Jeetendra

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Son of Amarnath Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor, Jeetendra's real name is Ravi Kapoor. He was born in Amritsar, Punjab. The family shifted to Mumbai and stayed at Girgaum. Father did the business of imitation jeweler that was supplied for Bollywood films. While studying in college Jeetendra helped his father by visiting film studios and supplying imitation jewelry. It was during such visits Jeetendra got dazzled by the spectacular world of Cinema and decided to make a career in films.

Jeetendra was madly in love with Hema Malini

Jeetendra and Hema Malini worked together first time in the hit film Waris (1969). Jeetendra was dazzled by the bewitching beauty of Hema and within his heart; he began dreaming of marrying her. The association became stronger when their jodi became hit on-screen with the success of Waris, Garam Masala (1972) and Bhai Ho To Aisa (1972). During the making of the film Dulhan (1974), Jeetendra proposed Hema but to his dismay, Hema declined as she was attracted to Dharmendra.

Jeetendra married Shobha after a long romance

Jeetendra and Shobha fell in love when they were school students. Later she joined British Airways as an Air-hostess and became independent but Jeetendra was still struggling to make a career in films. After the success of his film Farz, Jeetendra became a star and fell in love with Hema Malini. This was a difficult period for Shoba but after Hema's refusal Jeetendra married Shobha on October 31, 1974, after the super success of his film Bidaai that was released on October 9, 1974.

Jeetendra illicit romance with Sridevi

In the 80's Jeetendra came close to south sensational beauty Sridevi. The two began their journey with Himmatwala (1983) and soon gave a chain of hit films like Justice Chaudhury (1983), Mawaali (1983), Tohfa (1984). They worked together in 18 films and during this phase, love blossomed between the two. Tension and stress shattered Jeetendra's married life and a movement came when Shobha publically insulated Sridevi in a party! The showdown reached its climax when Shobha threatened to divorce and move out of his house with kids!!! Jeetendra realized his folly and came back to Shobha. Later the duo lived happily.

1960

Jeetendra started his career as an ‘Extra' with V.Shantaram Films

While visiting film studious Jeetendra was charmed by the glamour and glitz of Bollywood and insisted his father to allow him to make a career in films. Jeetendra's father Amarnath Kapoor knew filmmaker V.Shantaram hence he requested V.Shantaram to give his son any job in his Home Production Rajkamal Kalamandir. V. Shantaram nodded and called him to do an extra's role in the song, 'Tu Chhupi Hai Kahan' in Shantaram's film Navrang (1959). However, Jeetendra ruined his opportunity as he reached the shooting late. An angry Shantaram fired him. Humiliated, the next day Jeetendra got up early at 5 a.m. and got ready with make-up by 7 a.m. Shantaram forgave him and gave another chance. This time he asked Jeetendra to do an action scene as ‘Body Double' for the heroine actress Sandhya in the film Sehra (1963).

Impressed by Jeetendra's disciple and dedication Shantaram introduced Jeetendra as hero opposite his daughter Rajshree in the film Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne (1964). The film was a big flop.

With Farz Jeetendra earned the title of Jumping Jack

From 1964 till 1967, Jeetendra struggled tooth and nail for three years with no film producer giving him any roles. Eventually, South Indian film director Ravikant Nagaich gave him a suspense thriller Farz (1967). Inspired by Hollywood James Bond thriller, Farz was a box-office hit. Besides action and suspense, the highlight of the film was the movie's super hit songs. The song Mast Baharon Ka Main Aashiq…. became a national craze and the sizzling dance of Jeetendra earned him the title of Jumping Jack!!

After the success of Farz, Jeetendra started getting second lead roles

Following the success of Farz, filmmakers dared to cast Jeetendta as second lead hero opposite top heroes like Mere Huzoor(1968) opposite Raaj Kumar; Dharti Kahe Pukarke, (1969) opposite Sanjeev Kumar; Do Bhai (1969) opposite Ashok Kumar 

1970

South Indian Filmmakers boosted Jeetendra's Career 

Though Jeetendra had proved his genius as a successful film actor but still Bollywood filmmakers had no faith in his ability to draw crowds at the box-office. Jeetendra was disappointed. He started visiting South Indian film studios and to his fortune, South Film legend L.V.Prasad signed him for his film Jeene Ki Raah (1969). The was such a huge hit the jodi of Jeetendra and L.V. Prasad became permanent and the duo gave a series of hit films like Khilona (1970), Bidaai 1974. Udhar Ka Sindur (1976) and Jay Vijay (1977).

After L.V. Prasad, Jeetendra worked with many top South filmmakers who boosted his career to great heights in the '70s. Film producer Doondi' Jigri Dost (1969), Vasu Menon's Waris (1969), C.V. Sridhar's Gehri Chaal (1973) , AMV's Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), etc.

Bollywood opened arms for Jeetendra after the success of Caravan

Filmmaker Nasir Hussain, uncle of Aamir Khan gave Jeetendra a super hit film Caravan (1971). The highlight of the film was the super hit music by R.D. Burman. All the songs of the film were a huge hit like Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani… Goria Kahan Tera Desh…. Kitna Pyara Wada Hai…and the Helen cabaret song "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja…. The movie celebrated Golden Jubilee at the box-office and made Jeetendra a Hot Star in Bollywood!! What followed was a chain of successful films like Nagin (1976), Dharam Veer (1977), Apnapan (1977), Badalte Rishtey (1978), Swarg Narak' (1978), Jaani Dushman (1979), etc.

1980

In the 80's Jeetendra was the only Star to give Solo Hero Hit Films

In the '80s the trend of Multi-stars and action films became a craze in Bollywood but Jeetendra stuck to the family drama genre of his trusted south remake films. Interestingly, while his top contemporary stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, etc. struggled to survive, Jeetendra was the only actor who survived giving ‘Solo Hero' Hit Films like Aasha, Judaai, Pyaasa Sawan, Maang Bharo Sajna and Ek Hi Bhool, Arpan, Meri Awaaz Suno etc.

Simultaneously, Jeetendra did Multi-star films too like The Burning Train, Badle Ki Aag, Takkar, Dharam Kanta,  Karmayogi, Jaani Dost, Samrat, but most of these films were failures at the box-office.

Jeetendra was ruined after the disastrous failure of Deedar-E-Yaar

Jeetendra took film production in the early '70s when Bollywood had no great roles for him and had discarded Jeetendra as a wooden actor. Hence to prove himself as a good actor Jeetendra produced his first film Humjoli (1970) staring Leena Chandavarkar and Mehmood. It may be noted Jeetendra Produced film under his brother Prassan Kapoor banner. He made many hit films like Parichay, Khushboo, Pyaasa Sawan and Jyoti Bane Jwala.

However, in 1982 Jeetendra produced his career's magnum opus film Deedar-E-Yaar. The film was a multi-starrer starring Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Rekha, and Tina Munim. It was a remake of 60's Muslim Social Drama Mere Mehboob. Interestingly the film was directed by same film director H. S. Rawail who had directed Mere Mehboob but alas despite huge publicity the film was a box-office debacle and ruined Jeetendra!

Jeetendra rose from the ashes like a phoenix

Shattered by the disastrous failure of Deedar-E-Yaar, Jeetendra went into oblivion for 2-3 years. He was under severe debt and financial mess but salute to Jeetendra, he did bog-down but instead returned with a bang with a thunderous success of Himmatwala (1983). Dancing to the tunes of Nainon Mein Sapna…. Taki O Taki… Jeetendra made the audience go crazy. Further with a string of South Remakes like Maqsad, Tohfa, Mawaali Justice Chowdhary, etc. Jeetendra was able to pay back all his debts.

1990 to 2013

After Rakesh Roshan's Khudgarz Jeetendra experimented good roles 

The success of Khudgarz gave a huge impetus to Jeetendra career and he did many films till 2013. However, a majority of his films were flops. Nevertheless, Jeetendra kept working and did some different films were he got an opportunity to expose his acting potentials but alas none of the films was a success like New Delhi(1988); Santaan, (1993), Udhaar Ki Zindagi (1994) and Chupp (1997). Incidentally, all these films were the remake of South hit films but failed in Bollywood despite good content and good performance by Jeetendra.

2019

Jeetendra has quit acting but he is The Chairman of Balaji Tele Films - The Corporate Film Production is a public company listed at Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India and has produced several hit TV serials and Bollywood films.