who played many elderly roles, he did not live to the age of 50.
Ten of his already completed films were released after his death, with his final film Professor Ki Padosan being released in 1993. At the time of his death only three-fourths of this film was complete, and it was decided to alter the story in the second half of the film to explain the absence of Sanjeev Kumar's character.