Sanjeev Kumar

Sanjeev Kumar made his debut in the Hindi Cinema with his film Hum Hindustani in 1960. He played the role of the lead in the film Nishan in 1965. In 1965 he played a prominent role opposite to the famous actor Dilip Kumar in Sunghursh. In the year 1970, the film Khilona made him a Star. He went on to become popular after his two hits, Seeta Aur Geeta in 1972 opposite Hema Malini and Manchali in 1973 opposite Leena Chandavarkar. He started doing films with the well-known director Gulzar in the early 70's. He did nine films with him and some of them were very popular films that were hits like Aandhi in 1975, Mausam in 1975, Angoor in 1981 and Namkeen in 1982. These were the best films in his career span. He liked to play unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. His role as Mirza, a chess-obsessed Lucknowi Citizen of Lucknow in Satyajit Ray's classic film Shatranj Ke Khiladi in 1977. In Naya Din Nai Raat in 1974, Sanjeev Kumar played the role of nine characters in an epic performance which was a remake of the film Navarathiri played by Sivaji Ganesan in 1964 which was also made earlier in Telegu language in 1966 He was also remembered for his powerful roles in the two blockbuster films in Sholay in 1975 and Trishul in 1978. In the 1980's he started playing the supporting roles. He was truly a multi-talented actor as he portrayed numerous roles irrespective of age or the type of character he played with the same sensitivity or emotions. Sanjeev Kumar has acted in more than 100 films. Sanjeev Kumar was a prominent actor despite his orthodox looks. He defied the film industry's unwritten rules and dared to establish himself as an actor by playing roles of old and aged men. He has essayed these characters after being one of the successful romantic heroes in films like Anhonee, Anamika, Seeta Aur Geeta and Manchali. Sanjeev Kumar was flooded with films opposite established actors. The film that gave Sanjeev Kumar tremendous success was his role in the film ' Khilona' in 1970. He played roles with a beaten track with his portrayals of two differently troubled husbands in the film' Dastak' for which he won his first National Award for Best Actor. For his film ' Anubhav ', he won wide reviews. In his entire span in his films which was shortlived to his untimely death, he acted in genres ranging from romantic drama to thrillers unlike his peers he did not mind playing unconventional roles that were non glamorous and his characters were way beyond his age. He is well remembered for his versatility and genuine portrayal of his character in every film that he did.