Hindi actor rajkumar biography
Raaj Kumar
Rajinikanth refused to work with Raaj Kumar in 'Tirangaa'; Nana Patekar threatened to walk off set; reveals Mehul Kumar
etimes.in / Jul 11, 2024, 14:57 (IST)
Director Mehul Kumar reminisced about Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar's cautious approach to working together during the production of the 1993 patriotic action film 'Tirangaa'. Renowned for their temperamental personalities, both actors asserted beforehand that they wouldn’t tolerate any tantrums from each other. In an interview on the Friday Talkies YouTube channel, Mehul Kumar revealed that while Raaj Kumar was confirmed for the film's pivotal role, casting the second lead posed a challenge. Initially, he approached Rajinikanth, who liked the story but declined due to concerns about Raaj Kumar's unpredictability. Next, Naseeruddin Shah turned down the offer. Eventually, Nana Patekar was suggested, known then for his role in the acclaimed film 'Parinda' but preferring arthouse cinema. Mehul Kumar recounted, "I called him, but he said, ‘I don’t do commercial films’. I convinced him that commercial cinema would boost his visibility." Patekar agreed after hearing the script but insisted, "If Raaj Saab interferes, I’ll walk off the set." Assuring Patekar, Kumar proceeded with confidence, having worked with Raaj Kumar previously.
Rajkummar Rao
Indian actor (born 1984)
"Raj Kumar Yadav" redirects here. For the politician, see Raj Kumar Yadav (politician).
"Rajkumar Yadav" redirects here. For the Indian politician, see Raju Yadav.
Rajkummar Rao (born Raj Kumar Yadav; 31 August 1984) is an Indian actor. A versatile actor in Hindi cinema since the early 2010s, he is known for his performances in over thirty films across a wide spectrum of genres in both independent and commercial cinema. He is the recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards and an Asia Pacific Screen Award. In 2017, he appeared on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list.
After studying acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Rao made his acting debut with the anthology film Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010) and took on supporting roles in the films Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (both 2012). He had his breakthrough in 2013 with critically acclaimed performances in the dramas Kai Po Che! and Shahid. His portrayal of lawyer Shahid Azmi in the latter won him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
Rao's career progressed with supporting roles in Queen (2014), Aligarh (2015), and Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), with the latter winning him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He had lead roles in the independent films Trapped (2016) and Newton (2017), with the former winning him his second Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the latter earning him the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor. Rao had his biggest success to that point in the comedy horror film Stree (2018), and his first English-film role in the satire The White Tiger (2021). Further praise came for his starring roles in Ludo (2020), Monica, O My Darling (2022), Bheed (2023), and Srikanth (2024). He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for starring as a closeted gay m
Kulbhushan Pandit, also known as Raaj Kumar, was a distinguished Indian actor renowned for his unique dialogue delivery.
Kumar completed his education and joined as a Sub-Inspector with the Bombay Police in the late 1940s. Although he began his career in law enforcement, his passion for acting led him to the film industry.
Kumar debuted as an actor in 1952 with the movie Rangili (1952). He appeared in the 1957 Oscar-nominated film Mother India (1957) before going on to star in more than 70 Hindi movies throughout a four-decade career.
Kumar gained recognition for his breakthrough in the 1957 film Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957), in which he played the role of Prince Naushazad. He was noted for portraying unglamorous and gritty characters, such as his role as a mill worker in Paigham (1959).
One of his most memorable performances, for which he bagged a Filmfare Award under the category of Best Supporting Actor, was his role as a cancer patient in Dil Ek Mandir (1963).
He also starred in movies like Waqt (1965), Heer Raanjha (1970), Pakeezah (1972), and more.
For a time after that, between the late 70s and early 80s, he worked in films that did not do very well before he made a successful comeback with Kudrat (1981). He went on to act in films like Ek Nai Paheli (1984), Itihaas (1987), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Mahaveera (1988), and more.
Kumar married Jennifer Pandit, an Anglo-Indian who worked as an air hostess. They had three kids: Vastvikta Pandit, his daughter who made her acting debut in 2006, and sons Panini Rajkumar and Puru Rajkumar, who both became actors.
Raaj Kumar and Dilip Kumar, with whom he had acted in Paigham, reunited on screen in Subhash Ghai's Saudagar (1991) in 1991 after 32 years. Tirangaa (1993) was his final hit movie, and God and Gun (1995) was the last film he acted in.
Kumar succumbed to throat cancer and passed away on July 3, 1996.
BornOctober 8, 1926
DiedJuly 3, 1996(69)
Raaj Kumar
Indian film actor (1926-1996)
For other actors with the same name, see Rajkumar.
Raaj Kumar (born Kulbhushan Pandit; 8 October 1926 – 3 July 1996) was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi films. He worked as a police officer before entering the film industry. In a career that spanned over four decades, he went on to star in 70 films and is regarded as one of the most successful actors of Indian cinema.
Personal life
Kulbhushan Pandit was born on 8 October, 1926 in Loralai in the Baluchistan Province of British India (now in Pakistan) into a Kashmiri Pandit family. In the late 1940s, he moved to Bombay, where he became a sub-inspector under Bombay Police. In the 1960s, he married Jennifer Pandit, an Anglo-Indian, whom he met on a flight where she was an air hostess. She later changed her name to Gayatri Kumar as per Hindu customs. They had three children, sons Puru Raaj Kumar (an actor), Panini Raaj Kumar and daughter Vastavikta Pandit, who made her screen debut in 2006 film Eight: The Power of Shani.
Career
1952–1964: Early career and breakthrough
Raaj Kumar began his career with Rangeeli in 1952 and followed it with Anmol Sahar (1952), Aabshar (1953), Ghamand (1955), none of which could establish him. After many years of struggle, he got his breakthrough with Mehboob Khan's epic drama film Mother India (1957). It opened to critical acclaim and emerged an All Time Blockbuster at the box office as well as the most successful film of the 1950s. It went on to win several accolades and was featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. The huge box office success of Mother India was followed by another blockbuster in S. S. Vasan's social drama film Paigham (1959), which had Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in the lead. Kumar received praise for his per