Jeevan

Claim Page

Jeevan always wanted to be actor Jeevan’s father Durga Prasad Dhar was a Governor of Gilgit, (now in Pakistan) during the rule of Maharaja Partap Singh and his mother Champa Devi hailed from a rich family. She was daughter of great businessman Rai Bahadur Jai Krishen Sapru. But unfortunately, all wealth was of no use to Jeevan as his father died when Jeevan was just 3 year old. Besides, young Jeevan had lost his mother while giving birth to him. Hence he was bought up by his aunt and uncle. He did his early education at Lahore and Srinagar. He was fascinated by films and photography hence during college vacation he came to Mumbai with Rs 26 in his pocket. He was just 18 years. Fortunately, in Mumbai he had his elder brother who worked as an assistant with filmmaker D N Madhok but Madhok had no work for him.

He had an arranged marriage with Kishen, a Kashmiri Pandit Girl from Razdan family.

Jeevan struggled and worked as reflector boy After being denied job by D N Madhok, Jeevan became a Reflector Boy for survival. His job was to carry the reflector during shooting and focus as per director’s film director and cameraman’s direction. Fortunately once at Mohan studio filmmaker Mohan Sinha (father of actress Vidya Sinha) was doing a screen test of few new comers. Watching the screen test, Jeevan too rushed to participate. When his number came he recited a poem from famous Urdu drama Heer Ranjha. Mohan Sinha was impressed and signed him for his film Fashionable India (1935). The film was hit and Jeevan began getting films. He worked with many great film companies of the 40’s like Prabhat Pictures, Prakash Studios etc. Jeevan made a great Jodi with super star Dilip Kumar Despite playing hero in many films like Romantic India (1935), Forward March (1937), Jeevan could not succeed until he switched to villain opposite Dilip Kumar in the film Mela (1947). After this he did Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) with Dilip Kumar. Both films were hit. Jeevan’s film career took off and the two worked together in many hit films like Uran Khatola, Naya Daur, Kohinoor, Tarana, Hulchal etc. Thus Jeevan became number one villain in the 50 and gave multiple hit films Nagin, Chandni Chowk, Changez Khan, Nau Do Gyarah, Phagun etc. Jeevan ruled the 60 and 70’s as most sought after villain In the 60’s though actor Pran overtook Jeevan and in the 70’s he had to face tough competition from new emerging villains like Danny and Amjad Khan but Jeevan had his own space. His brand of villainy was inimitable. The brilliant style of dialogue delivery with nasal twang and his expressive eyes made him a favorite of filmmakers. In the 60’s he gave several hits and worked with top heroes like Dilip Kumar ( Kohinoor), Dev Anand (Bombai Ka Babu), Raj Kapoor (Sangam), Rajendra Kumar (Kanoon), Sunil Dutt ( Waqt), Dharmendra (Phool Aur Pathar), Manoj Kumar (Sawan Ki Ghata), Raaj Kumar (Heer Raanjha), etc. In the 70’s he made a good relation with filmmaker Manmohan Desai and played his career’s most popular role as Robert in his hit film Amar Akbar Anthony. His other hit films include Roti, Johny Mera Naam, Dharmatma, Dharam Veer, Suraksha, etc. He continued to do film in the 80’s as well and died with his shoes on. His hit films in 80’s include Naseeb, Laawaris, Yaarana, Bulundi, Sanam Teri Kasam etc.