Indian Cinema has seen several great actors over eras. If we talk about a handful of them, Sanjeev Kumar would surely mention in it. He was among the finest actors in Indian cinema, renowned for his versatility and performances in movies.
Born on Jul 9 in Surat, Kumar was raised in Bombay (now Mumbai), where his family had relocated. He started his acting journey on stage and performed in Gujarati-language dramas before becoming part of the notable Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). He subsequently became a member of the Indian National Theatre.
Some of Kumar’s most notable appearances on screen came in movies like Khilona, Sholay, Aandhi, Mausam and Koshish. He was known to play mostly older characters.
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An Actor Par Excellence
He began his film career with a minor role in Hum Hindustani in 1960. His initial role as a lead was in Nishan (1965). In 1968, he performed with the renowned actor of that era, Dilip Kumar, in Sangharsh.
He is fondly recalled for his adaptability and authentic depiction of his roles. His dual role in the film Angoor was recognized by Forbes India as one of the 25 finest acting performances in Indian cinema during the celebration of 100 years of Indian Cinema.
In 1970, the film Khilona, a remake of the Gujarati movie Mare Javun Pele Paar (1968), earned Kumar national acclaim. His effortless portrayal of the role is widely considered among one of the finest acts of all time.
Kumar’s versatility is most evident in two very different films from his later career. He came together again with his Sholay co-star Amjad Khan in Satyajit Ray’s celebrated Shatranj Ke Khilari (1978), which is set in colonial Lucknow during the looming removal of the Awadh ruler, Wajid Ali Shah (Khan), by British troops.
Kumar received two National Film Awards for best actor for Dastak in 1971 and Koshish in 1973, along with three Filmfare Awards—one for best supporting actor and two for best actor.
Relationship with Hema Malini
In spite of his thriving career, Sanjeev remained unmarried. Nevertheless, there was one actress he fell in love with and who was the love of his life. However, the two parted ways.
The actress is simply Hema Malini. Sanjeev and Hema fell in love, and their relationship started in 1972 during the making of Seeta Aur Geeta. According to Hanif Zaveri and Sumant Batra in their book An Actor’s Actor, they met while filming the song Hawa Ke Saath.
Sanjeev and Hema had an incident on set that drew them nearer. The incident occurred when the trolley detached while Hema and Sanjeev were riding it and raced toward the cliff; fortunately, both escaped with just some cuts and bruises.
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Kumar’s last few years
In his later years, he submerged himself in food and alcohol. He underwent bypass surgery after a severe heart attack and attempted to reduce his alcohol consumption.
Sanjeev Kumar, who lived according to his own choices and stayed single until his final moments, passed away on November 6, 1985, at the age of 47 following a severe heart attack.
Kumar’s impact on Hindi cinema is unmatched and remains unparalleled, despite his brief life.
