: Raaj Kumar (born Kulbushan Pandit) (October 8, 1926 – July 3, 1996) was an Indian actor in Bollywood movies.
Raaj Kumar (born Kulbushan Pandit) (October 8, 1926 – July 3, 1996) was an Indian actor in Bollywood movies.
Personal life
He was born as Kulbushan Pandit in Balochistan and then moved to Mumbai and was a policeman. In the 1960s he married his long-time girlfriend Gayatri with whom he had two children, a son named Puru Raajkumar who is also an actor in the Bollywood industry and a daughter named Vastavikta.
Career
During the 1950s, Raaj Kumar made his acting debut in Rangili (1952) which went completely unnoticed. After acting in a few more films in the next five years which failed to launch his career, his main claim to fame was in Mehboob Khan's classic blockbuster Mother India (1957). From then on Raaj Kumar was recognised as a fine actor. He then went on to play many character and supporting roles throughtout the 60s and 70s where his flawless dialogue delivery and convincing portrayal of each character he played made him an icon in the industry. Apart from his flawless dialogue delivery, he was known for his show or scene stealing abilities. He was difficult to compete with despite having an image of being the solitary aristocrat.
His most notable performances were in classic movies like Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Neel Kamal (1968), Pakeezah (1971) and Lal Patthar (1972).
In 1991 he appeared opposite rival legendary actor Dilip Kumar in Saudagar The pre-release hype of seeing two legend ry actors together for the first time helped Saudagar become a huge hit and the performances of both Kumars were regarded as equal. However 32 years earlier Dilip and Raaj Kumar had in fact appeared together in a lesser-known film Paighaam (1959). In this film there was no rivarly between the Kumars as Dilip was already a major star and Raaj was still making his name in the industry.
In the early 90s he started suffering from a throat disease and his voice was reduced to a whisper. He died in 1996 at the age of 69.
Filmography
- God and Gun (1995)
- Jawab (1995)
- Ulfat Ki Nayee Manzilen (1994)
- Betaaj Badshah (1994)
- Insaniyat Ke Devta (1993)
- Police Aur Mujrim (1993)
- Tirangaa (1992)
- Saudagar (1991)
- Police Public (1990)
- Desh Ke Dushman (1989)
- Jung Baaz (1989)
- Galiyon Ka Badshah (1989)
- Suryaa: An Awakening (1989)
- Mahaveera (1988)
- Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988)
- Saazish (1988)
- Itihaas (1987)
- Marte Dam Tak (1987)
- Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987)
- Ek Nai Paheli (1984)
- Raaj Tilak (1984)
- Sharara (1984)
- Dharam Kanta (1982)
- Kudrat (1981)
- Bulundi (1980)
- Chambal Ki Kasam (1980)
- Karmayogi (1978)
- Ek Se Badh Kar Ek (1976)
- Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973)
- Dil Ka Raja (1972)
- Lal Patthar (1971)
- Maryada (1971)
- Pakeezah (1971)
- Heer Raanjha (1970)
- Mere Huzoor (1968)
- Neel Kamal (1968)
- Vaasna (1968)
- Hamraaz(1967)
- Nai Roshni (1967)
- Waqt (1965)
- Kaajal (1965)
- Oonche Log (1965)
- Rishte Naahte (1965)
- Dooj Ka Chand (1964)
- Zindagi (1964)
- Aaj Aur Kal (1963)
- Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
- Godaan (1963)
- Phool Bane Angarey (1963)
- Pyar Ka Bandhan (1963)
- Sautela Bhai (1962)
- Gharana (1961)
- Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960)
- Maya Machhindra (1960)
- Ardhangini (1959)
- Durga Mata (1959)
- Paigham (1959)
- Shararat (1959)
- Swarg Se Sundar Desh Hamara (1959)
- Ujala (1959)
- Dulhan (1958)
- Jailor (1958)
- Maya Bazaar (1958)
- Panchayat (1958)
- Mother India (1957)
- Krishna Sudama (1957)
- Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957)
- Neel Mani (1957)
- Ghamand (1955)
- Aabshar (1953)
- Amnol Sahara (1952)
- Rangili (1952)
External links
- See also: Hindi cinema
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