When you talk about actors who could truly become their characters, one name often comes up: Sanjeev Kumar. He wasn’t just playing roles; he lived them, changing his look and feel for each new story. Born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on July 9, 1938, this talented artist packed his bags early for Bombay. He started his journey on stage, honing his craft in theatre. His first step into Bollywood was a small part as a police inspector in the 1960 film Hum Hindustani. It wasn’t a huge role, but it opened the door for a remarkable career. Soon, he became known for his incredible skill and the wide variety of characters he brought to life. Let’s look at some of his most memorable performances.
In the 1970 film Khilona, Sanjeev Kumar played Vijaykamal, a man struggling with mental illness. His portrayal was deeply moving. The story follows Mumtaz’s character, who tries to help him recover. Jitendra also played an important part. Kumar’s performance as a troubled person was truly outstanding. Chander Vohra directed this film.
The 1972 hit `Seeta Aur Geeta` starred Hema Malini in a dual role. Sanjeev Kumar played Ravi, the man who falls for Seeta. This movie was a comedy, and Sanjeev Kumar made audiences laugh with his unique style. Ramesh Sippy directed this entertaining film.
That same year, in `Koshish` (1972), Sanjeev Kumar played Haricharan, a deaf man. His character falls in love with Aarti, a mute woman. They build a life together. The film’s story is full of ups and downs, making it quite emotional. Gulzar directed this heartfelt movie.
In 1975, Sanjeev Kumar shared the screen with Suchitra Sen in `Aandhi`. He played JK in this political drama. There were whispers that the film was inspired by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s life, but the filmmakers denied it. Sanjeev Kumar played the husband of Suchitra Sen’s character. Gulzar also directed this film.
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The 1975 Ramesh Sippy classic `Sholay` featured Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur Baldev Singh. This was an iconic role that audiences still remember fondly. Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra played Jai and Veeru. The story mainly revolves around Thakur Baldev’s rivalry with Gabbar, played by Amjad Khan.
In the 1982 comedy `Angoor`, Sanjeev Kumar showed off his range by playing a double role as Ashok R. Tilak. The film’s plot and comedy were very entertaining. Gulzar directed this movie, which is now considered a cult classic comedy.
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Here are some more roles that were greatly admired:
- In `Mausam` (1975), Sanjeev Kumar played the serious and thoughtful Dr. Amarnath. Sharmila Tagore played both a mother and daughter in this film.
- The 1976 film `Zindagi` saw Sanjeev Kumar as Raghu Shukla. The movie explored themes of family disrespect and a love story. Mala Sinha played his character’s wife.
- In the 1978 film `Devta`, the actor played both Tony and Tarun Gupta. This film was a murder mystery. Shabana Azmi and Danny Denzongpa also appeared in it.
- `Pati, Patni Aur Woh` (1978) featured Sanjeev Kumar as Ranjit Chaddha. This film was about a man’s extramarital affair. Vidya Sinha and Ranjeeta Kaur played the female leads.