Top Indian Actors
Top working Indian-American and Indian actors.
All actors qualify as Indian. Note that India is a large geographical area and the variation of skin tone is due to the fact that many ethnic groups are found within the Indian region.
All actors qualify as Indian. Note that India is a large geographical area and the variation of skin tone is due to the fact that many ethnic groups are found within the Indian region.
List activity
404 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
391 people
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Aziz Ansari was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Fatima, a medical office worker, and Shoukath, a gastroenterologist. His family is from Tamil Nadu, India. He graduated from NYU as a business major in 2004. He graduated from the South Carolina Governor's School for Math and Science in Hartsville, SC. He previously attended Marlboro Academy, a private school in his home town of Bennettsville, SC.
Starting out in television like the hit comedy Parks and Recreation (2009), he later had bit parts in the films I Love You, Man (2009), Funny People (2009), and Get Him to the Greek (2010), among others, before co-starring in the comedy 30 Minutes or Less (2011).- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Vera Mindy Chokalingam is an Indian-American actress, comedienne, producer, writer and director from Cambridge, Massachusetts known for playing Kelly Kapoor in The Office, Disgust in Inside Out, and creating The Mindy Project. She also appeared in Wreck-It Ralph, Despicable Me, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Ocean's 8, and Monsters at Work. She has two children.- Music Department
- Actress
- Writer
Shefali Deshpande is an actress, singer, and songwriter. She studied musical theatre at USC, and has since been in the web series "The Fob and I," featured on the BBC and NPR, and made her TV debut as Chalali on "Minx" on HBO Max. She has appeared in commercials for Snapchat, Uber, AT&T, and more, and continues to perform musical theatre as well. In addition to releasing her own pop/R&B singles on all streaming and downloading platforms, Shefali has been featured on other R&B, hip hop, and world music records. She has performed her music at Hollywood Live, hosted by Bill Bellamy and Lisa Raye, as well as Staples Center, The Mint, The Viper Room, and more. Shefali worked on writing and singing the soundtrack for the ALLBLK TV show, "Double Cross," accessible through Amazon Prime. Shefali is deeply and positively influenced by her South Asian heritage, and her primary goal is to use her art to empower women and minorities.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Known for his trademark gelled spiked up crew cut with sunglasses, Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is an Indian Bollywood movie star, movie producer, magazine model, showman, public speaker, author, philanthropist and television host/personality working predominantly in Hindi cinema.
Khan began his on-camera acting debut in 1987 at the age of 21 by guest starring in various Indian serial drama soap opera TV shows as well as appearing in numerous television commercials and brand advertisements for products. He studied theatre arts and drama during his second year of college after participating in numerous school plays. He landed a few acting gigs in Delhi, before acting on Indian TV and became popular. Khan came down to Mumbai to shoot a TV series with self doubt and under confidence. So he came for a year to give it a shot. He began auditioning for starring roles in Hindi movies in 1990 after the death of his mother (his father died a decade earlier in 1980). Khan's parents died early, which made him heartbroken in Delhi. Khan decided to pursue a full-time acting career and relocating to Mumbai to start afresh, hoping to enjoy acting and overcome the dejecting death of his parents, as there was nothing for him to go back to. He began auditioning for starring roles in Hindi movies in 1990 after the death of his mother (his father died a decade earlier in 1980).
After recuperating from a career-ending sports injury, he landed his breakout breakthrough feature film starring role in the Silver screen in June 1992, and rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 1990s. Khan shot to stardom in his first feature film "Deewana" (1992) which won him the first of 13 Filmfare awards -- the Bollywood equivalent of an Oscar. He continued starring in blockbuster movies throughout the 2000s with a mixed bag of career fluctuations, establishing himself as a very bankable, versatile movie star in the early-to-mid 2010s. Following a 4-year sabbatical hiatus in the wake of the corona-virus pandemic, Khan made a resurgence comeback in 2023, and continues to act and star in A-Lister blockbuster movies.
Referred to in the media as the "Baadshah of Bollywood" and "King Khan", he has appeared in over 100 films, and earned numerous accolades, including 14 Filmfare Awards.
He has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, as well as the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Legion of Honour by the Government of France. Khan has a significant following in Asia and the Indian diaspora worldwide. In terms of audience size and income, several media outlets have described him as one of the most successful film stars in the world. Many of his films depict and portray Indian national identity, Indian patriotism, and connections with diaspora communities, or gender, racial, social and religious differences and grievances.
Shah Rukh Khan has been TAG Heuer's brand ambassador in India since September 2003 & is close friends with Amir. He is Bollywood's most bankable movie stars with brand endorsements & resides in the affluent suburbs of Bandra, Mumbai, India with his wife and children.- Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Priyanka Chopra Jonas (née Chopra) was born on July 18, 1982 in Jamshedpur, India, to the family of Capt. Dr. Ashok Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra, both Indian Army physicians. She had a very varied upbringing. She started her education at La Martinière Girls College in Lucknow as a resident student; a short stay at Maria Goretti College in Bareilly prepared her for further studies in the U.S. Having completed tenth grade in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., she decided to become a software engineer or a criminal psychologist. She enjoys Indian music and dance; flair for writing poetry and short stories; reading, especially biographies; and has worked for a lot of social welfare programs.- Moonie Fishburn was born in Bangalore, India but was raised in Southern California. She received her BFA in Drama from USC. She has appeared in numerous commercials, series and recently co-starred in Lifetime's 2019 Christmas Reservations with Melissa Joan Hart. Moonie resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
Kamal Haasan was born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He debuted as a child artiste in the film "Kalathoor Kannamma" (1960). Since then, he has starred in nearly 220 films in the major Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been a part of the film industry for 60 years, as of 2020. His journey in cinema has seen him do various roles - from child artiste, to romantic lead to one of the most respected and revered heroes of the film industry today.
He has famously said that he is a reluctant actor. He has an avid interest in every aspect of film making and is known for his work as a choreographer, director, and writer, as well.
He wrote his first script at age 18 for the film "Unarchigal" (1976), which was then followed by films that have gone on to become cult classics - Rajapaarvai (1981), Sathya (1988), Apoorva Sahotharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Mahanadi (1994), Kurudhippunal (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Pammal K Sambandam (2002), Panchathanthiram (2002), Anbe Sivam (2003), are a few of the films etched in popular memory for having set the bar for craftsmanship in the fields of screenplay, script, and dialogue.
He is also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction in Tamil and his published work is testament to his constant exploration of structure and form.
Kamal Haasan's strong convictions in his art have led to some of Indian cinema's most path-breaking films like Pushpak / Pushpaka Vimaanam / Pesum Padam (1987). Kamal Haasan also worked as a choreographer while transitioning as a well-known child artiste to the lead actor in a feature length film. Some of his best-known work as a dancer can be seen in Saagara Sangamam (1983) and the popular hit Punnagai Mannan (1986).
Kamal Haasan is also a student of Carnatic music, studying under musical maestro Dr. Balamuralikrishna. One of his biggest hits as a playback singer was the song "Inji Iduppazhagi" for the film Thevar Magan.
His career as a director began with the film Chachi 420 (1997), the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmugi. Since then he has called the shots for critically acclaimed films like "Hey Ram" and "Virumaandi".
He has never hesitated to state his opinions and encourage debate about topics that are socially relevant. He is a rationalist in thought and moderate in opinion and a humanist in philosophy. The need to be socially conscious is seen in the way his fan clubs have revamped themselves into entities that carry out charity and volunteer work.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Aishwarya Sonar was born and raised in Pune, India. Aishwarya is an actor working at the intersection of US Projects focused on identity and humanity. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, she acted in a prominent Indian feature Kaay Re Rascalaa, produced by Priyanka Chopra's Purple Pebble Pictures.
A recent UCLA film graduate, Aishwarya has been in the US for four years.
Aishwarya's recent credits include award winning films like Shift, available on ShortsTv, Through Her Glasses, available on India's biggest streaming service, MX Player, Three's Definitely a Crowd, is trending on Disney/Hotstar as their top 10 films, There's No Other Way To Do This premiered at the 22nd New York Indian Film Festival. Her other work includes a web series, Coronaville, which was shot remotely, Nitishastra produced by Large Short films (6.5 million views), other shorts including Dictionary, Infodemic, Ayesha, Sulochana and commercial work for brands like Google, Udemy, Macy's , McCormick's among others.
Aishwarya, is an avid improviser and chai lover.- Anushka Shetty is an Indian Film Actress. She was also a Yoga Instructor and has trained under yoga guru Bharat Thakur.
This tall and gorgeous beauty debuted in the 2005 Telugu film Super starring Nagarjuna which was super hit at box office. Later her performance in Vikramarkudu make her noticeable. But in Arundhati in which she had played the role of Jejamma, she got high critical acclaim and become one of the strong actress of Telugu Film Industry. - Actor
- Director
- Producer
Born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, in Jaipur, Rajasthan (NW India) January 7, 1967 to a Pashto-speaking Muslim family. Khan's mother, Begum Khan, was from the Tonk Hakim family and his father, Jagirdar Khan, from the Khajuriya village near the Tonk district, ran a tire business.
The Khan family name comes from Turkish and Mongol languages and mean "king" or great leader. Descendants of Genghis Khan (13th century) in central Asia adopted Islam and became the Moghuls, who conquered India for several centuries until British rule.
Irfan was a skilled cricket player. In his early 20's he was selected for the CK Nayudu Tournament (a stepping stone to First Class cricket). He did not turn up for the tournament owing to lack of funds and as a result he focused on acting.
In 1984 he earned a scholarship to the National School of Acting in New Delhi.
He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor for his contribution to the field of arts.
His portrayal of Paan Singh Tomar in the acclaimed biographical sports drama Paan Singh Tomar (2011) won him the National Film Award for Best Actor and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. His performance in the BAFTA Award nominated romance The Lunchbox (2013) earned him universal acclaim by the critics and audiences.
Globally, Khan was in The Warrior (2001), The Namesake (2006), The Darjeeling Limited (2007), the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), New York, I Love You (2009), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Life of Pi (2012), Jurassic World (2015) and Inferno (2016). As of 2017, his films have grossed $3.643 billion at the worldwide box office. In 2018, Khan was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor.
Khan got married to his wife Sutapa Sikdar, in 1995. She is a Hindu of the Brahmin caste. She is a movie producer, dialogue writer and screenwriter. Among her famous movies are Khamoshi: The Musical (Dialogue Writer, 1996), Supari (Dialogue Writer, 2003), Kahaani (Dialogue Writer, 2003), Madaari (Producer, 2016), Qarib Qarib Singlle (Producer, 2017)
They have two kids: Ayaan Khan, Babil Khan
Unlike most Indian film stars, Irrfan has been outspoken on religion. On Arnab Goswami's talk show, he took on Muslim fundamentalists, including India's Grand Imam. Irrfan Khan argued against "transactional religious interaction" and for "personal religious discovery"..."to discover yourself, to find God". Though he admits he is "not an authority" on the Koran and Islamic Holy scriptures he has bravely stood by his comments despite heavy criticism and even threats of violence. He's aware of the dangers that his frank comments pose to him and his family. His wife commented, "We are very proud of him."- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Aamir Khan was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai. He is one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors who is also known as "Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood". With his recent successes in both the Indian and Chinese film markets, he has shouldered his way into becoming one of the world's biggest superstars. Undergoing rapid transformations in his body structure to better embody the variegated characters in his energetic films, Aamir has garnered praise from all parts of the globe. His most visible transformations can be seen in such movies as Lagaan (2001), Fanaa (2006), Taare Zameen Par (2007), Ghajini (2008), 3 idiots (2009), Talaash (2012), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017). His recent successes with movies like Dangal, PK , Talaash and TV serial Satyamev Jayate have attracted attention from more serious moviegoing crowds. However, he is perhaps better known for his fabulous comedic roles, as exemplified by his iconic performances in cult comedies such as Andaz Apna Apna, Passion, and Dil Chahta Hai, to name a few. Aamir is also no slouch at TV commercial work.
2001's Lagaan released in China nationwide, beginning what would be a series of Aamir Khan films that would firmly plant Indian filmmaking into the minds of Chinese audiences. 3 Idiots became a cult hit in China farther along in the 2000's, followed by Like Stars on Earth and Ghajini, both of which went on to gain huge followings. Aamir Khan's streak of Chinese box office hits continued into and throughout the 2010's with the rapid-fire release of Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017).
Aamir was first introduced as a child artist in the 1970's hit Procession of Memories (1973) - he was the youngest child in the trio.
His performance in Earth (1998) as the Ice-Candy man has received rave reviews from Indian and international critics. Using classic "method acting" and an adopted technique inspired by his seniors Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor, Aamir acts in all genres of Indian films - comedy, action, drama and romance. He is regarded as a complete Indian actor of the post 1990 generation of actors for his diverse choice of roles and films. In 2007 he turned director with the film Like Stars on Earth (2007), which not only brought him immense critical acclaim but was also a huge box office success. Many of his films are considered as cult classics like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and Andaz Apna Apna (1994). He divorced his first wife Reena Dutta on December 09, 2001 and married Kiran Rao in December 28, 2005 and divorced her on July 03, 2021.
In 2008 his first all out commercial action film Ghajini (2008) went on to become the highest grossing film of its time in Indian Cinema and 4th highest inflation adjusted, grossing a total of Rs.226 on the worldwide box office and the first film to cross 100 crores on the domestic Indian box office, making a total of Rs.115 crores. This record didn't last long, though, since his next release 3 Idiots (2009) went on to shatter not only the highest grosser record but many more. It not only made the highest opening first day, first weekend and first week records but subsequently continued to shatter many records on the following weekends and weeks, making many circuits on the way. It made a total of Rs.202 crores domestically and Rs.400 crores on the worldwide box office, becoming the highest overseas grosser to date, a staggering feat given that no other film had even come close to making Rs.100 crores on the domestic box office until then, except for his own Ghajini (2008) the previous year.
Aamir is said to be the actor who first started the trend of actors working in one film at a time, when the others worked in four or five at the same time. He is also known to shun popular film trade magazine awards like Filmfare, Star Screen, etc. as he doesn't have trust in their credibility and transparency. Recently he was awarded the third highest civilian honor Padama Bhushan by the government of India.
Aamir's expansive range of characterizations remains unparalleled amongst his contemporaries. Because of this diversity and his formidable ability to portray different characters believably on screen, he is today regarded not only as one of the biggest stars in Bollywood but also as one of the finest actors in all of Indian Cinema.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Los Angeles native, Heart Hayes, from a Hollywood lineage (Redd Foxx), began her career in entertainment at age 4. doing print, and commercials, She's known in the performing arts as an actress, dancer and choreographer. Touring with legendary stars such as Johnny Gill and Toni Braxton. She was a lead dancer in the international tour Mystic India as well.Which contributed to her winning the title Miss India Globe in 2015. As an actress Heart is best known as "Kai" in TV's "Animal Kingdom" with appearances in "Lucifer" and "Good Girls."- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Deepika Padukone, born 5 January 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an Indian model and actress. She is the daughter of former badminton champion Prakash Padukone. Her mother tongue is Konkani. Deepika has a younger sister named Anisha.
She has been modeling appearances in print and television advertising campaigns for Liril, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca, receiving many prestigious modeling offers, including brand ambassadorship of the Jewels of India, an annual jewelry exhibition. She hit the international scene when Maybelline made her their new international cover-girl face.
At the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards, for Indian models and designers, she was awarded the title of Model of the Year. Shortly after wards, she was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006, thus cementing her reputation as a supermodel. She also bagged two trophies at the Idea Zee F Awards in 2006 - female Model of the year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the year.- Casting Department
- Actress
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Rajiv Hari "Akshay Kumar" Om Bhatia was born on September 09, 1967, in Amritsar, Punjab to Aruna Bhatia and Hari Om Bhatia. He is an Indian actor, film producer, former model, and television personality. He went to Bangkok to learn how to use a sword and also worked as a waiter in a restaurant. He studied martial arts in Hong Kong. It was a student who suggested that he should try modeling. Because of his success as model, he was offered films. Along with his good looks and excellent martial art skills, he was always the first choice to do adventurous movies. He does his own stunts in his films. His breakthrough performance was in Saugandh (1991). He was well known for his Khiladi series, an Indian version of James Bond, such as Mr. Bond (1992), Khiladi (1992), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi (1997) and Khiladi 420 (2000). He dated strings of his co-stars including Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Pooja Batra and Rekha. His recent critically acclaimed performances include Airlift (2016), Baby (2015) and Rustom (2016). He is married to former actress and now author Twinkle Khanna with whom he has two children.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Vishal Veeru "Ajay" Devgn was born on April 02, 1969, in New Delhi, Delhi to action director Veeru Devgan and his wife Veena Devgan. He is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in the Bollywood industry and is one of the highest-paid celebrities in India. Devgn started his film career with Phool Aur Kaante (1991). He is known for films like All The Best: Fun Begins (2009), Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999), Ishq (1997), The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), Singham (2011), Total Dhamaal (2019) etc. He is married to actress Kajol with whom he has two children (i.e son Yug and daughter Nysa). He is also the founder and owner of the production banner Ajay Devgn Ffilms.- Actor
- Director
- Composer
Amjad Khan was a renowned Bollywood actor and film director, widely popular for his performance as Gabbar Singh in Sholay (1975). He went to both R. D. National College and St. Andrew's High School in Bandra.
Khan was the president of the Actors Guild Association and took a keen interest in the matters of the film industry. As a youngster, Khan acted with his father, Jayant, in movies like Nazneen (1951) and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin (1957).
With the film Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973), he first appeared as a professional silver-screen performer. When he played Gabbar Singh in Sholay (1975), he transformed the stereotypical Bollywood bad guy into a new genre icon. Gabbar transformed into him preparing for the role- this has been his most famous role of all time.
In Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), he portrayed the part of Dilawar, a gangster. He was also cast in several other movies, including Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977), Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), Ganga Ki Saugand (1978), Des Pardes (1978), Dada (1979), Chambal Ki Kassam (1980), Naseeb (1981), Satte Pe Satta (1982), and Nastik (1983).
In films like Yaarana (1981) and Laawaris (1981), he portrayed likeable protagonists. In addition to his dramatic roles, he branched out and performed comedic roles in the films Qurbani (1980), Love Story (1981), Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986).
In the Hindi parody film Ramgarh Ke Sholay (1991), helmed by Ajit Dewani, he once again played the part of Gabbar Singh, and the film became an unexpected blockbuster.
He debuted as a director with Chor Police (1983), in which he also co-starred with Parveen Babi, Shatrughan Sinha, Kader Khan, and Shakti Kapoor. His film Ameer Aadmi Ghareeb Aadmi (1985) was released in 1985- it was a great commercial success. He also appeared in a small role in [link= tt0154591 in 1973.
He won the best supporting actor in the BFJA Awards for Sholay in 1976. Apart from that, he won best supporting actor at the Filmfare awards for Dada (1980) and Yaarana (1982). Khan also won best performance in a comedic role at the Filmfare awards for Maa Kasam (1986).- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Amitabh Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942 in Allahabad, British India (present-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India) to legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan & Teji Bachchan. He also has a brother named Ajitabh. He completed his education from Uttar Pradesh and moved to Bombay to find work as a film star, in vain though, as film-makers preferred someone with a fairer skin, and he was not quite fair enough. But they did use one of his other assets, his deep baritone voice, which was used for narration and background commentary. He was successful in being cast in Saat Hindustani. He got his break in Bollywood after a letter of introduction from the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, as he was a friend of her son, Rajiv Gandhi. This is how Bachchan made an entry in Bollywood, starting with Zanjeer, co-starred with his future wife Jaya Bhaduri, and since then there has been no looking back.
He married Jaya Bhaduri, an accomplished actress in her own right, and they had two children, Shweta and Abhishek. Shweta is married, lives a non-filmy life and has two children.
Being friends with Rajiv Gandhi, got him to decide to run for seat in the Indian National Congress (political party) from his home town but had to leave mid-term because of controversies, particularly after Rajiv and he were implicated in the now infamous "Bofors" case along with the U. K. based Hinduja Brothers.
After a four year break, he was back in the unsuccessful Mrityudaata (1997), a comeback which the actor wanted to forget. Critics written him off but his career was saved with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). But four flops in 1999 and incurring debt of over 90 crore rupees of his sinking company ABCL saw him at an all-time low. To make matters worse, after the defeat of the Congress party, Bachchan lost considerable political support, the opposition made him a target, and his credit rating deteriorated to such an extent that a leading nationalized bank, Canara Bank, sued him for outstanding loans. He did bounce back, presenting the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire called Kaun Banega Crorepati? (2000). After a series of hits with Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Baghban (2003) and Khakee (2004), Bachchan is showing no signs of slowing down and proving the critics wrong once again.
Amitabh and Jaya were interested in getting their son Abhishek married to Karisma Kapoor, the daughter of Babita and Randhir Kapoor, they went through a formal engagement, but later broke it off.
The former Miss World and Bollywood actress, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek, were formally engaged on Sunday January 14, 2007, at the Bachchan residence in Juhu, Bombay, with the marriage taking place at the Bachchan residence on April 20, 2007.
On November 16, 2011, he became a Dada (paternal grandfather) when Aishwarya gave birth to a daughter in a Mumbai Hospital. He is already a Nana (maternal grandfather) to Navya and Agastye - Shweta's children.
He continues to be one of the busiest actors and singers in Bollywood as well as on TV, as can be seen from the commercials that he appears on, especially on Sahara One. Looks like there are no limits for this super-star and once the "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Amol Palekar is a well-known theatre personality and an acclaimed Indian actor and filmmaker who mainly works in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He has acted in about 50 films in five languages and has directed several feature films and TV shows.
Palekar was born in a lower-middle-class family. His father was employed with the General Post Office, while his mother worked in a private company.
He completed his schooling at Bal Mohan Vidya Mandir in Mumbai. After clearing his SSC exams, he studied fine arts at Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai and graduated in 1965. He had to do several "odd jobs" to sustain himself during this period.
After graduation, he worked as a clerk with the Bank of India by day and pursued his passion for painting at night. In 1967, he held his first solo painting exhibition at the Taj Art Gallery. Around this time, he ventured into theatre and started doing stage shows. An opportunity to work in the movies soon followed, and Palekar switched to acting.
Palekar made his acting debut in Bajiraocha Beta (1971), a Marathi film directed by Raja Thakur.
His first Hindi film was Rajnigandha (1974), helmed by Basu Chatterjee. The film went on to become a sleeper hit.
In 1976, he acted in Basu Chatterjee's romantic comedy Chhoti Si Baat (1976). This low-budget coming-of-age film turned out to be a box office hit.
In the same year, he acted in the romantic musical film Chitchor (1976), once again directed by Basu Chatterjee. It marked Palekar's third association with the director. With this film, Palekar scored a hat-trick of hits at the box office, which helped him to carve out a space for himself in the Hindi film industry.
In Gharaonda (1977), helmed by Bhimsain, Palekar played the role of a middle-class man looking for a house in Mumbai.
He essayed a negative role in Shyam Benegal's Bhumika (1977), starring Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Anant Nag. The film revolves around an individual's quest for identity and self-fulfilment.
In 1979, Palekar acted in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's comedy film Gol Maal (1979). The story was about a middle-class man's quest to get a job. In this movie, he essayed the roles of Ram Prasad Sharma and Lakshman Prasad Sharma (Lucky), which became a big hit. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1980 for Gol Maal.
He played the lead role in Baton Baton Mein (1979), directed by Basu Chatterjee, which was also released in 1979. The film revolves around the protagonist's struggle to get a girlfriend or wife, and it became a commercial and critical success.
In 1986, Palekar appeared in a leading role in the thriller Khamosh (1986), directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Palekar portrayed a fictional version of himself in this movie.
He acted in the supernatural action thriller Aks (2001), helmed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, which starred Amitabh Bachchan, Raveena Tandon, and Manoj Bajpayee. The same year, Palekar married Chitra Palekar in 1969, and the couple divorced in 2001. Later that year, he married Sandhya Gokhale in 2001.
Palekar appeared in Gulmohar (2023), directed by Rahul V. Chittella.
One of his directorial ventures Paheli (2005), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, was the official entry of India for the 78th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Abhay is an actor who has never shied away from speaking his mind; a producer who doesn't believe in the 'formula', a film curator with a keen eye for detail and good stories, a painter who's not scared to experiment with colours and a philanthropist who wishes to leverage his position to bring a positive change in society. Well, that's in short Abhay Deol, if only the versatile actor could fit in boxes.
Despite coming from the most-filmy family of Bollywood- the Deols, Abhay is a man of few words who lets his work and films do the talking bit. You may call him non-conformist but Abhay's panache of portraying complex characters is matched by very few in the cinema world as evident from his filmography that includes films like Dev D, Raanjhana, Manorama six feet under, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Shanghai and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye.
Whether it was acquainting Sunny Deol to Imtiaz Ali for his debut Socha Na Tha, raising funds for Manorama Six Feet Under or giving Anurag Kashyap the idea to give Devdas a contemporary twist in Dev.D, Abhay always went beyond the traditional responsibilities of an actor even in the early days of his career.
Despite his success with films that have been termed "art-house" and "off beat", Abhay - right from his first shot has continually balanced and found success both with artistic/indie cinema as well as hugely successful Bollywood blockbusters.
He has consistently taken chances with debutante directors from the start of his career. Be it Imtiaz Ali, Reema Kakdi or Navdeep Singh, just to name a few. He's also carried the freedom, and his penchant for going against the grain, into his work as a producer - backing newcomers and new storylines. With a huge fan-following across the globe, Abhay has always stood for the cause of parallel cinema, which is one of the reasons he became a film curator. He also ventured into the digital medium with Chopsticks and Line of Descent, apart from stepping into Tamil cinema with Hero and Idhu Vedhalam Sollum Kadhai. With a strong social media presence, Abhay is known to take a stand divergent to the rest of tinsel town's herd opinions, which is what makes him 'thinking women sex symbol.'- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Akshaye Khanna was born in Mumbai in 1975. He is the middle son of Bollywood actor and politician Vinod Khanna, and the younger brother of actor Rahul Khanna.
After studying in Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai, Khanna made his acting debut in Bollywood in 1997 with the movie Himalay Putra, which went without much success at box office. His performance in his next release, J. P. Dutta-directed Border (1997), earned him the Filmfare Best Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998. After that a string of unsuccessful films followed such as Mohabbat (1997), Kudrat (1998), Laawaris (1999), Love You Hamesha (1999) and Dahek: A Burning Passion (1999). In 1999, he starred in Rishi Kapoor's Aa Ab Laut Chalen; though the film did average business, he was praised for his acting in this film. He next starred in the 1999 release of Subhash Ghai's Taal opposite Aishwarya Rai. The film became a critical and commercial success. In 2001, Khanna appeared in Farhan Akhtar's cult classic Dil Chahta Hai which turned out to be a turning point in his career; the film was a commercial and critical success and Khanna's performance was particularly applauded, later validated by first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002. Also, the film launched both Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan's careers. In 2002, Khanna appeared in a Abbas-Mustan thriller Humraaz; his role as a convincing con-artist in this film earned him much critical acclaim, and a nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. Khanna then plunged into the comedy genre with Priyadarshan's Hungama (2002) and Hulchul (2004) that became box office hits. After acting in a string of unsuccessful and lukewarm box-office films like Shaadi Se Pehle (2006), Aap Ki Khatir (2006), Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love (2007), Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008), Gandhi, My Father (2007), and Naqaab (2007), Khanna appeared in the 2008 release Race. The Abbas-Mustan's thriller was the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film in 2008 and Khanna's performance in a negative role brought him couple of awards in the Best Villain category. However, Khanna's portrayal of Harilal Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's eldest son, in the critically acclaimed 2007 film Gandhi, My Father that is unanimously acknowledged his best performance yet as an actor. In 2010, he starred in Anees Bazmee's No Problem, co-starring with Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Kangna Ranaut.[12] His later releases did not fare well at the box office but his performances in Aakrosh (2010) and Tees Maar Khan (2010) were well-received by critics and audiences alike.- Actor
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arshad Warsi was born on April 19, 1968 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and did his schooling at a boarding school, Barnes School, Deolali in Nashik district, Maharashtra. He was orphaned at the age of 14 and struggled for a living in Mumbai during his early days. He is an actor, dancer, film producer, television personality, choreographer and playback singer.
Financial circumstances forced Warsi to start work as a door-to-door cosmetics salesman at age 17. Later he worked in a photo lab. Meanwhile, he had a keen interest in dancing and received an offer to join Akbar Sami's Dance group in Mumbai, which started his dancing and choreographing career. He also assisted Mahesh Bhatt in Thikana (1987) and Kaash (1987). Then in 1991, he won the Indian dance competition, followed by the fourth prize in the Modern Jazz category in 1992 World Dance championship, London, at the age of 21. Soon, he started his own dance studio, 'Awesome' with that money and also formed a dance troupe. It was here, his future wife, Maria Goretti, a St. Andrew's College student joined him, before she became a VJ. He was also associated with English theater group in Mumbai, choreographing shows for Bharat Dabholkar and got an opportunity to choreograph the title track for the film, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993). He made his screen debut with the 1996-film Tere Mere Sapne where he starred opposite Simran & Chandrachur Singh.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Atul Kulkarni was born on 10 September 1965 in Karnataka, India. He is an actor and producer, known for Rang De Basanti (2006), Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) and Hey Ram (2000).- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Asrani was born in a middle class Sindhi family. His father migrated to Jaipur after the Partition of India and opened a shop selling carpets. He has four sisters and three brothers: two elder and one younger. Asrani was highly uninterested in business and very weak in mathematics. He completed his matriculation from St. Xaviers School and did his graduation from Rajasthan College, Jaipur. He simultaneously worked as a voice artist on All India Radio, Jaipur, to pay for his education. His ultimate aim was to become an actor.
He began to learn acting from Sahitya Kalbhai Thakkar from 1960 to 1962. In 1962, he traveled to Bombay and began to seek opportunities to act. In 1963, Hrishikesh Mukherjee advised him to learn acting professionally. In 1964 Asrani joined the Film Institute in Poona (now Film and Television Institute of India, Pune) and finished his course in 1966. He impressed many others and made his acting break in 1967 with a Gujrati movie opposite budding actress Waheeda (not Waheeda Rahman, the Hindi actress). He acted in four other movies, mainly as actor or supporting actor in Gujrati from 1967 to 1969. His debut film in Hindi was Hare Kaanch Ki Chudiyaan where he appeared as Biswajeet's friend. He acted in Khoon Pasina, marking a serious role other than comedy. It was from 1971 that he started getting more offers as the main comedian in films or as the close friend of the lead actor. He did 96 movies from 1972-79.Directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Atma Ram, Gulzar repeatedly cast him in the period 1971-1974 and his work got noticed through these films as they were hits. These roles he did from 1971-1974 set the tone for a number of supporting and comic roles in his career and in 70's his demand was at its peak as he appeared in 101 films from 1970-1979 and had effective roles in them.He was hugely talked about in the 1970s and is one of Rajesh Khanna's close friends.He worked with Rajesh Khanna in 25 films which includes 21 hit films.
In the 1980s, he acted in over 107 films. Unlike his roles in 1970-84 which were pivotal to the plot, most of his roles from 1985-1993 were very minor mainly because the concept of a comedian was getting phased out and heroes preferred to do their own comedy and action films were ruling the roost in the period 1985-1994. Simultaneously he kept working in Gujrathi films in 70's, 80's as lead hero and achieved success as the lead protagonist in Amdavad No Rikshawalo, Saat Qaidi, Sansar Chakra, Pankhi No Malo, Jugal Jodi, Maa Baap, Chel Chabilo Gujarati. From 90's he played as comedian or supporting actor in Gujrathi films like Mota Ghar Ni Vahu, Piyu Gayo Pardesh, Baap Dhamal Dikhra. During this period in 1982, he set up a small Gujrati production company with fellow artistes Dinesh Hingoo, Harish Patel and Salim Parvez (son of famous supporting actor Yunus Parvez). The company dissolved in 1996 with a large profit. Asrani also invested mainly in cloth and acted as investor for other actors, until 1991 when he lost a lot of money. From 1988 to 1993, he was a director for the Film Institute in Pune. In 90's he did only 73 Hindi movies due to lack of good scope for him to perform. Muqabla (1993) saw him in a serious role after long time. D.Rama Naidu gave him a pivotal role to Asrani in Taqdeerwala in 1995 and once again comedy movies were being made from thereon . Asrani started getting good roles in films directed by David Dhawan and Priyadarshan from 1993 till 2012. The 2000s saw Asrani in a number of blockbuster films like Hera Pheri, Chup Chup Ke, Hulchul and Deewane Huye Pagal. He appeared in a serious role in Kyun Ki. He was an integral part of comedies by Sajid Nadiadwala, Priyadarshan after 2000. His screen space in films of Rohit Shetty and others has got reduced gradually after 2009,Worked in a Bagheli film for the first time by playing the role of a Ticket Conductor (TC) in superstar Avinash Tiwari's film 'Kunwarapur' (2024).- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Ayushmann Khurrana was born on 14 September 1984 in Chandigarh, India. Ayushmann started off his career as a popular radio jockey, and eventually became a VJ on MTV India and one of the most popular hosts in India. He shot to stardom with the runaway hit, 'Vicky Donor' in 2012. His effortless act in his debut won him rave reviews and the film went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year. The quirky film coupled with some fabulous songs, especially 'Paani da' (sung & co-composed by Khurrana) marked his arrival in the Hindi film industry. He also won a slew of highly prestigious awards in 2012.
A native of Punjab, Ayushmann studied at St. John's High School and DAV College in Chandigarh. He majored in English literature and has a master's degree in Mass Communication from School of Communication Studies, Punjab University, in Chandigarh. He did serious theatre for five years. He was also the founder member of DAV College's "Aaghaaz" and "Manchtantra", which are active theatre groups in Chandigarh. He has conceptualized and acted in street plays, and won prizes in national college festivals like Mood Indigo (IIT Bombay), Oasis (Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani) and St. Bedes Simla. He also won a Best Actor award for playing Ashwatthama in Dharamvir Bharati's Andha Yug.
From theatre to television to the big screen, Ayushmann's progression as an artist has been one of the most organic ones. He followed up his Vicky Donor act with some films where his performances were highly appreciated by the audience and critics alike. Ayushmann simultaneously built his oeuvre as a singer and live performer as well. His three singles - 'O Heeriye,' 'Mitti Di Khushboo,' and the latest, 'Yahin Hoon Main' - have won millions of hearts.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Aruna Irani made her debut in the movie Gunga Jumna (1961) at nine years old playing Azra's character. After doing several small roles in films like Jahanara (1964), Farz (1967), Upkar (1967) and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969). She was paired with comedian Mehmood Ali in films like Aulad (1968), Jawab, Humjoli (1970), Manmandir and Naya Zamana (1971).In 1971, she starred in Caravan. She later starred in Mehmood Ali's Bombay To Goa (1972), Garam Masala (1972), and Do Phool (1973). Her best character roles came in Rajesh Khanna films like Dhanwan, Redrose, Amrit, Kudrat, Nasihat, Masterji, Aan Milo Sajna. Her films have included Farz (1967), Bobby (1973), Prem Nagar, Paap Aur Punya, Mahachor, Fakira (1976), Bhala Manus, Kali Ghata,Sargam (1979), Love Story (1981), and Rocky (1981). She won her first Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984). In the late 1980s and 1990s Irani switched to playing motherly roles, notably in Beta (1992) for which she won her second Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. She acted in the Kannada remake of the same film and the same role. Some of her Marathi films are Changu Mangu, Lapwa Chapvi, Ek Gadi Baki Anadi and Bol Baby Bol. In her later career, Irani also switched to television performing character roles in various serials. She also took up to direction and production of tele-serials like Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Vaidehi and more. On Sunday 19 February 2012, she was awarded the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the annual Filmfare awards function in Mumbai.- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Annu Kapoor made his debut in the film Mandi directed by Shyam Benegal in 1983.His career has spanned nearly 30 years including a distinctive presence in Bollywood cinema, television serials, and reality game shows. He is best remembered for hosting the singing show Antakshari, produced by ZEE TV. His performance as an obsessive-compulsive Sperm Clinic Doctor in the recently released Vicky Donor has met with a lot of praise from the critics as well as the audience.- Actor
- Additional Crew
When Ashish Vidyarthi first began his career in the acting industry, he was known for playing one of the most lovable villains in Bollywood. At present, he is finally able to fulfil his lifelong ambition of being a YouTuber, public speaker, and explorer. Vidyarthi is a well-known figure in the media today because he has been in over 300 movies made in 11 different languages.
Vidyarthi was a student at Mehta Vidyalaya, part of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He attended Hindu College in Delhi and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in history there. Vidyarthi made his debut in the movie industry with the Kannada film Anand (1986), in which he had a supporting part.
Until 1990, he was a National Academy of Theatre student. Vidyarthi was then seen starring in the Kannada movie Hijack (1991). A few years later, in the movie Sardar (1993), based on the life of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Vidyarthi portrayed V. P. Menon. The movie was directed by Ketan Mehta and starred Paresh Rawal, Tom Alter and Annu Kapoor.
Vidyarthi debuted in the Hindi film industry in Droh Kaal (1994). The movie earned him a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year. He also appeared in Naajayaz (1995) with Ajay Devgn, Naseeruddin Shah and Juhi Chawla.
Vidyarthi went on to star in classic films such as 1942: A Love Story (1994), Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996), Mrityudaata (1997), Soldier (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Vaastav: The Reality (1999) and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), Refugee (2000), LOC: Kargil (2003), Barfi! (2012), and Begum Jaan (2017), to name a few.
On the international front, Vidhyarthi was a part of the film Nightfall (2000), which was shot in Hollywood. Gwyneth Gibby is the director of this film adaptation of Isaac Asimov's short tale of the same name.
With movies like Ezhumalai (2002), Pokiri (2006), Kuruvi (2008), Adhurs (2010), and Awara (2012), Vidyarthi left a mark in many regional films. In addition to appearing in films, he starred in the audio series Kahanibaaz (2018).
Vidyarthi lent his voice to the role of Scar in the Hindi version of The Lion King (2019).
He was also a part of iSmart Shankar (2019) in the role of a CBI officer, Ramamoorthy. Puri Jagannadh directed this science-fiction Telugu movie. Later the same year, Vidyarthi acted in Oru Adaar Love (2019), a Malayalam love story starring Priya Prakash Varrier and Mohammed Roshan.
The year after, Ashish Vidyarthi acted in the film Uriyattu (2020), which K. Bhuvanachandran directed.
Vidyarthi has received various accolades and awards, like the Star Screen Award for Best Villain and the Best Actor Award from the Bengali Journalists' Association for his movie Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996). He also was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Villain - Telugu for his movie Athanokkade (2005) and received the Best Character Actor award for his work in the Telugu film Minugurulu (2012).
Vidyarthi has honed his acting abilities not just by performing on the big screen but also by appearing in other online series. To mention a few, Trial by Fire (2018), Mission Over Mars (2019), Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors (2020), Raktanchal (2020), Sunflower (2021), and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (2022).
Vidyarthi was last seen in the Telugu film Writer Padmabhushan (2023), which saw him play the role of Madhusudhan Rao.
Vidyarthi is well-known not just for the parts he has played on screen but also for his work as a motivational speaker. He has improved the lives of young professionals at over 200 organisations worldwide through his ignite lectures and customised transformational workshops.- Actor
- Producer
Adil Hussain is known for his critically acclaimed performances in award winning theater and film. "Othello- A Play in Black and White" directed by Roysten Abel received international acclaim and was awarded the Fringe First in Edinburgh. His role in this play received rave reviews from "The Scotsman" and "The Independent" in the UK. This play was performed across Western Europe, Africa and India for 10 years. Having acted in more than 80 films, he is known for his work in films such as Ang Lee's Oscar winning 'Life of Pi', Subhashish Bhutiani's 'Hotel Salvation/Mukti Bhavan', Iram Haq's 'What Will People Say', Prakash Jha's 'Pareeksha', Gautam Ghosh's 'The Wayfarer', Danis Tanovic's 'Tigers', Mira Nair's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', Pan Nalin's 'Angry Indian Goddesses', Partho Sen-Gupta's 'Sunrise', Italo Spinelli's 'Gangor', Prashant Nair's 'Umrika', Leena Yadav's 'Parched' and Bauddhayan Mukherji's 'The Violin Player' . For his lead role in 'Hotel Salvation' and 'Maj Rati Ketaki', he received a National Award in India in 2017. He received the Norwegian National Award, the 'Amanda', in the Best Actor Category for his work in 'What Will People Say' as well as the Kanon Prisen award for Best Supporting actor in 2018. For 'Mukti Bhavan' which has received over 25 International awards, he has been nominated for numerous Best actor awards and won at the 'Washington DC South Asian Film Festival' and 'Rajasthan International Film Festival' . He received Best Actor Award for his work in 'Lessons in Forgetting' at the New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest and the Critic's Choice award for Best Actor 2021 for his performance in the short film 'Meal'. He received the London Indian International Film Festival's 'Outstanding Achievement Award 2020' for his contribution to global cinema. He also has been acknowledged by his home state in receiving 'Best Assamese Person of the Year Award 2015' by Newslive Tv Channel and 'Global Icon Award 2021' by the Prag Television Channel. His is widely known for his roles in 'English Vinglish', 'Lootera', 'Main aur Charles', 'Dobaara', 'Aiyaary' etc. and has acted in numerous independent as well as commercial films in the Hindi, Bengali , Assamese, Malayali, Tamil film industries as well as in many Indo-European art house films. He also played 'Jasoos Vijay' in the well known BBC World Service Trust television series by the same name. His latest work portraying Lt. Aditya Sahil in 'Star Trek' the iconic international science fiction series has received unprecedented admiration from the Star Trek global fandom. He also was one the main actors in the Netflix series 'Delhi Crime' which was the first ever Indian production to receive an international Emmy award.
Born in Goalpara in the the mid 60's, Adil started his adventure in acting as a young stand up comedian as one of the founding members of the Bhaya Mama Group and performed political satires for 6 years all across Assam. During this period he also acted in several Assamese TV Films and Series, Street and Radio plays and video films. He then received a scholarship to study acting at the National School of Drama from 1990-1993 after which he took a short course at the Drama Studio London as a recipient of the Charles Wallace Trust Scholarship. Following this he performed for one year in the Hengul theater in Assam and then for another 2 years with the International Danstheater in Amsterdam. After years of work on the stage spanning dozens of productions and thousands of performances, Adil undertook his own personal research into the craft of acting when he spent two and a half years on a river island in Karnataka researching the craft of acting with a international group of performing artists. He has taught acting at the National School of Drama, Film and Television Institute Pune, Royal Conservatory of Performing Arts in the Hague, and Drama School Amsterdam.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Anupam Kher is a renowned Indian actor who has worked extensively in the Indian film industry, as well as in international films and television shows. He is known for his versatile acting skills and has portrayed a wide range of characters throughout his career.
Kher studied at Simla in D.A.V. School and graduated with a degree in Economics from Simla's Himachal Pradesh University. He studied at the Government College, Sanjauli. He left the university mid-way and instead studied the Indian theatre in Chandigarh at Panjab University.
Kher was a part of several plays at Himachal Pradesh University. He took drama classes in Lucknow at Raj Bisaria's Bharatendu Natya Akadem for a small role in Sheeshay Ka Ghar (1984), his debut film.
In 1984, he landed his first role in Bollywood with the film Saaransh (1984). He played the role of a 65-year-old teacher in this film. He went on to work in projects like Tezaab (1988) and Vijay (1988), for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Kher received public recognition for his performances in movies like Ram Lakhan (1989) and his first Filmfare Award under the Best Performer in a Comic Role category. He also won a Filmfare Critics Award and a National Film Award - Special Mention for his role in Daddy (1989).
In 1990, Kher starred in Dil (1990) and received another Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was critically acclaimed for his performance in Lamhe (1991). He won a Filmfare Award as the Best Comedian for his role in the movie.
Kher later appeared in Beta (1992) alongside Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor. In the same year, his role in Khel (1992) earned him another Filmfare Award as the Best Comedian.
Kher went on to star in massive hits like Darr (1993), which got him a Filmfare award as the Best Comedian. In 1994, he appeared in another blockbuster, Laadla (1994).
One of Kher's most successful movies Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), earned him another nomination as the Best Supporting Actor at Filmfare and was the second movie for which he won the National Film Award, this time under the category Best Popular Film.
Kher's performance in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) got him his fifth Filmfare Best Comedian Award and was highly applauded and loved by the audience.
After a gap of almost three years, he made his comeback in yet another blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), for which he received the Best Comedian nomination at Filmfare.
Kher also tried his skills in directing with Om Jai Jagadish (2002) and was also the producer. In 2007, Kher collaborated with Satish Kaushik and started Karol Bagh Productions, a film production company. They produced their first movie Teree Sang: A Kidult Love Story (2009), in 2009.
He hosted TV shows like Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle (2000) and The Anupam Kher Show (2014).
Kher has also appeared in international films like Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride & Prejudice (2004).
Kher received the Best Actor Award at the Karachi International Film Festival for his performance in I Did Not Kill Gandhi (2005), which was also produced by him.
His other foreign films were The Mistress of Spices (2005), Lust, Lust, Caution (2007), the TV show ER (1994), Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and Hotel Mumbai (2018).
He also received a nomination for BAFTA for his supporting role in the British sitcom The Boy with the Topknot (2017).
In 2019, Kher took the role of Manmohan Singh, India's former Indian Prime minister in The Accidental Prime Minister (2019). In 2022, he appeared in the controversial film The Kashmir Files (2022), which was a blockbuster.
Kher was awarded the best actor for his role in a short film titled Happy Birthday (2021) at the New York City International Film Festival. He is a recipient of two National Film Awards, eight Filmfare Awards, two International Indian Film Academy Awards, two Screen Awards India, and five other state/viewer awards.
His handprint was preserved for posterity at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai as he was honoured by 'Walk of the Stars'. The US state of Texas presented him with the "Honoured Guest" award for his contribution to cinema and art.
He has also been honoured with Civilian Awards like the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 by the Indian Government for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.
Anupam Kher tied the knot with Kirron Kher, a fellow Indian actress, in 1985. Kher became a stepfather to Kirron's son, actor Sikandar Kher. He was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation in 2010, which works to improve the education of children in India. In 2021, Kher received an honorary doctorate degree in Philosophy of Hindu Studies from the Hindu University of America.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Living in a Chawl in Tilak Nagar, Punjabi-speaking Anil was born in 1959 to Surinder and Nirmal aka Suchitra Kapoor. He has an elder brother, Boney, a sister, Reena, and a younger brother, Sanjay. His dad used to be Shammi Kapoor's Secretary.
A loner, without many friends, he studied in the nearby O.L.P.S. (Our Lady of Perpetual Succor) School, and was an ardent fan of Bollywood flicks that were telecast during the Ganesh Maha Utsav every year. He was a fan of Raj Kapoor, and it was this that influenced his acting, and people saw him as a mimic of the legendary showman. He landed a role as a child artiste with Shashi Kapoor in the lead, but the movie (Tu Payal Main Geet) was never released.
After school, he went to study in St. Xaviers College. He commuted by bus and train from Chembur to Bombay V.T., and the walked the rest of the way. It was here that he met Mazhar Khan. A distracted Anil was kicked out of College in the second year due to his lack of presence. His attempts to join the Pune Film Institute were in vain, as he failed in the written examination. He then decided to join Roshan Taneja's Acting school.
He first appeared on the silver screen in Hamhare Tumhare in a character role. His first lead role was in 'Woh 7 Din' and from thence on there has been no looking back. He has acted in close to a 100 movies, and has 5 in production. He has produced two movies (Gandhi My Father & Badhaai Ho Badhaai), as well as been a Casting Director/Outdoor In charge for 'Hum Paanch'.
Kapoor's first role in an international film was in Danny Boyle's 2008 Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, for which he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. His performance in the eighth season of the action series 24 generated rave reviews from the American press Globally, Anil Kapoor is one of the most recognized Indian actors.
Anil met wealthy and chic model, Sindhi-speaking Sunita Bhambhani, and married her in 1984. Since then they have given birth to 3 children, kapoor has two daughters and a son Harshwardhan Kapoor.Kapoor's elder daughter is actress Sonam Kapoor. Rhea Kapoor attended school in New York and is now a producer in Mumbai.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
For Amrish Puri, it was virtually the 'Summer of 42'. The actor's long simmering affair with acting found culmination when he reached his early 40s. And while his dream of playing the hero may have been thwarted, he went on to become the most loved villains of all time. He was also an artiste who redefined the dynamics for character actors. If he wowed the critics with his rough-edged portrayals in the art films of Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, he won over the masala movie buffs with his louder-than-life histrionics. Puri with his reverberating baritone, piercing glance and dramatized dialogue delivery was a formidable figure against the hero. His costumes were all about prolific imagination and his one-liners ranging from, 'Mogambo khush hua' to 'Dong kabhi wrong nahin hota' are now part of cinema glossary. Puri even went ahead and worked in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, only to return and endorse the diversity that is Bollywood.
But behind the tough facade was a genteel person. "Upright and a true karma-yogi," as son and marine navigator Rajeev Puri describes him. "People from all walks of life loved him - even the police and the politicians." Rajeev adds, "A decade after his demise, some film or the other of his is constantly playing on channels - out of the 350 he did, 200 were hits!" And when people till date come up to him requesting for a photograph because he's the famed Mogambo's (Puri's character in Mr India) son, Rajeev realizes that Mogambo truly is larger than life, in fact beyond it.
Puri graduated from the BM College in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Puri was a leader of the RSS youth wing there and that explains why he remained a stickler for discipline and punctuality. In the '50s, he moved to Mumbai and found a job with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). There he met my mother Urmila, a Konkani, and married her. His elder brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri were also actors. In fact, we lived with Madanji at Kings Circle for a few years before we shifted to our Santacruz home. Puri passion was acting. He worked during the day and in the evening did amateur theatre with Ebrahim Alkazi, Satyadev Dubey, Vijay Tendulkar and Girish Karnad among others. In fact, Satyadev Dubey and he began Hindi theatre in Mumbai with plays like Hayavadana and Yugati winning him much applause. He became well known as a stage character actor, which led to him doing ads and finally films in the early '70s.
Believe it or not, Amrish Puri wanted to become a Bollywood movie star, but failed a screen test in 1953. And what a failure it was! Mr. Puri, went on to become one of the most renowned and credible villains in the history of Indian cinema. His most memorable and often quoted role is the character of 'Mogambo' (with the catchphrase "Mogambo Khush Hua"). It is still remembered fondly from Mr. India (1987).
On the silver screen, the very first time we felt that times were changing was when dad went to Jaisalmer to shoot Reshma Aur Shera (1971). It was an Ajanta Arts film directed by Sunil Dutt. A lot of new actors were being featured - Raakhee, Amitabh Bachchan, Ranjeet. Puri brought home pictures of the shoot. Puri's son must have been around 12 then and was excited watching them.
Another film, which was to change his life was Girish Karnad's Kannada film Kaadu (1973) where he played the villainous village headman. Girish Karnad handed his Filmfare Best Director trophy to Amrish as a gesture of appreciation. He was then noticed by Shyam Benegal, who featured him in his films Manthan, Nishant and Bhumika through the '70s. He also became part of Govind Nihalani's critically acclaimed films Party, Vijeta, Aakrosh and Ardh Satya. Dad had a flair for roles that betrayed authority and rode the crest of new wave cinema with his earthiness.
In 1980, director Bapu roped in dad to play Duryodhana in Boney Kapoor's Hum Paanch. Soon other filmmakers started offering him villainous roles in commercial films too. After Feroz Khan's Qurbani (1980) there was no looking back.
One film that took him to the acme of his career was Mr India (1987). As the part menacing part comical Mogambo, he won fans across audiences. Mogambo was a favorite with kids because he was a comic-strip like character. At every function he attended, dad was asked to say the Mogambo dialogue. First Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh in Sholay (1975) and later dad as Mogambo gave villainy a new status. He went on to become the highest paid villain. Earlier character actors were paid paltry sums as compared to the hero.
Puri's career spanned three decades and around 300 films. Among these his favorites remained Koyla, Vidhaata, Pardes, Chachi 420, Ghatak, Ghayal, Damini, Meri Jung and Saza-E-Kala Pani.
Off camera, his children remember their father as someone who was larger than life, someone who was strict but never unreasonable. Someone who urged us to speak the truth. He urged us to follow the three Ps - patience, perseverance and persistence.
Puri was realistic and that's why he insisted that his children seek a secure profession. He once told his son, "See, acting is my first love. I've been polishing my act for years. It took me long to establish myself. There's no need for you to be awed by the profession. You needn't risk your future. You must complete your education." That's why, I joined the Merchant Navy in 1978. I sailed for 11 years. It used to be fun watching his films on the ship.
As an actor he had a great ability to switch on and off. He was not fond of smoking, drinking or parties. His idols were Dilip Kumar, Motilal, Balraj Sahni and Amitabh Bachchan. He worked with Raj Kumar, Dilip saab, Amitji... he was like a student in front of them and had absolutely no ego. Also, a lot of youngsters began their careers with him like Ajay Devgan in Phool Aur Kaante and Shah Rukh Khan in Deewana. He was easy to work with except that he had no patience with people who didn't respect time.
Puri was particular about having nutritious food. He was largely vegetarian but enjoyed fish. He practiced yoga and was an early riser. He was one of the first members of Talwalkars gym in Mumbai. Also, he preserved his vocal chords. He stayed away from fried stuff. He'd just have a piece of sev puri when we insisted. Once he happened to shave off his hair for a Rakesh Kumar film. He was told his personality looked better that way. The bald look appealed to Steven Spielberg, who then offered him Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, where he played Mola Ram. Puri realized that with a shaved head, he could try different get ups. He was well-versed with the art of make-up and wigs. He knew the concentration of hair that a hairpiece for a 50-year-old character or a 60-year-old character would require. He also spent time with the tailors - in fact, directors often asked him to work on his costumes. He'd pick his own ties, bows, shirts for a role. He enjoyed observing people as he drove in his car. He'd keenly watch the hawaldar, the fit of his shirt, how worn out his shoes were which helped him play one in Gardish.
Puri loved watches. He owned all the possible brands. He was intrigued by its technology and the way each piece was assembled. Each time he'd go abroad, he'd visit a showroom and call me up excitedly, "Tikoo (my pet name) I've bought such a handsome looking watch!" Another fascination he had was for Mercedez Benz cars. He'd keep buying the latest editions. His family maintained his 1983 model in showroom condition.
Known for frequently portraying menacing, sadistic villains, Puri received a huge fan mail of around 50 to 60 letters a day. Some fans would constantly sit on the footpath outside our home to catch a glimpse of him. Women also wrote to him. Many were crazy about him. But he was not a young actor. By the time he got recognition he was 45. My mom did feel possessive with all the attention being showered on him. But she understood. He was at an age where he knew what to absorb and what to keep away from. He was cautious. He did have shades of romance in his role opposite Farida Jalal in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. That subtle equation suited his age. His female co-stars liked him because he was protective about them. He'd check with the production guys whether they were comfortable or not. While he was being pampered, he wanted them to enjoy those facilities too. He was like a father figure to junior artistes too. He'd call up the producers who defaulted on their payments.
Once they were shooting at Amritsar railway station for Gadar - Ek Prem Katha. Huge crowds had gathered and there was so much noise that the shooting couldn't proceed. Sunny Deol wanted to leave. Dad took over and in his baritone said, "Allow us to do our work. I want pin drop silence!" There was a hush and the shooting resumed.
Shyam Benegal cast him in movies such as Nishant (1975), Bhumika (1977), and Manthan (1976). Yash Chopra cast him in Mashaal (1984), the same year that Steven Spielberg cast him in his best-known role outside of India, as Mola Ram in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). His elder brother is none other than Bollywood actor Madan Puri.
Guddu Dhanoa's Jaal The Trap for (2003) was shot in Himachal Pradesh. Unfortunately, Puri met with an accident there. He suffered serious injuries on his face and eye. He lost a lot of blood and consequently had to undergo blood transfusion. Something went wrong there because in the coming years, he developed a blood disorder (myelodysplastic syndrome). It began with weakness and reduced appetite. When he came to know about the fatality of his illness he was shaken. But he had an iron will. He wanted to project a strong side to the world. Puri knew that at age 72 there was little that he could repair and that he was ailing. Jo hona hai woh hoga - that was his stance.
Puri was keen to complete the projects on hand, even though he was in pain. His terminal illness was detected in September 2003 and by December 15, 2004, he had finished all his films - Kachchi Sadak, Mujhse Shaadi Kaoroge, Hulchul, Ksna and Aitraaz despite looking emaciated, pale, frail . He was at home for a brief period. But he didn't want to remain bedridden. When asked how he was feeling he'd just say, "Kal se behtar hoon." Then one day he had a fall at home and suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. He passed away in Mumbai on January 12, 2005 due to a brain hemorrhage
Puri had served as the President of Cine and TV Artistes Association for six years before his demise. As a mark of respect the industry remained shut for two days. The whole road from our house in Juhu to the electric crematorium at Shivaji Park was full with people. There were onlookers perched on trees and buildings.
As a tribute to him the Times Of India carried a piece, which was titled, "No guns only roses." People recall his famous dialogue in Pardes, "What's the bottom line?" Well, for me it would be never doing anything that would disappoint him.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Amole Gupte is an Indian screenwriter, actor, and director, known for his work on Bollywood films like Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth), Stanley ka dabba, Kaminey and others. He is also an actor in Bheja Fry 2 (2011), stanley Ka Dabba (2011),Urumi (2011) Phas gaye re obama (2010) and Kaminey.- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Boman Irani is an Indian actor, voice artist, screenplay mentor and photographer. As an actor, he works primarily in Hindi cinema and theatre. He joined theatre in his late 30's and moved to on-screen acting in 2000. Irani gained attention for his role in the 2003 comedy-drama, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S and has not looked back ever since. He received several awards and tremendous acclaim for his performance in blockbusters such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, Main Hoon Na, Housefull, Don 2, Happy New Year and more. He recently launched his production house Irani Movietone and he mentors budding writers under his writing workshop, Spiral Bound.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Balraj Sahni, born in Rawalpindi, British India (present-day Pakistan), was an acclaimed Indian film and stage actor. Known for his powerful and impactful performances, Balraj Sahni became a prominent figure in the golden era of Indian cinema.
Balraj Sahni initially pursued a career in the civil service but eventually found his true calling in acting. He became associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), a leftist cultural organization, where he honed his skills and passion for acting. His association with IPTA marked the beginning of his journey in theater.
Balraj Sahni made his film debut in 1946 with the film "Insaaf," but he gained widespread recognition and acclaim for his role in the film "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953), directed by Bimal Roy. His portrayal of Shambhu Mahato, a poor farmer struggling to save his land, showcased his acting prowess and earned him accolades. The film won the International Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Balraj Sahni delivered memorable performances in films such as "Kabuliwala" (1961), "Waqt" (1965), and "Neel Kamal" (1968). He often played roles that reflected the socio-economic realities of the time, and his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters set him apart as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema.
Balraj Sahni's filmography includes a diverse range of roles, from intense and dramatic characters to light-hearted and comedic ones. He collaborated with renowned filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, and Yash Chopra, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
Apart from his acting career, Balraj Sahni was also a noted writer and penned several books, including his autobiography "Meri Filmi Aatmakatha" (My Filmy Autobiography).
Balraj Sahni's contribution to Indian cinema was not only recognized within the industry but also by the government. He received the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, in 1969. Unfortunately, Balraj Sahni's life was cut short, and he passed away on April 13, 1973, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable performances and a lasting impact on Indian cinema.- Actor
- Stunts
Rajiv Sinha is an Indian actor living and performing in Los Angeles, CA. Although born in India, he grew up with a Brooklyn state of mind living most of his life in New York. Graduated from Buffalo State College with a dual major in English and Pre-Medicine. After realizing how compelling the characters were in his novels and stories, he quickly realized acting wasn't just his dream, but his ever-present calling.- Actor
- Producer
Binnu Dhillon, born in Dhuri, Sangrur, Punjab, India, is a popular Indian actor known for his work in Punjabi cinema. With his impeccable comic timing and versatile performances, Binnu Dhillon has become a prominent figure in the Punjabi film industry.
Binnu Dhillon started his career as a Bhangra performer and later transitioned to acting. He made his acting debut in Punjabi cinema with the film "Shaheed-E-Azam" (2002). However, it was his role in the immensely popular Punjabi film "Carry On Jatta" (2012) that brought him widespread recognition and established him as a leading comedic actor in the industry.
Following the success of "Carry On Jatta," Binnu Dhillon became a sought-after actor in Punjabi cinema. He delivered a series of hit films, including "Lucky Di Unlucky Story" (2013), "Jatt James Bond" (2014), and "Ambarsariya" (2016). His ability to connect with the audience through his humor and relatable characters contributed to the success of these films.
Binnu Dhillon is known for collaborating with other popular Punjabi actors and comedians, creating a successful formula for entertaining and commercially successful films. His on-screen chemistry with co-stars like Gippy Grewal and Jaswinder Bhalla has been a highlight of many Punjabi comedies.
Apart from his work in Punjabi cinema, Binnu Dhillon has also ventured into Hindi cinema with films like "Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se" (2018), where he played a supporting role alongside Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, and Bobby Deol.
In addition to his acting career, Binnu Dhillon has hosted television shows, showcasing his versatility as an entertainer. His contribution to Punjabi cinema has earned him numerous awards and accolades, making him a beloved figure among Punjabi audiences.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Bharat Bhushan, born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, was a renowned Indian film actor who left an indelible mark on the Bollywood industry during the mid-20th century. Known for his charm, distinctive voice, and impactful performances, Bharat Bhushan became a popular leading actor of his time.
Bharat Bhushan started his acting career on the stage before making his debut in Hindi cinema with the film "Choti Choti Baatein" (1965). However, it was his role in the classic film "Baiju Bawra" (1952) that catapulted him to stardom. In the film, directed by Vijay Bhatt, Bharat Bhushan played the titular character of Baiju, a young musician seeking revenge for his father's death. The film was a massive success and showcased Bharat Bhushan's acting prowess.
"Baiju Bawra" marked the beginning of Bharat Bhushan's successful career in the 1950s and 1960s. He starred in a series of hit films, including "Mirza Ghalib" (1954), where he portrayed the legendary poet, Mirza Ghalib, with finesse. His ability to bring depth and authenticity to historical and romantic characters made him a sought-after actor during that era.
Despite facing challenges later in his career with the changing dynamics of the film industry, Bharat Bhushan continued to act in films like "Barsaat Ki Raat" (1960) and "Bees Saal Baad" (1962). However, his popularity waned over time.
In addition to his acting career, Bharat Bhushan was known for his melodious singing voice, and he lent his voice to a few songs in some of his films. He also explored filmmaking, directing and producing the film "Bahu" (1955).
Bharat Bhushan received accolades for his contributions to Indian cinema, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Bees Saal Baad." Despite facing ups and downs in his career, he remains a respected figure in the history of Bollywood cinema.
Bharat Bhushan passed away on January 27, 1992, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a significant impact on Indian cinema during its golden era.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
This Telugu Star was a student at the Madras Film Institute and an amateur stage actor. His first public performance was in the Republic Day parade ballet of Andra Pradesh on 26 January, 1976. His film debut was Punadhirallu (1978). His brother-in-law is producer Allu Aravind. His success started with Initilo Ramayya Vidhilo Krishnayya (1981). He is known for his extraordinary dances and fights apart from his power packed performances in movies. His movies carry a reputation of being the best entertainers along with carrying a social message across to the audience. He has done a couple of Hindi movies as well viz., Pratibandh (1990), Aaj ka Gunda Raaj etc and was well recognized for them too.
He is one of the highest paid actors in India today and commands an extraordinarily huge (and cult-like) fan following not only in Andra Pradesh, his native state but all over India and other countries as well. His films are released in US, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Apart from movies, he is also widely known for his philanthropy. He set up a Chiranjeevi Trust for Eye and Blood donations and his fans take an active part in it.
He was awarded the 'Padmabhushan' recently along with a 'Doctorate'.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Chunky Pandey was born in Bombay, India on September 26, 1962 in a non-film household.
Chunky's real name is Suyash Sharad Pandey, but is also known as Chandrakant Pandey. He shot into fame with a secondary role in 'Tezaab' which had Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. He continued to meet considerable success in secondary and supportive roles, but has yet to make a name for himself as a lead hero.
After his marriage to Bhavna in 1998, he decided to act in Bangla movies, and achieved considerable success there, even though he has no knowledge of Bangla, and had his voice dubbed.
After the birth of two daughters, he decided to make a comeback to Bollywood during 2002 and ended up appearing in over a dozen movies.
He has appeared in over 55 movies, and has been nominated once for his supportive role in 'Tezaab'.
Apart from appearing in movies, Chunky is also involved in a business 'Bollywood Electric' which hosts stage shows. He and Bhavna also run a health food restaurant in Mumbai, India.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Danny, who married Gawa Denzongpa, a Sikkimese princess and niece of the last chogyal from her hometown of Gangtok, currently resides in Juhu in Mumbai. He likes to listen to Nepali folk music especially Nepali flutes. In recent times he has become more selective as to the roles he plays. He does not work in March, April, and May as they are hot. The movies he chooses, he works on his own terms. He has a son named Rinzing and a daughter named Pema. His brother owns a bouj and beer factory in Melli, Sikkim.- Born in the same city and on the same month as his family friend Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary (born March 9, 1997 in Mumbai, India) is an Indian child movie actor primarily working on starring in Hindi Bollywood films. He is best known for his acclaimed portrayal of a dyslexic child in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth), a drama film about a teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) and a boy (Darsheel Safary) with learning disabilities share a special bond.
Darsheel was born on March 9, 1997 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. His father, Mitesh Safary is a jeweler and his mother is Sheetal Safary. He had no acting experience prior to Taare Zameen Par. Growing up in Mumbai, he enrolled into Shiamak Davar's dance academy. He had never expected to be a movie actor at such a young age. His parents wanted him to be a businessman executive or a jewelry designer. He has a younger sister and resides in his hometown in Mumbai.
In 2007, Safary made his first big acting debut in Taare Zameen Par, playing the film's protagonist Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi. Safary was discovered by script writer and creative director, Amol Gupte during fall 2006 when he was looking for a male lead for his film, Taare Zameen Par. After going through hundreds of auditions, Gupte found Safary at Shiamak Davar's dancing school, "Summer Funk". In choosing Safary, Gupte had a number of boys audition for a scene in which they would informally describe how they would "bunk" school after being given a few scenarios. He recalls, "It was a tough call. But Darsheel has the mischief in his eyes to be Ishaan. Everyone just naturally gravitated towards him." Taare Zameen par was filmed from fall 2006 until spring of 2007. Darsheel, at this time was only nine years old and only about 4 feet tall. The child artiste of the film, had to face a lot of opposition from his school when he was shortlisted for the film. The fact that he would have to miss school for such a long period of time did not go down well with the school authorities. However, Aamir Khan insisted that only Darsheel play the character, so he came up with a solution to fix the problem. He personally assured the school authorities that Darsheel's studies wouldn't be hampered with. Aamir arranged for personal tuition for Darsheel all through the academic year so that he wouldn't miss his exams. He also funded his studies as well as his educational expenses. Before starring, Darsheel was a part of Shiamak Davar's dance troupe. During one of the classes, he saw a poster that read, "Hunting for a naughty kid. If you're selected, you will get a chance to act with Aamir Khan." He thought that it would be great if he was able to act in the film. During the same class, Amole Gupte spotted him and asked him to go for an audition. Eventually, he got selected. Darsheel also got an Xbox 360 as a birthday gift from Aamir Khan on 9th March 2007, his tenth birthday. Following the film's release, he became the youngest nominee for Filmfare Award for the Best Actor. He couldn't make it because it was won by Shahrukh Khan for Chak de! India.
Safary's performance as a struggling dyslexic child in the film was unanimously praised and he won several awards for his performance. Many prominent film critics have praised Safary for his performance including, Taran Adarsh from indiaFM who wrote, "Taare Zameen Par belongs to Master Darsheel Safary. A performance that makes the best of performances pale in comparison. A performance that deserves brownie points. A performance that'll always come first on your mind the moment someone mentions Taare Zameen Par. A performance that's impeccable, flawless and astounding. A performance that moves you and makes you reflect on your growing years. A performance that merits a special award!" He won several awards for his performance, including the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Special Jury Award.
Following his first acting debut, directors of Bollywood films were desperately dying to talk to Darsheel to sign him in to star him in their film. ANd s he returned to the big screen again to impress more fans and win the hearts of more audiences. He also appeared in the 2010 film, Bumm Bumm Bole as Pinu, which tells the story of a family's situation getting from bad to worse after the husband/father of the family is fired from his job, then is suspected of having terrorist connections. The family is living in Northwestern India, a terror dominated region full of crime, corruption and terrorism. The parents are poor, broke and in serious debt and they can barely afford and manage things. They are working at a tea farm. Meanwhile, Pinu loses his sister Rimzim's shoes so they both decide to share a pair of shoes until their father has saved enough money to buy a new pair. The title of the film is based on one of the songs of the same name from taare Zameen par, however this film is not a sequel to Taare Zameen Par. The film was panned by critics and received mixed to mainly negative reviews, however, Darsheel did not mind. The critics however, praised the performances of Darsheel and newcomer Ziyah Vastani, stating that they had great chemistry together and made an adorable brother-sister duo.
Darsheel also starred in the 2011 film Zokkomon as Kunal, directed by Priyadarshan. In this film, abandoned by his heartless uncle who is obsessed with money (Anupam Kher) and aided by a street artist and a petty thief (Manjari Fadnis), an young orphaned boy (Darsheel Safary) discovers his inner superhero within him. Upon learning that Darsheel would play a superhero in a movie for the first time, Aamir Khan was very surprised and impressed and he blessed and praised the film, saying "Darsheel will always be my superhero in my heart". Aamir joked that "In Taare Zameen Par, he was also a superhero". The film, directed by Satyajit Bhatkal was well received by critics and a box office success.
He also played young Saleem Sinai in the 2012 film Midnight's Children, a story tells the audience about children born on the brink of India's independence grow up in a country that is vastly different from their parent's generation. Continuing his career, he played himself as a contestant in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 in 2012. In November 2015, he played the role of Abhay in the TV series Sun Yaar Try Maar. He is still active in Indian television and cinema, having acted in 4 films under the age of 17. While not a full time actor, Darsheel has acted from time to time as a hobby. He filmed movies and TV shows during his summer vacations so that he wouldn't be missing out on school. Or if he was out of school, he took his homework and books with him and studied on the sets. He also wrote tests and studied during breaks from filming so he wouldn't miss out on anything. His brilliant performances in Taare Zameen Par and Zokkomon shows that he is an amazing, bright, vibrant, shiny and talented kid with an amazing spark of his own. While he hopes to become an actor full time as a job in the future, he also indicated that his future plans may also include being a singer and a dancer, a businessman executive and a jeweler designer in an interview on rediff on December 26, 2007. - Actor
- Director
- Producer
Deepak Tijori is a household name in India and across the world for his path breaking work in the entertainment industry and is one of the most popular Indian film directors and actors who has created his niche in Bollywood and is well known for his memorable roles in Aashiqui (1990), Khiladi (1992), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), Anjaam (1994), Ghulam (1998) and Baadshah (1999). He also starred as a lead actor in Pehla Nasha (1993). Tijori started his career as a director with Oops! (2003), a film about male strippers. This was followed by Fareb (2005), Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat (2005), Tom, Dick, and Harry (2006) and Fox (2009). Thriller at 10 - Fareb, a TV mini-series produced by Tijori won the 2001 Indian Television Academy Awards in the category best mini-series. He directed his latest movie, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani (2016) which won him many accolades. His next film to be shot on a massive scale in London is Tipsy. Armed with M.Com with Finance Degree, Deepak is also Bachelor of General Law from the highly coveted Bombay University. A keen yoga enthusiast, Deepak believes in the union of a healthy body & healthy mind.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Dharmendra is one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema. Dharmendra Deol played the romantic hero in woman Cedric films from 1960-1968 and became romantic hero from 1968-69 and played the role of action hero from 1971-1997. Dharmendra has appeared in 306 films.
He is known as 'Garam' Dharam in Bollywood. Had the looks of a real gentle man, masculine body of a he-man and when it came to his films, he had a very humorous touch in his dialog-delivery and the timing.
Dharmendra's original name is Dharam Singh Deol. He was born in a Jat Sikh family in Phagwara in Kapurthala district in the Indian state of Punjab to Kewal Kishan Singh Deol and Satwant Kaur. He spent his early life in village Sahnewal and studied at Government Senior Secondary School at Lalton Kalan, Ludhiana. He did his intermediate from Ramgarhia College, Phagwara in 1952.
The heroics in his films - Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Jugnu (1973), Raja Jani (1972) and Loafer (1973) - are all quite remarkable and unforgettable. He got nominated for Filmfare best actor 4 times in his career though he couldn't get one but got "The Life Time Achievement" award in 1997 from Filmfare for his achievements, splendid performance during his times and wonderful career in Bollywood. Dharmendra was fond of movies from a young age. He participated in the Filmfare new talent contest, which he won and came to Mumbai from Punjab looking for work. He made his debut with Arjun Hingorani's Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960). After which he got supporting roles in the film Boy Friend (1961) and was cast as the romantic interest in several woman oriented films from 1960-1967, where the story revolved around the heroine's character and, he was usually cast as a romantic hero opposite senior established leading actress of the time and later, from 1974 on-wards, as an action hero. His major breakthrough was playing supporting role to hero Rajendra Kumar in Aaye Milan Ki Bela, where his character was negative and supporting role in patriotic film Haqeeqat (1964) and playing romantic interest in woman oriented films from 1960-1967 and playing supporting roles to Balraj Sahni, Ashok Kumar, Biswajit in some films from 1960-67 like Soorat Aur Seerat, Bandini, Mamta, Ghar Ka Chirag.His sensitive side was explored by Hrishikesh Mukherjee in Anupama (1966) and Satyakam (1969), the latter is considered one of the best performances of his career. He got solo hero stardom with the blockbuster, Phool Aur Patthar (1966), which was his first action film but he became established action hero from 1971 film Mera Gaon Mera Desh. He projected himself as romantic hero with films like Pyar Hi Pyar, Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Mere Humdum Mere Dost and Aaye Din Bahar Ke. He cemented his image as action hero with successful films like Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Raja Jani (1972), Jugnu (1973), Kahani Kismat Ki and Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973). Dharmendra formed a popular onscreen pair with Hema Malini who later became his second wife. Hema Malini was the biggest female star of 1970s and they went on to star in hits such as Tum Haseen Mein Jawan, Sharafat (1970), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Raja Jani (1972), Jugnu (1973), Pratiggya (1975), Sholay (1975), Charas (1976), Azaad(1977), Dillagi (1978), among many others. Dharmendra proved his versatility and comic timing through Pratiggya, Chupke Chupke and Sholay. In Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975) he shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan and is still remembered for his inimitable portrayal of Veeru. His best romantic pairing was with the actress Asha Parekh with whom he had 5 hits - Shikhar, Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Samadhi and Mera Gaon Mera Desh. His next best pairing was with Hema Malini, with whom he did 35 films of them 31 had them as a leading romantic pair and Dharam Hema had 20 hits and 15 flops. Dharm Hema married in 1980 and Dharm-Hema have 2 children together, Esha and Ahana and he has two sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol from previous marriage with Prakash Kaur.
Often in 1960's till 1971 he played the romantic lead opposite female leading ladies in woman oriented films where the female protagonist's role overshadowed his roles with Dharam playing only supporting role in these films opposite Meena Kumari, Nutan, Mala Sinha, Sharmila Tagore. Phool Aur Paththar was the turning point in his career and established him as an action hero and as a solo lead hero.Artistically and popularity wise his peak period was the 1971-1979 where he did multi star as well as solo hero films in action and comedy genres and when his performances was appreciated by critics as well as audiences. Critics panned every film he did from 1985-2002 with exception being critically acclaimed films Burning Train, Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor, Jhutha Sach, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Rajput and Ghulami. He was the 2nd highest paid actor along with Vinod Khanna in Hindi films from 1976-1982 and Dharam alone was 3rd highest paid Hindi actor from 1987-1993 of A grade Hindi Films.
In the early 70s, Dharmendra became the first Indian actor to be voted among the most handsome men in the world. Through the 70s and 80s, Dharmendra worked with some of the biggest names in B'town such as Bimal Roy, Yash Chopra, Raj Khosla, Ramesh Sippy, Rajkumar Santoshi, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterji. In 1983, Dharmendra diversified into production and launched his elder son Sunny in 'Betaab', which was produced by his banner Vijayta Films and was a huge hit. in 1990, he produced Ghayal starring Sunny Deol in lead. The film was the second biggest hit of the year and won 7 Filmfare Awards including Best Film award and the coveted National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. He would later go on to launch the successful careers of his younger son Bobby in 'Barsaat'(1995) and nephew Abhay Deol in 'Socha Na Tha'(2005) under the banner. He has also periodically made films in his native tongue of Punjabi, starring in Kankan De Ole (Special Appearance) (1970 ), Do Sher (1974), Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974), Teri Meri Ik Jindri (1975), Putt Jattan De (1982) and Qurbani Jatt Di (1990).
His commercial hits from 1981 included Ram Balram, Professor Pyarelal, Kaatilon Ke Katil, Naukar Biwi Ka, Jaani Dost, Samraat, Bhaghavat, Raaj Tilak, Jaagir, Qayamat, Insaaf Kaun Karega, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Loha, Sone Pe Suhaga, Mardo Wali Baat, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Nafrat Ki Anandi, Batwara and Elaan E Jung. His film Hukumat in 1987 was highest grossing film of that year. He continued to be strong in 1990s as the best action hero even stronger than Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff. His commercial hits in 1990s included Veeru Dada, Naka Bandi, Farishtay, Tehalka, Kshatriya, Maidan E Jung and Dharma Karma.
The low brow action films directed by likes of Kanti Shah damaged his action career in late 90s. Dharmendra was nominated 4 times for Best Actor Award at Filmfare Awards but never won. He was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Filmfare in 1997. He made a comeback to A grade films with a role in Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya (1998). He joined politics and was elected as a Member of the Parliament in the 2004 general elections, from Bikaner in Rajasthan, on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. He returned to acting in 2007 with films Life in a... Metro and Apne were acclaimed and successful. In the latter, he appears with both his sons, Sunny and Bobby for the first time. His other release was Johnny Gaddaar, where he played a villainous role. In 2011, he starred alongside his sons again in Yamla Pagla Deewana released on 14 January 2011 and was a success. A sequel Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 was released in 2013. His also acted with his daughter Esha in his wife Hema Malini's directorial venture Tell Me O Khuda in 2011. In 2011, Dharmendra replaced Sajid Khan as the male judge of the third series of popular reality show India's Got Talent. Dharmendra's first marriage was to Prakash Kaur at the age of 19 in 1954. From his first marriage, he has two sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol both successful actors, and two daughters, Vijayta Deol Gill and Ajeeta Deol. He has 4 grand sons named Karan, Rajvir, Aryaman, and Dharam. Dharmendra fell in love with Hema Malini during the filming of Sholay. She eventually married him in 1980. As the Hindu Marriage Act forbade polygamy, he converted to Islam in 1979 to avoid protests and give legitimacy to his second marriage. The couple has two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Esha is an actress and Ahana is a dancer. Dharmendra has received several honors for his contribution to cinema and was awarded India's third highest civilian honor Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2012.- Born in a Gujerati-speaking family on June 8, 1957, daughter to businessman, Chunnibhai and Betty, Dimple has a younger sister, Simple, who was born on 15 August 1958.
She was discovered by Raj Kapoor, who signed her up opposite his son, Rishi, in the 1973 hit 'Bobby'. The film made Rishi and her stars overnight, at the time of the film's she was just 16 years old.
Exactly 6 months before the release of 'Bobby' Dimple who was a mad fan of super-star Rajesh Khanna, met and married the actor. Rajesh was 15 years older than her. After her marriage she quit films.
On Rajesh's 32nd birthday, a daughter, Twinkle nicknamed as Tina, was born to them. Then on July 27, 1977, Dimple and Rajesh became parents of Rinke, who would later also become an actress in her own right.
Dimple and Rajesh separated in 1982, enabling her to make a come-back to the tinsel screen with 'Zakhmi Sher'. She continues to act and has over 69 movies to her credit, some of them the more popular ones being 'Saagar', 'Insaaf', 'Zakhmi Aurat', 'Ram Lakhan', & 'Batwara'. - Actor
- Producer
- Director
One of the most beloved, charismatic and accomplished actors as well as one of the most imaginative and pathbreaking directors in the history of Indian cinema, Dev Anand was a leading man for more than five decades in over 110 motion pictures and continues to bestride Indian film fraternity even after his passing. He gave a new dimension to that magical state known as Stardom. And for his exemplary work he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2001 by the President of India. From the time he embarked on his career as a Film Actor in the mid-forties till his demise, his movies had been a journey filled with enriching experiences for the 'Evergreen Living Legend' of Indian Cinema. And he had always remained eternally youthful by his remarkable ability to live always in the present and the future; never in the past.
Also, as head of his film production company Navketan International Films, which was founded in 1949, Anand introduced a multitude of talent to the Indian Film Industry by way of actors, directors, music composers and cinematographers. He introduced new talent to cinema and experimented with new ideas for movies. He also headed one of the finest Film Sound Post-Production facilities in India - Anand Recording Studios - which has to its credit more than 3,000 Indian feature films that have been mixed/ surround mixed for worldwide release.
Anand won two Filmfare Awards - India's equivalent of the Oscars - in 1958 for his performance in the film "Kala Paani" (Black Water) and in 1966 for his performance in Navketan International Films' "Guide". "Guide" went on to win Filmfare Awards in five other categories including 'Best Film' and 'Best Director' and was sent as India's entry for the Oscars in the foreign film category that year. He co-produced the English Version of "Guide" with the Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck ("The Good Earth"). Eventually, his creative sensibilities got the better of him and he started writing and directing his own movies.
In 1993, he received a Filmfare 'Lifetime Achievement Award' and in 1996 he received a Screen Videocon 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Then in 1997 he was given the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images Award for his Outstanding Services to the Indian Film Industry. In 1998, he was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Ujala Anandlok Film Awards Committee in Calcutta. In 1999, he received the Sansui 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his 'Immense Contribution to Indian Cinema' in New Delhi. In the year 2000, he was awarded the Film Goers' 'Mega Movie Maestro of the Millenium' Award in Mumbai. And then in July 2000, in New York City, he was honored by an Award at the hands of the then First Lady of the United States of America - Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton - for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema'. And again Anand was awarded the Indo-American Association 'Star of the Millennium' Award in the Silicon Valley, California. The President of India honored Anand with the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on India's Republic Day - January 26th, 2001. And yet again, Donna Ferrar, Member New York State Assembly, honored him with a New York State Assembly Citation for his 'Outstanding Contribution to the Cinematic Arts Worthy of the Esteem and Gratitude of the Great State of New York' on May 1st, 2001.
Most recently, in April 2003, Anand was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the F.I.F.A. Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa. For an Indian Movie Icon who has hobnobbed with royalty, heads of State and celebrities, he did it all.
Anand passed away on December 3rd, 2011 in London's Washington Hotel, aged 88.
There are some who might remember Anand for not hanging his boots at the right time like his rival Dilip Kumar. But for millions of his admirers, both India and overseas, he shall remain the embodiment of someone who just never learnt to give up and being one of the pivotal figures who shaped the destiny of Indian Cinema in its formative years post independence and with his peerless intellect combined with his killer good looks gave it a footing on the map of world.- Actress
- Director
- Music Department
Deepti Naval is an Indian film actor, director, writer, painter and photographer. After her schooling at the Sacred Heart Convent, Amritsar, she migrated to the US where she studied Painting, English and Psychology at the City University of New York and received her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at Hunter College in Manhattan. Her interest in a whole range of other subjects led her to study American Theater, Photography, and Astronomy. After graduation Deepti had a brief stint with the Gene Frankle Institute of Film and Television pursuing her passion for cinema and acting.
A multi-faceted personality, her major contribution has been in the area of art cinema, winning critical acclaim for her sensitive and close to life characters that emphasized the changing role of women in India. The first American-Indian actor to join Hindi films, Deepti made her debut in the year 1980 with the path-breaking film Ek Baar Phir, for which she won her first Best Actor award, and has since appeared in more than 90 films carving a distinct niche for herself in the Indian Film Industry. Prominent among these are - Kamla, Ankahi, Main Zinda Hoon, Panchvati, Leela, Freaky Chakra, Didi, Firaaq and more recently, Memories in March, Listen Amaya, Boy With the Top Knot, Lion, NH-10 and Goldfish. She made her debut in theatre with the poetic stage play, Ek Mulaqaat where she played the celebrated Punjabi writer, Amrita Pritam along with Shekhar Suman who played lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi.
Through her work, Deepti has given a prolific aspect to neo-realistic cinema, making her one of the most celebrated and respected artists of her time. She was awarded Best Actor in several international film festivals for her various roles and recognized as the 2007 Tribute Honoree of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
Her directorial debut, Do Paise Ki Dhoop Chaar Aane Ki Baarish on Netflix, won her the Best Screenplay award at the New York Film Festival. She also wrote and directed Thodasa Aasmaan, a women-centric TV serial and produced a travel show called The Path Less Travelled.
As a writer Deepti has four books to her credit. Lamha Lamha her first collection of poems was published in the year 1981. Her second book, Black Wind and Other Poems was published in 2004. The Mad Tibetan: Stories From Then and Now in 2011 displayed her skill as a storyteller. Her recently published memoir, A Country Called Childhood has garnered critical acclaim. Written with charming honesty, her visually rich and evocative prose speaks of her growing years in Amritsar during the tumultuous 50s and the 60s.
As a painter her knife work with oil on canvas is distinctly expressionistic, especially her landscapes, figures, self-portraits and sketches. Reflections was her first solo exhibiton in 1995 at the Jehangir Art Gallery followed by several exhibits in India and abroad. Her paintings are mostly self portraits as she explores different spheres through self. Her landscapes and Kumaon series are a capture of her travels.
FAMILY: Deepti's father, Uday Chandra Naval, hailed from Punjab and was a professor teaching English at Lehman College, City University of New York. He had graduated with honors in English literature from Govt. College Lahore during pre-partition India. Her mother, Himadri Gangahar, was a painter who was born and raised in Burma. She received her education at the Jesus and Mary Convent in Mandalay and later migrated to India during the Japanese invasion in 1942. Himadri's fascination for music, dance, and drama influenced her younger daughter through bedtime stories.
Deepti's older sister, Smiti Khanna, is a biochemist who spent substantial years working on cancer research at the Sloan Kettering Institute in NYC. Her younger brother, Rohit Naval, is a technology product designer and lives with his family in Long Island. Deepti's nephew Sanaj Naval who starred in her debut film as director, Do Paise Ki Dhoop Chaar Aaane Ki Baarish is all set to be a full-time actor.
AWARDS:
Best Actress Filmworld Award for Ek Baar Phir, 1981 Best Actress Award for Leela at Karachi Int'l Film Festival Best Actress for Memories in March at Madrid Imagine India International Film Festival Best Screenplay Award for Do Paise KI Dhoop Chaar Aane KI Baarish at NYIFF (New York Indian Film Festival). Best Actress Award for Listen Amaya at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2013. Deepti Naval Nominated for Best Actress, at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2013 Edition.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
Goldfish (2023) The Boy With The Top Knot ( 2017) Lion (2016) NH-10 ( 2015) Heartless (2014) Listen Amaya (2013) Memories in March (2011) Firaaq( 2008) Freaky Chakra ( 2003) Shakti: The Power (2002) Leela ( 2002) Bawandar (2000) Current (1992) Suryodaya (1991) Mane/Ek Ghar (1991) Didi ( 1989) Marhi Da Deeva (1989) Mirch Masala (1987) Panchvati ( 1986) Ankahee (1985) Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan (1984) Andhi Gali (1984) Kamla (1984) Kissise Na Kehna (1983) Katha (1983) Angoor (1982) Saath Saath (1982) Chirutha (1981) Chashme Buddoor (1981) Hum Paanch (1980) Ek Baar Phir (1980)- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Dilip Kumar (1922-2021) is widely considered the greatest acting exponent India ever produced. Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11, 1922, in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar, British India (present-day Pakistan), he is better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar given to him by actress and owner of Bombay Talkies, Devika Rani. Credited with pioneering method acting in Indian cinema in mid-1940s, before Marlon Brando introduced it to Hollywood in 1950s, he has been often called as "Abhinay Samrat" (Hindi for "Emperor of Acting") by the audience. He was the biggest Indian star since Post-Independence period throughout 1960s, starring in some of the biggest commercial and critical successes of Indian cinema. It is to be noted that according to major trade analysts, many of his big commercial successes were films with apparently no commercial/entertainment value, which relied heavily on his histrionics to succeed, an extremely rare feat in the annals of cinema worldwide. Box Office India quoted that any such an instance has never happened with any other star, as their films had to be backed by at least few commercial elements/genres to succeed. Irrfan Khan, while saying that Kumar is the only one who should be called "legend", justifiably quoted the reason as, "the combination of artiste and star that he brought, started and ended with him."
Born to a fruit merchant, Lala Ghulam Sarvar Khan and his wife Ayesha Begum, Yousuf Khan and his family would migrate to Bombay Province, to expand their family business in 1930s which had come to a halt due to the complications of WWII. He had his schooling in Deolali and graduation in Mumbai. He started with managing a shop and selling fruits in an army canteen in Pune. Upon a rebellion in the canteen during Indian National Movement, he gave a speech justifying India's struggle for Independence, which resulted in his eviction from the canteen. A chance encounter with Devika Rani, got him opportunity to work for Bombay Talkies, at remuneration of Rs 1250/- per month. Having no clear intention of working there, he still accepted the job because of the high salary. Kumar later accepted that by the age of 14, he hadn't watched a film, and later in his teenage, watched few English films. Devika Rani selected Dilip Kumar as his stage name (a common tradition back then) from the 3 names suggested by Pandit Bhagvati Charan Verma, which also included Vasudev and Jehangir. Kumar in 1970, in an interview told that, one of the main reason, he agreed to adopt a stage name was out of fear of his father, who was strictly against films due to their poor reputation among the masses at the time. He further said that on being offered to choose among the three names, he expressed that he was okay with any of them. Later, he got to know his stage name, when it was first published in a newspaper.
Kumar's first film as an actor was Jwara Bhata (1944), which was the 6th highest grossing Hindi film of the year, according to some sources, though not really profitable. His performance was severely criticized by the major critic of the time, Baburao Patel of FilmIndia. Similarly the next venture, Pratima (1945) was also flop and his work again criticized. The next venture, Milan (1946), directed by Nitin Bose, proved to be fruitful for Kumar, not only because it was successful commercially, but his acting sensibilities greatly improved during the period of its filming. However his performance was still criticized by FilmIndia. The success of the next film Jugnu (1947), which was the highest grossing Indian film of the year, established him as the first star of Post-Independence India and arguably, the biggest star of the country at that moment. His performance was appreciated by Baburao Patel for the first time. However, he severely criticized the film, writing a letter to the then Home Minister (who later went on to become Prime Minister under Janata Dal in 1977), Moraji Desai, asking him to ban the film. It was banned for a few months, after which the ban was uplifted. The film, already a roaring success, became an even bigger hit, after it was re-released. The period starting from here till at least 1961, was a period of raging success in Kumar's career, both critically and commercially, which cemented his legacy notch above his contemporaries. Post 1961, the workload slowed, with fewer releases thereafter and also slowed their commercial success, although his earlier films still doing great in re-releases, many times higher than many of his contemporaries' fresh releases. During this period, his two main contemporaries were Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. The three of them were sometimes referred collectively as "the golden trio" of this period, with camaraderie between the three contemporary actors famous and each renowned for their own style.
Shaheed (1948) is cited by many to be the first true Dilip Kumar film, in the sense his legacy was to be built on performances like this in the years to come. It was a roaring success, highest grossing Hindi film of the year. Andaz (1949), a record grosser at the time, starring Nargis and Raj Kapoor along with Kumar, popularized the theme of love triangles in Indian cinema. His performance in the film was superlatively appreciated by masses and critics alike. Baburao Patel's review headline read "Dilip Kumar draws crowd to cinemas". His dramatic performances in the next films till early 1950s, brought him the title of "Tragedy King". These intense performances, in which he immersed himself, had an adverse affect on his psyche. He consulted psychiatrists in London, who advised him to take up lighter roles. Interestingly, almost all of his lighter roles starting from Aan (1952) and Aazad (1955) were huge commercial successes. His performance in these roles were appreciated by masses and critics alike. Aan (1952) was the highest grossing Indian film ever at the time both in India and overseas. Post Aan, Kumar's popularity again took a big leap, establishing him as undisputedly the biggest star of the country. Devdas released on 30 December, 1955 is considered one of the most iconic performance of his career. Although a moderate success when initially released, the film found greater success in subsequent years though re-releases, making it amongst the most popular role essayed by Kumar. All three Andaz (1949), Aan (1952) and Naya Daur (1957) briefly became the highest grossing Indian film upto that point, a feat later achieved by Kumar's Mughal-e-Azam (1960) in which he essayed the role of Prince Saleem (amongst his most popular roles), a record it held for 15 years. By adjusting for inflation, it is still the Highest-grossing Indian film of all time, as of 2022.
The decade 1950s was the most prolific decade of Kumar's career, with 21 releases of which only 1 film, namely Hulchul (1951) failed commercially. 5 (or even 6) of his films were placed in top 10 highest grossers of the decade by Box Office India. Similarly 9 (or even 10) of his 21 releases were placed among the top 30 highest grossers of the decade. The period from late 1940s to early 1960s is often referred to as the "Golden Age of Hindi cinema and music". The 1950s decade is also important in terms of popularising cinema and filmi music in India and establishing it as a part of popular culture. The decade also saw the rise of stars (in true sense), commercialisation of industry as well as rise in the number of theatres. Kumar was the representative of this period, holding the status of a matinée idol and the country's highest paid actor.
Gunga Jumna released on 6 Jan, 1961, few months after the release of Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Kohinoor (1960), represents the peak of Kumar's career both as an actor and star. His performance as robust and defiant Gunga is considered by many to be the greatest acting performance in the history of Indian cinema. It won him international laurels. His performance was profoundly appreciated by actors in the West. The film set the template for the "Angry Young Man" films starring Bachchan in 1970s and the theme of brothers on the opposite side of the law. After Gunga Jumna (1961), Kumar's workload slowed significantly, his next venture Leader (1964), failed to be a big commercial success. It did mediocre business. Next film Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) is the first flop film of Kumar in over 15 years. Ram aur Shyam (1967) is the last big hit of Kumar's first innings (as an actor) in Hindi cinema. It was his first double role film and popularized "double role" and "lost and found" films in mainstream Indian cinema. 1970s saw Kumar's career as a lead actor take a downturn. Age was becoming a factor, and the onset of new stars further convinced Kumar to take a hiatus. Out of his 4 Hindi films released in 1970s, Gopi (1970) was the only clean box office hit. As per the new reports of Box Office India, Bairaag (1976), is either "Hit" or "Semi-Hit". In 1970, he acted in his only Bengali film, Sagina Mahato (which also has a Hindi version, Sagina released in 1974, starring Kumar). The film was reportedly a huge success in Bengal. He won BFJA (Bengal Film Journalist Associations) award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. In 1976, he took a five-year hiatus aligning on the above mentioned reasons.
He returned to the big screen playing the title role of Kranti (1981), the highest grossing Indian film of the decade, when adjusted for inflation. In this phase of his career, he played senior, mature roles who were the main characters of the films. Films were specifically written for him which also starred other actors playing young roles. Films like Kranti (1981), Vidhaata (1982), Karma (1986), and Saudagar (1991) were among the biggest hits of the time and all driven by him despite playing senior roles, a feat that had remained unprecedented even after him as per trade analysts. Some other films also found average success, including Shakti (1982), which starred Kumar along with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles. The film won him his last Filmfare Award for Best Actor. His next venture after Saudagar (1991) was the commercially unsuccessful Qila (1998), which also turned out to be his last. He retired from film industry in 1999.
Kumar had been involved in many relationships including Kamini Kaushal, with whom he fell in love on the sets of Shaheed (1948). Their relationship fell apart as Kaushal was married to her brother-in-law after her sister-in-law died in a car accident. Reportedly she married on the insistence of her family to look after the little children of her sister-in-law. His next relationship was with Madhubala, which started on the sets of Tarana (1951). It was a seven year long relationship that ended after the Naya Daur court case in which Kumar sided with the producer B.R. Chopra and testified against Madhubala's father, Ataullah Khan as he declined her to travel to the planned shooting locations at the last moment. However Kumar in his autobiography cites another reason that played an important role in the fallout; Madhubala's father insisted him to act only under his own banner after their marriage. In 1966, he married actress Saira Banu in a private ceremony. Their marriage survived for over 50 years until Kumar's death in 2021-despite undergoing an upheaval-Kumar's alleged second marriage with Asma Rehman in 1981, whom he met at a cricket match in Hyderabad, where she lived. He soon divorced her in 1983, describing this incident as a "grave mistake taken in pressure" in his autobiography.
Kumar died on 7 July 2021, due to kidney complications and other age related issues. He had no children through his marriage. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Saira Banu.
As of 2022, he holds the record for winning 8 Filmfare awards for Best Actor ( later equalled by Shah Rukh Khan) and was also the inaugural recipient of the award. He has also won numerous other awards including Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1994. He is the recipient of Padma Vibhushan (in 2015) and Padma Bhushan (in 1991), India's second and third highest civilian honour respectively. He is also the only Indian recipient of Pakistan's highest civilian honour, Nishan-e-Imtiaz (in 1998). As of 2021, he holds the Guinness World record for having received the most awards by an Indian actor.
He holds several long standing box office records including giving at least 1 clean hit for 15 years straight, which is at least an Indian record, according to a trade analyst. Since independence till late 2010s, he held the record for giving the maximum number of highest grossing film of the year, 9 times which was then surpassed by Salman Khan. However as per latest Box Office India reports, highest grossing Indian film of 1991 was Kumar's Saudagar (1991) and not Salman Khan's Saajan (1991), thus perhaps re-establishing his long standing record. In regards to his films' success ratio, he is the most successful Bollywood actor (quite possibly, Indian actor) of all time, by a distance, as of 2022. These gigantic records, his overwhelming popularity across Indian subcontinent, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and beyond, especially among South Asian diaspora around the world, makes him easily among the biggest stars cinema has ever seen across the globe. He famously turned down David Lean's offer of the role which ultimately went to Omar Sharif in one of West's greatest critical and commercial success, Lawrence of Arabia (1962), which made a major Hollywood star out of Sharif. Justifying his decision, Dilip Kumar had remarked, "In your own bazaar you enjoy a certain status. What's the point of venturing out into fields unknown where you have no say? No contact with the subject matter." He was also considered for a role in another film Lean was working on, titled "Taj Mahal". Elizabeth Taylor was supposed to play the part opposite Kumar. However, the project was eventually shelved.
According to many, he is probably the first person to perform method acting on screen in mid 1940s. Despite not knowing what it meant by then, he had been practising it since a time when, perhaps, the term wasn't even coined. Kumar, who never went to any acting school, was described by the renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray as "the ultimate method actor", despite not having worked with him. There are innumerable such complements by numerous luminaries across professions to quote, which is quite not possible; from the likes of the recent statement by Indian born naturalised British economist Lord Meghnad Desai, claiming Kumar to be the greatest actor on global scale to age old statements like the one by, V. Shantaram, one of founding fathers and pioneers of Indian cinema, prompted by Kumar's versatility expressed, "Had Shakespeare met Dilip Kumar, he would have added one more character to the already well-defined ones he had created." Most importantly, Dilip Kumar's complete impact is realized definitely in the fact how he changed the rules of acting and influenced generations of future artistes in Indian subcontinent (even his contemporaries), but also in the truth that at his best, he was the catalyst in expanding the reach of quality cinema, from metros to rural India, from classes to masses, from serious connoisseurs to common entertainment seekers. Some of the greatest critical successes became some of the biggest hits when he acted in them, liked, revered and celebrated by classes and masses alike. His intense, in-depth performances, eloquent silences and the most nuanced expressions observed and enjoyed and celebrated at the same time by the most casual entertainment seekers of his time. There have been some great artistes across the history. And there have been some huge stars across the history. But the instance of both of them being a single entity, elevating and expanding the art form to an even greater point, is true, an extremely rare sight, but equally magical while it lasts.- Farooq Sheikh was an Indian actor, philanthropist and a television presenter. He was known for his work in Hindi films from 1977 to 1989. He returned to acting in films in 2008. His major contribution was in Parallel Cinema or the New Indian Cinema. He's acted in serials and shows on television and has performed on stage in famous productions like Tumhari Amrita. He has won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lahore.
- Producer
- Writer
- Art Director
An accomplished and award-winning producer-director-writer-actor-singer, Farhan Akhtar is the ultimate Bollywood multi-hyphenate. Born in 1974 to prolific Indian film writer and poet, Javed Akhtar and writer-director, Honey Irani , Farhan was raised in an environment where creativity and originality of thought were encouraged. This has made him a maverick whose films reflect refreshingly new content that easily strikes a chord with filmgoers.
In 1999, Farhan collaborated with Ritesh Sidhwani, a friend who shared his passion for good cinema, to form Excel Entertainment, a production banner that has become synonymous with excellence in film-making.
Debuting at the age of 26, as a writer, director, and producer with Dil Chahta Hai (2001) a coming-of-age film that has gained cult status, Farhan came to be lauded for his honest, path-breaking writing and his ability to extract mature performances from his cast. The film won Farhan his first National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' along with Filmfare awards for 'Best Feature Film - Critics Choice' and 'Best Screenplay'.
Almost two decades later, this film continues to influence a generation of filmmakers.
Seven years after his dream debut as a writer-director, Farhan debuted as an actor-singer in Rock On!! (2008) Yet another runaway success, the film secured him a second National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' and a Filmfare award for 'Best Debut Performance'.
The dream run continued with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) which released in 2011 to much popular and critical acclaim, winning him three Filmfare awards for 'Best Film', 'Best Actor in a supporting role' and 'Best Dialogue'.
His next, a biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh, popularly known as 'the Flying Sikh', was entitled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013).
He essayed the role with such integrity that it set the standard for other actors considering to play titular protagonists in biopics. Deservingly, Farhan swept all awards that year for 'Best Actor' as did the film for 'Best Film'. It also claimed the National award for 'Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment.'
His most recent release The Sky Is Pink (2019) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Roy Thomson Hall.
In addition to his contribution to Indian cinema, Farhan has initiated and supported a plethora of social causes. In 2012, he founded MARD (Men against Rape & Discrimination), an initiative that raises awareness about gender-related issues amongst the youth of India. Recognizing his sustained efforts, Farhan was made the first male UNwomen goodwill ambassador (South Asia) in 2014.
Additionally, Farhan feeds his passion for music by writing, composing and performing live with his band FarhanLive.
His English language debut album 'Echoes' released in March 2019 to critical acclaim.
He has 2 daughters and lives in Mumbai, India.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Firoz was born in Bangalore on September 25, 1939 to a Pathan father, Sadiq, and an Iranian mother, Fatima. He has three brothers, Abbas alias Sanjay, Akbar, and Sameer. Both Sanjay and Akbar are actors within their own rights, while Sameer is a film-maker and assists in their Golden Palms Spa located in Bangalore.
He made his entry on the silver screen in 1960 after his return from a Bangalore-based English medium school. His career initially started as a hero in 'Didi', then he signed up for villain roles, and then made a comeback as a hero again.
His noteworthy movies are Oonche Log, Main Wohi Hoon, Aag, Mela, Upasna, Aprsdh. He became even more popular after the release of Dharmatma, Qurbani, Jaanbaaz, & Dayavan. he got an award for his role in Aadmi Aur Insaan. He died of cancer in his Bangloore farm house on 27 April, 2009.
He likes sports-car races and has included this sport in Apradh and then again in Janasheen. He prefers his character name to be either Rajesh or Rakesh. He is a worshipper of Bhagwan Shri Sai Baba and always wears a gold ring on his finger and has a picture close to him. Sai Baba is revered and worshiped by Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Hindus in India.
He got married to Sundari in 1965 and they became proud parents of Laila and Fardeen. Despite objections raised by an Islamic Moulvi, Feroz and Sanjay got their children married to non-Islamic families. Laila was married to Rajpal, while Fardeen married Natasha Madhwani, the daughter of Mayur and former Bollywood hottie Mumtaz. Sundari and Feroz have been divorced since 1985.
Feroz has kept away from controversies, though he did get himself banned by the conservative Pakistani government.
Apart from acting this talented artiste has also edited, produced, written, & directed movies. His latest 'Kurbani' is currently under production.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Farida Jalal was discovered by Filmfare's United Producers' Talent Hunt in the 1960s. She starred in her first movie as a teenager, in the Rajshri Productions' "TAQDEER' in 1967. Thereafter she has starred in more than 200 movies as a character actress mainly, but also as lead actor in some. She is known as Bollywood's all time Favourite Mother.
She took a break for several years in the early 80s, and made a comeback and starred in roles of an elder sister, mother, grandmother, elderly neighbor, & widow.
She is best remembered for her role as Rajesh Khanna's betrothed in the 1969 hit Aradhana and for her song 'Bhagon Mein Bahar Hai, Kaliyon Pe Nikhar Hai...'. She also played the betrothed of Rishi Kapoor in another hit Bobby in 1973.
To date, She has won Five Filmfare awards for her performances in Paras, Majboor, Henna, Mammo, and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.
Farida got married to Tabrez Barmavar, and shortly thereafter gave birth to a son, Yaseen Barmavar. Tragedy visited her when Tabrez passed away in 2003.
She is one of very few actresses that has had an important role in every major Bollywood hit.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Considered to be a man ahead of his time, Guru Dutt was one of the greatest icons of commercial Indian cinema. Although he made less than ten films, they are believed to be the best to come from Bollywood's Golden Age, known both for their ability to reach out to the common man and for their artistic and lyrical content, and they went on to become trend-setters that have influenced Bollywood ever since. But for all his genius, there was a shroud of tragedy that overshadowed his career and life.
Dutt was born in Mysore on July ninth, 1925, the eldest son of a headmaster and a housewife who was a part-time writer. As a child, he had to deal with a strained relationship between his parents, hostility from his mother's family, and the death of a close relative. He received his early education in Calcutta, and in 1941, he joined the Uday Shankar India Culture Center, where he received basic training in the performing arts under dance maestro Uday Shankar. Afterward, in 1944, he had a short stint as a telephone operator.
Dutt entered the Indian film industry in 1944, working as a choreographer in Prabhat Studios. There, he became friends with Dev Anand (whom he met when they worked on the film Hum Ek Hain (1946)) and Rehman Khan. These early friendships helped ease his way into Bollywood. After Prabhat went under in 1947, Dutt moved to Mumbai, where he worked with the leading directors of the time: Amiya Chakrabarty in Girls' School (1949) and Gyan Mukherjee in Sangram (1946).
He got his big break when Dev Anand invited him to direct a film in his newly formed company Navketan Films. Dutt made his directorial debut with Gamble (1951), which starred Dev Anand. The film was an urban crime thriller that paid homage to classic film noir. However, it also carried its own elements that ensured it was not a remake of a Hollywood film: notably, songs were used to further the story's narrative, and close-up shots were used frequently. The film was a success and became a trend-setter for future crime films. On the personal front, Dutt met his wife, playback singer Geeta Dutt (née Roy), during the song-recording sessions of Gamble (1951), and they married May twenty-sixth, 1953.
Dutt's next releases were Jaal (1952) and Baaz (1953). Dutt made his acting debut in the latter film, which he also directed. But while they were average successes, he finally tasted success with Aar-Paar (1954), another crime thriller, but with a far more polished story and look. Then came Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), a frothy romantic comedy focusing on women's' rights; and C.I.D. (1956), yet another crime thriller in which Waheeda Rehman made her debut.
His next films, Thirst (1957) and Paper Flowers (1959), are regarded as his best work. Thirst (1957) was his masterpiece, about a poet trying to achieve success in a hypocritical, uncaring world. It was a box-office hit and is ranked as his greatest film ever. In contrast, Paper Flowers (1959) was a miserable flop at the box office: the semi-autobiographical story of a tragic love affair set against the backdrop of the film industry was deemed too morbid for the audience to swallow and went right over audience's heads. Although in later years the film received critical acclaim for its cinematography and has gained a cult following, Dutt, who had put his soul into the film, was devastated over its failure and never directed another film.
Although he had sworn off directing, Dutt continued to produce and act in films, notably the period dramas Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). The latter film, interestingly, is controversial because it is debated whether Dutt had ghost-directed the film. Dutt's personal life had become complicated: he had gotten romantically involved with his protégé Waheeda Rehman and his wife Geeta Dutt had separated from him as a result. Rehman too had distanced herself from him. Also, Dutt, an ambitious person, felt he had achieved too much too soon professionally - there was nothing better to be achieved, and this caused a vacuum in his life. Unable to cope with all the trauma and emptiness, he took to heavy drinking.
On October tenth, 1964, Dutt was found dead in his bed. The cause of death was deemed a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, although a debate still lingers over whether his death was by accident or a successful suicide attempt. Geeta Dutt suffered a nervous break-down as a result of his death and also took to alcohol, eventually drinking herself to death, dying in 1972 as a result of cirrhosis of the liver.
His death was an irreplaceable loss to Indian cinema. And it was a tragic twist of fate that his films, most of which were discounted in his life-time, would be regarded as cult classics after his death. Guru Dutt would always be known, even if posthumously, as the Guru of Bollywood's Golden Age and one of the world's most important international auteurs.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Govinda was born on December 21, 1963. Govinda has acted in over 120 films since his debut in 1986. Govinda is best-known for his comedy related roles; his powerful contribution in dancing in Bollywood is inevitable. He is one of the most successful actors and is definitely the best dancer in Bollywood. His hardworking mentality and consistent performance made him a top class actor in Bollywood. He is known to be one of the most down to earth and kind hearted actors. He has acted with all Bollywood greats which include Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit.
He had great success with family based movies such as Dariya Dil (1988), Swarg (1990) and Hum (1991). He worked with David Dhawan for the first time in the 1989 action film Taaqatwar. He then formed a successful collaboration with him and then went onto act in 18 movies directed by him most of which were comedy films. The most successful films during their collaboration included Shola Aur Shabnam(1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Jodi No. 1 (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), and Partner (2007).
Having huge success in comedy based roles, he then also tried his luck for a villainous role in the movie 'Shikari' directed by N. Chandra. His performance in the movie was critically acclaimed. After a bad phase during 2002 until 2005, he actually made the biggest ever successful comeback ever witnessed in Bollywood with a number of hits, starting with Bhagam Bhag in 2006 and a critically praised performance in Salaam E Ishq in 2007.
After his latest 2007 release is the David Dhawan directed romantic comedy Partner. The film became the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film and became a blockbuster and is ranked in the top 3 movies of 2007 in India. After his successful comeback in 2006 and 2007, he has been on a signing spree and is acting in many big movies ready for 2008 and 2009 with top directors of India. Amongst other work he has come on as a guest on Indian reality shows which are based on the X factor and strictly come dancing in the UK- Actor
- Music Department
Gulshan Grover was born, raised and educated in Delhi, India. After receiving his master's degree in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, he decided to pursue his passion and made a lifelong commitment to entertainment industry. He honed his acting skills in theatre, and after many stage productions with the well-known "Little Theatre Group" he moved to Bombay to pursue a career in movies. Once there, he began his formal acting training at prestigious Actor's Studio, with batch mates like actor Anil Kapoor. Gulshan Grover eventually became an acting teacher at the same acting school; in fact, some of today's leading Indian stars were once his students.
Gulshan Grover is not only an actor, a producer and an entrepreneur. He is truly a link between Indian Entertainment Industry, Hollywood and International Entertainment Industry. He has successfully synergized various entertainment businesses between India and West.
In over 400 films to date over a 25 year career, Gulshan has proven himself to be a versatile professional with a passion for his chosen craft. He has acted in many of India's most successful films, received numerous accolades and awards, and is a prominent figure in the Indian film community. His recent film 'I Am Kalam' earned him nomination for National Awards of India 'Best Supporting Actor'. Gulshan Grover also won the Best Actor International at New York City Film Festival & Houston Film Festival, for his performance as Indian Hollyman, Spiritualman, Dada Bhagwan for film 'Desperate Endeavours'.- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
Gurpreet Ghuggi was born on 19 July 1971 in Gurdaspur, Punjab, India. He is an actor and writer, known for Dunki (2023), Ardaas Karaan (2019) and Race (2008). He is married to Kuljeet Kaur. They have two children.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Girish Karnad was born on 19th May 1938 in Matheran, Maharashtra. He is acclaimed for his contemporary playwrights in Kannada. He is also an actor, director and screen writer. He was conferred Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Filmfare Awards where three are Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada and one Filmfare Best Screenplay Award.- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Music Department
Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor, born on 10th January 1974, well known globally for his versatile roles, unmatchable dancing skills and attractive looks.
After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) for which he earned Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut. It was not just a new actor on the block, but a star was born. He became a romantic hero, an action hero and revolutionized the Hindi film industry in significant ways. Never before had any debutant become an overnight sensation of this kind.
After his debut film, he appeared in Karan Johar's family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), which received immense love not just in India but even overseas.
In 2003, Hrithik Roshan, who is often described as "India's Most Complete Actor" stunned everyone and proved once again that it is not just the uber-flattering looks that he brings to the table. This was when he flawlessly essayed the role of an intellectually disabled boy in Koi... Mil Gaya. Not only did the film set the cash registers ringing massively, but Roshan also bagged multiple awards for his acting prowess in the film, including the Filmfare Best Actor award.
The makers turned it into a franchise because of the huge commercial success and love that the film received. The next installment, Krrish (2006) saw Hrithik Roshan playing a superhero, which went on to become the first ever-successful Indian superhero in Indian cinema.
Roshan received his 3rd Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 2006 for his performance as an enigmatic master thief in the action film Dhoom 2, with which he redefined style and action and set new bars. He established himself as a major action star. He took stylized action to a whole new level with Bang Bang in 2014, which did massive business at the box office.
In 2012, he created history in Indian cinema when his film, Agneepath minted a whopping 25 crs only on its opening day. That is the star power and pull of Hrithik Roshan.
We also saw him portray the role of the Moghul emperor, Akbar the Great himself in Jodhaa Akbar (2008) for which he received immense critical acclaim and also an International award at a Film festival.
In 2011, Roshan was seen in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which became an absolute cult classic.
Before becoming an actor, Hrithik toiled as a largely uncredited assistant on film projects, gradually progressing from unglamorous tasks such as set-sweeping, tea-fetching, or clapper-loading up to a major role in story development, camera, direction, and editing.
Since his entry into the industry, Hrithik has parlayed the natural gift of symmetrical features and a tall athletic frame into unimaginable standards. Through unparalleled work ethic, sheer honesty, talent, and commitment as an actor, he also effectively redefined the Hindi film hero. Actors would now have to act and dance and fight for themselves like never before.
With the kind of roles Hrithik has played on screen, there is no doubt about his acting prowess and versatility. From playing a intellectually disabled boy in Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) to an emperor in Jodhaa Akbar (2008); from playing a quadriplegic in Guzaarish (2010) to a visually impaired man in Kaabil (2017), he has played diverse characters effortlessly with his sheer talent.
In 2019, Hrithik continued taking on challenging roles as he marked two decades in the movies. In Super 30 (2019) he played the character of a Bihari Mathematician, Hrithik effortlessly slipped into the shoes of real-life Math genius Anand Kumar. He followed this up with War (2019), a larger-than-life Intelligence Agent gone rogue, while on a covert mission. Hrithik Roshan added act & action to his character. The actor aced at adding mystery to the thrilling story line with his screen presence as Kabir, which is considered one of the most charismatic characters he has played till date on screen.
Hrithik, a hot favorite for award show performances because of his smooth dance moves, high energy, and immense charm has won 66 awards out of 84 nominations, having a win rate of an outstanding 79%. Hrithik has also won many Style and Glamour awards for his appearances and red carpet outings. He was in fact voted as the 'Most Handsome Actor in the World' in 2018 by worldstopmost.com
Hrithik married his childhood sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, successful interior designer and businesswoman Sussanne Khan in December 2000. They have two sons: Hrehaan, born in 2006, and Hridaan, born in 2008. While the two got divorced in 2014, they chose to maintain cordial relations with each other for their kids and even today are good friends.- Actress
- Producer
Huma Qureshi born and raised in Delhi. Her father is a famous restaurant owner called Saleem's a chain of some 10 restaurants in Delhi. Her brother, Saqib Saleem is an actor and acted in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. In year 2011 an announcement was made that Huma would make her Bollywood debut in a movie too called Billa 2 but got delayed due to some unknown reason. However, a few months later, a new announcement came as she wasn't part of the project and she has gotten her Bollywood debut, Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur. Huma has a nice role in 2 parts of Gangs of Wasseypur.- Actor
- Writer
An alumnus of National School of Drama, Inaamulhaq was born on Nov 14, 1979 in Saharanpur-Uttar Pradesh. He first appeared on stage at the age of twelve. Later, he joined the 'Indian People's Theatre Association' and acted in numerous plays as a lead.
In Mumbai he started his career as a writer for TV shows. After working as a 'Creative Consultant' with "Comedy Circus" for two and a half years, he moved on to films and wrote Dialogues for 'Bbuddha Hoga Terra Baap'(2011).
While earning his livelihood by writing for television, he kept his passion alive by appearing in self-written TV shows. He got his first film break with critically acclaimed 'Firaaq' (2008). His first Major role in a feature film was, as the Pakistani national, in Nitin Kakkar's National award winner 'Filmistaan' (2014), for which he got listed in "Top 10 Stand-Out Actors of 2014" by Mid-Day, and "The Most Prominent Debuts of 2014" by IBNlive.com in their Yearender. He is also listed in IMDB'S "Top 200 Best Indian Actors and Actresses".
Inaamulhaq also appeared in Askhay Kumar starer 'Airlift'. He played the main antagonist Major Khalaf Bin Zayd in the evacuation drama based on Iraq's invasion on Kuwait. His performance in Airlift received a grand reception from the audience and the critics as well.
His cameo in Jolly LLB 2 caught the eyeballs of him as a Kashmiri. He also appeared in 'Lucknow Central' and 'Firangi' in essential role and got praised for his performance in both films.
Inaamulhaq won Best Actor award for his Recently released film Nakkash where he played the title role at DCSAIF (Washington DC) and IIFFB (Boston) The poster of Nakkash was launched at Cannes Film Festival 2018.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Jaikishen was born in the Gujarati-speaking Shroff family on February 1, 1957. His dad's name is Kakubhai, his brother's is Hemant, and they live in Bandra, Bombay in a bungalow named 'Le Pepeyon". He became a superstar in the 1980s. By the television era begun in the 80s, he had become a superstar. In BR Chopra's Mahabharata, Jackie Shroff was offered the role of Arjun in the series but Shroff refused to play the role considering it a negligible role to play in the epic and insisted the Chopras for casting him for the lead role of Karna but BR Chopra refused because of dates' issue with Karna's role which required presence in almost all episodes but Shroff won't be able to give his dates .
A vegetarian, Jaikishen made his Bollywood debut in a bit-role as a villain in the hit Heera Panna (1973) which starred 'Dev Anand'. He then went on to act in another Dev Anand movie, Swami Dada (1982).
It was Subhash Ghai who signed him up for the hit Hero (1983) that catapulted this handsome young man to stardom, followed by yet another hit Andar Baahar (1984) with Anil Kapoor as his co-star. Thus Jaikishen became the new Bollywood legend: Jackie Shroff.
Since then there has been no looking back, as he went on to star in close to 150 movies with a career that spanned from 1973 onwards. Since 2000 or thereabouts he has appeared in a variety of character-roles, villain, comedian, and even as a ghost in Bhoot Unkle (2006).
He married his longtime girlfriend, Ayesha Shroff (née Dutt), who is also a producer and both husband and wife run Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited. They have two children, a son, Jai (nickname Tiger), and a daughter, Krishna.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Shergill was born in a Sikh family in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. He moved to Punjab, the place of his ancestors, in 1985 where he studied in Yadavindra Public School, Patiala and Bikram College Patiala. He learnt acting from Sri Harpal Singh, and then moved to Mumbai to work in the entertainment industry. He's married to Priyanka Puri from Delhi and they have a son named Veer Shergill.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ravi Kapoor was born in a business family that dealt with imitation Jewelery and used to live in a chawl. While supplying jewelry to V. Shantaram, he was cast as Sandhya's double in the 1959 movie 'Navrang'.
His first break as a Bollywood leading man came in 'Geet Gaya Patharon Ne'. Although Ravi Kapoor was born on April 7, 1942, Jeetendra birth's took place in 1964.When he was to go for auditions, he used to seek help from his childhood friend Rajesh Khanna to mug up his dialog and get guidance to give expressions.Geet Gaaya Pattharonne was his first hit, but that didn't fetch him offers as lead hero. It was Farz released in 1967, which was his 4th film appearance and 3 rd as the male lead, which made him a known face in the public.
Ravi had met his present wife, Shobha, when she was only 14. She completed school, went to college, and was employed as an Air Hostess with British Airways.
Shobha gave birth to a daughter, Ekta, and subsequently to a son, Tusshar. While Ekta became a producer of TV serials, mostly starting with 'K', Tusshar followed in his dad's footsteps. Ekta and Jeetu run a production company by the name of Balaji Films, and have produced Bollywood movies. Their TV productions are usually in Hindi & Tamil languages.
Jeetendra has acted opposite Rajshree Shantaram, Mumtaz, Saira Banu, Mala Sinha, Nanda, Sharmila Tagore,Asha Parekh, Babita, Hema Malini, Moushumi Chatterjee, Reena Roy, Jaya Pradha, Sridevi, Komal, Rekha, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh, Shabana Azmi, Padmni Kolhapuri,Bhanupriya, Madhavi, Anita Raaj, Sangeeta Bijlani, Ashwini Bhave.
Whether running around trees (Tumhari Kasam, Ek Hi Bhool, Mawaali),singing songs (Banphool, Humjoli, Jigri Dost) or playing serious characters (Parichay, Khushboo, Dulhan, Kinara, Meri Awaz Suno,Chhup) or doing old man leading roles (Udhaar Ki Zindagi, Santaan, Jeetendra has always proved himself as an excellent actor, a family man, whose marriage is still intact, and someone who has yet to be involved in any controversy. He did 93 films as the solo lead hero and 103 multi star films as the lead hero and 2 films as a supporting actor and made guest appearances in 26 films.
Ravi had met his present wife, Shobha, when she was only 14. She completed school, went to college, and was employed as an Air Hostess with British Airways. When Jeetendra was struggling between 1960-66 to establish himself as an actor, he was in relationship with Shobha and Shobha was his girlfriend till 1972. But in 1974, after having worked in films like Waris and Gehri Chaal, friendship between Jeetendra and Hema Malini grew and while shooting for Dulhan, both expressed love for each-other and decided to have a quick marriage.But soon this information reached Shobha and Dharmendra.Shobha asked Dharmendra to change Hema's mind as she was in love with Jeetendra since many years. Soon both Shobha and Dharemndra came by helicopter and convinced Jeetendra and Hema not to marry. Jeetendra promised Shobha that if Bidai becomes a hit, he would marry her in 1974. It was not until the release of 'Bidaai"(opposite Leena Chandavarkar) on October 18, 1974, that Jeetendra and Shobha decided to get married, which they did in a simple ceremony on at Janki Kutir with only a few family and friends present (Gulzar, Rajesh Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar amongst the noted celebrities). The marriage was arranged hastily, as even Shobha's mom, who was in Japan at that time, could not attend.
Jeetendra's friendship with both actors Dharmendra, Hema Malini never got affected after this incident. All 3 remained friends. Jeetendra worked with Dharmendra and had hits like Dharamveer, Jaani Dost, Insaaf Ki Pukar, Nafrat Ki Andhi and flops like The Burning Train, Samraat, The Gold Medal, Jaan Hatheli Pe, Paapi Devtaa, Dharma Karma. Childhood school and college friends Rajesh Khanna and Jeetendra worked together and gave 3 blockbusters in the 1980's- Dharam Kanta(1982), Nishaan(1983) and Maqsad(1984). Infact all 3 films revenue showed increasing trend. Maqsad was the highest box office earner in the year 1984. Jeetendra made guest appearances in Roti, Palkon Ki Chaon Mein and Begunaah - all three films which had Rajesh Khanna as the solo lead hero. Jeetendra-Rekha were romantically paired in 26 films and had 16 hits of the 26 films as lead pair starting from 1972-1998 and only 10 flops. In addition Rekha and Jeetendra worked in another 5 films where they were not paired opposite each-other.Jeetendra-Sridevi did 16 films together between 1983-88 and 13 of them were hits and 3 were flops. Jeetendra and Jaya Prada were romantically paired opposite each other in 24 films and 18 of them were box office hits and 6 were flops. In addition 2 more films they did together where they were not paired opposite each-other. Jeetendra gave 113 box office hits (excluding guest appearances in hits Navrang, Khilona, Roti, Umar Qaid, Rani Aur Lalpari,Naya Bakra, Anokha Bandhan, Begunaah and Om Shanti Om) as the lead hero from 1964-1997, off the 198 films he appeared till 2007 as lead hero.He appeared in guest appearance in 26 other movies from 1959 to 2007 and 2 more films in supporting role after 2000. Jeetendra was 2nd highest paid Hindi actor from 1980-89. He made a guest appearance in a TV serial 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki'.Hence his total film appearances were in 226 films and 121 of them were box office hits and 102 were flops.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Jaspal Bhatti, the most popular social satirist in India, graduated from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh in North India, as an electrical engineer. He was famous for his street plays like his My Nonsense Club during his college days. Most of these plays were spoof ridiculing the corruption in the society. Before venturing out in to television, he was a cartoonist for the Tribune newspaper in Chandigarh.
His big break on the TV came when he acted in, and directed the immensely popular TV series like "Ulta Pulta" and "Flop Show" for Doordarshan television network. What attracted audience to his shows was his gift of inducing humour to highlight every day issues of middle class in India. Bhatti's satire on Punjab police called _Mahaul Teek Hai (1999)_ was his first directorial venture for a full length feature film in his native Punjabi language. The movie created controversy when some demanded a ban on it, saying it maligned the police force by depicting its officers as drunkard, and corrupt. The movie was however well received amongst audience for its simple and honest humour.
The cartoonist, humorist, actor and the filmmaker is now a days focusing on acting as he is getting numerous offers from Bollywood producers as a comedian.- Actor
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
John Prakash Rao "Johny Lever" Janumala was born on August 14, 1957 in Kanigiri, Andhra Pradesh and was brought up in Mumbai's King's Circle area (Dharavi). He is an Indian actor and comedian in Bollywood. His mother tongue is Telugu. Lever studied in Andhra Telugu School till the seventh grade but couldn't study further because of financial problems in his family, after which he decided to leave school and started working different kinds of odd jobs, such as selling pens on the streets of Bombay (present-day Mumbai) by imitating Bollywood stars and dancing to the songs of Bollywood stars. He also spent his early ages in Yakutpura a old city of Hyderabad from where he learnt the unique style of comedy acting. He developed a passion for mimicry and stand-up comedy, inspired by watching comedians like Johnny Walker, Kishore Kumar and Mehmood in films and mimicry artists like Dinesh Hingoo and Nerella Venumadhav on stage, and thus decided to be a mimicry artist. To seek guidance and help regarding mimicry, he met his mentor Pratap Jani and mimicry artist Ram Kumar, who helped him and taught him the basics of mimicry. Lever was also employed in Hindustan Lever's factory in Mumbai with his father. While working, he entertained his co-workers in the factory by imitating Elvis Presley. At one of the functions at his factory he was asked to perform and show his talent. His popularity among coworkers and officers of the factory by his performance earned him his professional name. He started to perform in musical shows (orchestras) and after earning fame, joined the group of Kalyanji-Anandji, a legendary music direction duo. He did a lot of shows and world tours with them, one of his first big tours being with Amitabh Bachchan in 1982. Since he became an instant hit at orchestras and was unable to find time, another comedian who substituted him by the name of Johnny Fever evolved. However, Fever's fame was short-lived as Raju Srivastav came to Mumbai during the same time and started filling gaps of Lever at orchestras. During this period he learned a lot from his mentor Kalyanji, who was described by Lever as a great philosopher and a very humorous person. At one of his shows, actor Sunil Dutt noticed his talent and potential and offered him his first movie Dard Ka Rishta. In the 1980s, he released his mimicry/comedy album, Hansee Ke Hungame, which became a hit in India and the world over, increasing his fame to another level. During this time period, he also did few commercials for Kachua chhap incense, directed by Shekhar Kapoor. In 1986, he performed in a charity show called "Hope 86", in front of the whole Hindi film industry as a filler and was loved by audience. His talent was recognized, which resulted in producer Gul Anand offering him a film called Jalwa with Naseeruddin Shah. He is considered an influential Indian comedian who has been cited as inspiration by many other comics. He has received 13 Filmfare Awards nominations in Best Comedian Category, and has won the award twice.- Actor
- Writer
Jaswinder Bhalla was born on 4 May 1960 in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He is an actor and writer, known for Carry on Jatta (2012), Rangeelay (2013) and Jatt Boys Putt Jattan De (2013).- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
Kamal Haasan was born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He debuted as a child artiste in the film "Kalathoor Kannamma" (1960). Since then, he has starred in nearly 220 films in the major Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been a part of the film industry for 60 years, as of 2020. His journey in cinema has seen him do various roles - from child artiste, to romantic lead to one of the most respected and revered heroes of the film industry today.
He has famously said that he is a reluctant actor. He has an avid interest in every aspect of film making and is known for his work as a choreographer, director, and writer, as well.
He wrote his first script at age 18 for the film "Unarchigal" (1976), which was then followed by films that have gone on to become cult classics - Rajapaarvai (1981), Sathya (1988), Apoorva Sahotharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Mahanadi (1994), Kurudhippunal (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Pammal K Sambandam (2002), Panchathanthiram (2002), Anbe Sivam (2003), are a few of the films etched in popular memory for having set the bar for craftsmanship in the fields of screenplay, script, and dialogue.
He is also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction in Tamil and his published work is testament to his constant exploration of structure and form.
Kamal Haasan's strong convictions in his art have led to some of Indian cinema's most path-breaking films like Pushpak / Pushpaka Vimaanam / Pesum Padam (1987). Kamal Haasan also worked as a choreographer while transitioning as a well-known child artiste to the lead actor in a feature length film. Some of his best-known work as a dancer can be seen in Saagara Sangamam (1983) and the popular hit Punnagai Mannan (1986).
Kamal Haasan is also a student of Carnatic music, studying under musical maestro Dr. Balamuralikrishna. One of his biggest hits as a playback singer was the song "Inji Iduppazhagi" for the film Thevar Magan.
His career as a director began with the film Chachi 420 (1997), the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmugi. Since then he has called the shots for critically acclaimed films like "Hey Ram" and "Virumaandi".
He has never hesitated to state his opinions and encourage debate about topics that are socially relevant. He is a rationalist in thought and moderate in opinion and a humanist in philosophy. The need to be socially conscious is seen in the way his fan clubs have revamped themselves into entities that carry out charity and volunteer work.- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Kangana was born on 23 March 1987 in Bhambla, near Manali, which is in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Her dad Amardeep is a businessman and her mom Asha is a schoolteacher. She has two sisters and a younger brother. Her grandfather was an IAS Office. She spent her childhood in Dehra Dunand studied in DAV's High School, where she participated in many debates and elocutions and also played basketball.
After completing her schooling, she attended Science College in Simla. She was enrolled in the Elite School of Modeling and also tried theater acting in Delhi and was a member of the Smita Theater Group under Arvind Gaur. She is also a trained Kathak dancer.
She decided to relocate to Bombay and lived in a flat in Yari Road, Versova. In September 2005 she was spotted drinking coffee in a cafe by filmmaker Anurag Basu, who approached her and eventually signed her for a lead role in Gangster (2006).
Since then, Kangana Ranaut has won 4 National Awards for her performance in _Fashion (2008)_qv, _Queen (2014)_qv, and _Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015)_qv. Manikarnika(2019) Panga (2019).- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Konkona Sen Sharma is an awarding winning actress and the daughter of the celebrated actress and director Aparna Sen. Konkona is regarded as one of the most respected actresses in Bollywood with her memorable performances right from Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002) to Page 3 (2005), from Omkara (2006) to Life in a Metro (2007). Her singularly exquisite portrayal of a struggling actress in the undisputed hit Luck by Chance (2009) opposite Farhan Akhtar has also established her commercial success. Praising her performance in the film, noted film Critic Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India wrote, "The highpoint of the film are its performances, Konkona is a complete natural before the camera".- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Kader Khan was an Indian actor, comedian, and screenwriter who worked in Hindi cinema. Khan's family migrated from Afghanistan to Mumbai, India, in 1942, and was raised in the neighbourhood of Kamathipura, Mumbai.
He completed his education at Ismail Yusuf College in Mumbai, earning a Master's degree in Civil Engineering (M.Tech). However, his passion for writing and acting led him to pursue a career in the film industry.
Kader Khan debuted in the film industry as a writer with the film Jawani Diwani (1972) in 1972. However, his first film as an actor was Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), starring Rajesh Khanna in the lead role.
He went on to write dialogues for numerous successful films in the 1970s and 1980s, including Sholay (1975), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Naseeb (1981), and Coolie (1983).
Khan has acted in over 300 films and appeared in supporting roles in some of Bollywood's biggest hits, such as Sharaabi (1984), Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1990), Agneepath (1990), Hum (1991), and Khuda Gawah (1992).
Some of his notable performances as an actor include Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Taqdeerwala (1995), and Judwaa (1997). He also worked in television serials such as Hasna Mat (2001) and Khuda Gawah (1992).
Kader Khan was also a prolific screenwriter and wrote scripts for films like Dharam Veer (1977), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Laawaris (1981), and Geraftaar (1985). He also wrote and produced the film Shama (1981), which was released in 1981.
Some of Kader Khan's most memorable performances were in comedies, where he was known for his impeccable comic timing. He worked with some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar.
Kader Khan's last appearance was in the 2019 Rangeela Raja film Rangeela Raja (2019). He passed away on December 31, 2018, at 81.
Kader Khan was awarded numerous awards for his contributions to the Indian film industry. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue twice for Meri Aawaz Suno (1981) and Angaar (1992). He also received the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1990).
In addition, he was honoured with the Padma Shri award, one of India's highest civilian honours, in 2019, which was posthumously awarded to him.- Kay Kay Menon is a well-known Indian actor who has acted in numerous movies and web series. He was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, but raised in Ambarnath, Maharashtra, India.
Menon pursued his early education at St Joseph High School in Pune. After this, he went on to earn a degree in Physics from Mumbai University.
He then pursued an MBA from the University of Pune. After completing his education, he joined the advertising industry.
Menon began his acting career with a theatre break opposite Naseeruddin Shah in Mahatma vs Gandhi. After that, he started working in the TV industry with the television serial Darr (1995).
His debut movie was Naseem (1995) in 1995, but he got recognition for his role in the critically acclaimed movie Bhopal Express (1999) in 1999.
He has acted in numerous movies, including Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), Black Friday (2004), Sarkar (2005), Corporate (2006), Life in a Metro (2007), ABCD (Any Body Can Dance) (2013), Ankur Arora Murder Case (2013), Haider (2014) and The Ghazi Attack (2017).
He is also known for his role in the Hotstar web series Special OPS (2020) and Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story (2021), where he played the role of RAW officer Himmat Singh.
He has played the role of Mansoor Dalal in the web series, Farzi (2023).
Some of his best performances are in the movies Black Friday (2004), where he played the role of DCP Rakesh Maria, Sarkar (2005), where he played the role of Vishnu Nagre, Gulaal (2009) where Menon played the role of Dukey Bana, and Haider (2014), where he played the role of Khurram Meer.
Kay Kay Menon has received several awards and nominations for his performances in movies and web series. He was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role for his role in Sarkar (2005).
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and the IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role for his role in Haider (2014). - Actress
- Soundtrack
Kajol Devgn is a well-known Bollywood actress known for her exceptional performances on screen. She attended St. Joseph's Convent School in Panchgani and was actively involved in extra-curricular activities such as dancing. In her early teens, Kajol was supposed to make her debut as an actress in a movie directed by her mother, Tanuja, but the project was cancelled. She eventually made her acting debut at the age of sixteen with the film Bekhudi (1992), while still in school. Later, she quit school to pursue a full-time career in the film industry.
She made her debut with Rahul Rawail's Bekhudi (1992) in 1992. Her film career flourished with commercial successes like Baazigar (1993), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), which established her as a leading star in the 1990s. She was appreciated critically for her role in Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997) and as an avenger in Dushman (1998). Another blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) won her multiple awards, after which she took a break. She returned to the industry after a brief period with the romantic thriller Fanaa (2006).
She was cast in My Name Is Khan (2010) in 2010 opposite Shah Rukh Khan - it was widely appreciated by critics worldwide. Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan became the first Indian actors to be invited by NASDAQ to open the NYSE American to promote My Name Is Khan (2010). She was also appreciated for her performance in Dilwale (2015) - it also featured other renowned stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, and Kriti Sanon. She was also cast in the period film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020) in 2020.
She also appeared in the social drama Tribhanga (2021), her first collaboration with Netflix.
She holds a managerial position at Devgn Entertainment and Software Ltd., And as the supervisor, she launched the filmmaking-related portal Cineexplore in 2000. Devgn established another company, Ajay Devgn Films, in 2009.
She appeared with Ajay Devgn, and her mother Tanuja as the supervisor in Zee TV's 2008 reality show Rock-N-Roll Family. She was named a part-time public broadcaster Prasar Bharati member in 2016.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis honored her with the Swabhimani Mumbaikar Awards. She was also included on Forbes India's "Celebrity 100", a list based on the income and popularity of India's celebrities, in 2012, 2013, and 2017.
She has won 23 awards, including 6 Filmfare Awards, 5 Screen Awards, 4 Zee Cine Awards, 1 Stardust Award and 1 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award, and one Bollywood Movie Award till the year 2021. She was also honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Award for her contribution to Indian cinema in 2002. Kajol was listed in the Box Office India's "Top Actresses" for five consecutive years (1995-1999), topping the list in 1998.
In 2001 and 2006, she was featured in Rediff annual "Top Bollywood Actresses" listing. And in 2007, she received Karamveer Puraskar, presented by the Mumbai Pradesh Young Congress, for her social work in helping educate unprivileged children.
During the shooting of Gundaraj in 1994, Kajol and Ajay Devgn started dating. They eventually tied the knot on 24th February 1999 in a traditional Maharashtrian wedding ceremony held at Devgn's residence.- Kulbhushan Kharbanda, born in Hasan Abdal, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan), is a highly acclaimed Indian actor who has left an indelible mark on both mainstream Bollywood and parallel cinema. Known for his versatility and ability to portray a wide range of characters, Kulbhushan Kharbanda is regarded as one of the finest actors in the Indian film industry.
Kulbhushan Kharbanda began his acting career in the theater, honing his skills before transitioning to films. He made his mark in Bollywood with Shyam Benegal's critically acclaimed film "Nishant" (1975). The film marked the beginning of Kharbanda's association with parallel cinema, where he often collaborated with directors who focused on socially relevant and thought-provoking themes.
One of his most memorable performances came in the iconic film "Shatranj Ke Khilari" (1977), directed by Satyajit Ray. In the film, based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, Kharbanda played the role of Mir Roshan Ali, showcasing his ability to bring depth to historical characters.
Kulbhushan Kharbanda continued to deliver stellar performances in films like "Junoon" (1978), "Kalyug" (1981), and "Aghaat" (1985). His association with directors like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, and Gulzar highlighted his commitment to meaningful and impactful storytelling.
Apart from parallel cinema, Kharbanda also made a mark in mainstream Bollywood with films like "Muqaddar Ka Sikandar" (1978), "Shaan" (1980), and "Ram Lakhan" (1989). He portrayed a variety of roles, including memorable negative characters, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Kulbhushan Kharbanda's talent and dedication to his craft extended beyond Hindi cinema, as he also worked in Punjabi, Kannada, and other regional films. He is recognized for his contribution to Indian cinema and has received accolades for his performances.
In addition to his film career, Kulbhushan Kharbanda has been associated with theater and television, contributing to various facets of the entertainment industry. His distinctive voice, commanding screen presence, and ability to immerse himself in diverse characters have made him a respected and admired figure in Indian cinema. - Actress
- Writer
Kalki Koechlin was born to French parents in a small village in Pondicherry. Her parents had come to India as hippies in the 1970s and settled there after they fell in love with the country. Her parents are devotees of Sri Aurobindo.
Kalki was studying in Ooty when her parents insisted that she attend university. She studied drama and theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she also worked with a theater company called Theatre of Relativity for two years. She performed in various plays, including David Hare's "The Blue Room," Marivaux's "The Dispute," and a devised play called "The Rise of the Wild Hunt" during her two-year stint with the theater group.
Kalki later decided to move to Mumbai to try her luck in Indian cinema. She was doing modeling assignments for television commercials before being shortlisted for the role of Chandramukhi (Chanda) in Dev.D (2009). Kalki, who can speak Tamil, English, and French, had to learn Hindi to prepare for her role in Dev.D (2009). She was apprehensive about how people would judge her after seeing her in the role.
She won The Hindu's 2009 MetroPlus Playwright Award, along with Prashant Prakash, for their co-authored entry "Skeleton Woman." Kalki also acted in the play "Hair" directed by Ajay Krishnan.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Kapil Sharma is an Indian stand-up comedian, TV anchor and singer.He was selected among top 100 celebrities in 2013 Forbes India magazines and he was ranked 96th in that list. Currently he hosts The Kapil Sharma Show.[2] He also hosted television comedy shows like Comedy Nights with Kapil, The Kapil Sharma Show, Family Time with Kapil, Chhote Miyan and Jhalak Dikhla Jaa season 6 on Colors. In 2009, he joined the comedy reality show Hans Baliye as a wild card entry.He also won comedy series Comedy Circus Ke Superstars.At CNN-IBN Indian of the Year awards, Sharma was felicitated with Entertainer of the Year award for 2013 by Amol Palekar.In 2014 Lok Sabha Election, he was declared the Brand Ambassador by Delhi election commission.He was to make his film debut with Yashraj film's Bank Chor, but the comedian opted out of it.He is going feature as a first guest on the opening episode of the famous Indian television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 8 on the 2nd of August.
Television The Great Indian Laughter Challenge as Contestant Comedy Circus as Contestant Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 6 as host with Manish Paul Star Ya Rockstar as Contestant Comedy Nights with Kapil as host Kaun Banega Crorepati as guest.- Actor
- Producer
Krishna Abhishek, born as Abhishek Sharma in Mumbai, India, is a versatile Indian actor, comedian, and television personality. He is a prominent figure in the Indian entertainment industry, known for his contributions to both Bollywood and the world of comedy.
Krishna Abhishek is a member of the renowned Kapoor family in Bollywood, being the nephew of the iconic actor Govinda. He made his acting debut in the film "Yeh Kaisi Mohabbat Hai" (2002), but it was his foray into comedy that gained him widespread recognition.
One of Krishna Abhishek's career-defining moments was his association with the comedy show "Comedy Circus." His comedic timing, witty improvisation, and the ability to create humorous characters made him a popular figure among audiences. His pairing with comedian Sudesh Lehri became particularly famous, and the duo went on to win hearts with their hilarious performances on the show.
Apart from his success in the television comedy genre, Krishna Abhishek has been an integral part of various Bollywood films. He has showcased his acting skills in movies like "Bol Bachchan" (2012), where he played a supporting role alongside Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan. His knack for comedy and entertaining performances has made him a sought-after actor in the industry.
Krishna Abhishek has also been a participant in reality shows such as "Bigg Boss" and "Nach Baliye," where he not only showcased his dancing abilities but also revealed more facets of his personality to the audience.
In addition to his work on screen, Krishna Abhishek has continued to perform on various comedy shows, live events, and stage performances, ensuring his presence remains prominent in the comedy circuit.
Krishna Abhishek continues to be an active and popular figure in the Indian entertainment industry, with audiences enjoying his comedy performances on both television and the big screen. P- Karuna Bannerjee, born in India, was a talented Indian actress celebrated for her remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of the iconic character "Apu's mother" in Satyajit Ray's critically acclaimed film "Pather Panchali" (1955), the first installment of the renowned Apu Trilogy.
Karuna Bannerjee's performance as Sarbajaya, the mother in "Pather Panchali," was hailed for its emotional depth and authenticity. The film, depicting the struggles of a poor Brahmin family in rural Bengal, received international acclaim and established Karuna Bannerjee as a respected figure in the world of cinema.
Her collaboration with Satyajit Ray extended beyond "Pather Panchali" to include the other two films in the Apu Trilogy: "Aparajito" (1956) and "Apur Sansar" (1959). Her portrayal of Sarbajaya continued to resonate with audiences, contributing to the trilogy's enduring legacy.
Karuna Bannerjee's acting career spanned over four decades, and she worked in Bengali as well as Hindi cinema. Her notable films include "Parash Pathar" (1958), directed by Satyajit Ray, and "Mahanagar" (1963), directed by Ray as well. In the latter, she played a pivotal role as Arati's mother, once again showcasing her versatility as an actress.
Despite her impactful contributions to cinema, Karuna Bannerjee remained relatively understated and focused on her craft. Her ability to convey a range of emotions with subtlety and realism earned her admiration from both audiences and critics alike.
Karuna Bannerjee passed away on November 13, 2001, leaving behind a legacy of powerful performances and significant contributions to the world of Indian cinema. Her work, particularly in the Apu Trilogy, continues to be celebrated, and she is remembered as one of the distinguished actresses of her era. - Kanwaljeet Singh was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is known for Bang Bang (2014), Raazi (2018) and Rustom (2016). He is married to Anuradha Patel.
- Actress
- Producer
It is not a secret that Lara Dutta is a beauty with brains. This was demonstrated when she scored the highest possible marks in the history of the Miss Universe Contest. After this she was crowned Miss Universe 2000, making history as not only the most beautiful but also the most intelligent young woman to wear this crown in the history of Miss Universe.
Lara was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, on April 16, 1978. Her dad is retired Wing Commander L.K. Dutta and her mother is Jennifer Dutta. Lara has two sisters, one of whom serves in the Indian Air Force, and is the cousin of Nitin Sawhney.
In 1981 the Dutta family re-located to Bangalore, and she was enrolled in St. Francis Xavier Girls' High School where she studied till her 10th Standard, and later did her First Year and Second Year Junior College at the Frank Anthony Public School. After graduating from school, she then went on to earn a degree in Economics from Bombay University. She is fluent in both Hindi and English.
In 1997 Lara enrolled and subsequently won the Miss Gladrags competition, leading her to represent India at the Miss Intercontinental, and thereafter being crowned Miss Universe in 2000 in Cyprus, making her the second Indian to win this prestigious award.
After completing her Miss Universe commitments, she received several offers from Bollywood movie makers, and starred in Andaaz in 2003, which won her considerable recognition, and she subsequently won the best female debut award from Femina.
Thereafter, most of her movies failed to make a mark at the box office, however, she did become popular and a household name. Some of the movies she is remembered for are 'Masti', 'No Entry, 'Kaal', 'Partner', Hey Baby' amongst others.
She is also known for her sense of humor, and a talent for writing. She has now announced that she will writing scripts, and hopes that one day someone from Bollywood will make flicks out of them.- Manjot Singh is an Indian born actor whose portrayal of young Lucky in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008) made him accepted as dynamic sardar actor in Bollywood. Manjot had never acted before getting this first break. Manjot comes from a well educated Sikh family.
- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
Manu Rishi Chadha, one of the finest artists in our industry was born and raised in Delhi. His only dream was to become an actor and hence to hone his skills, he quit college to pursue theatre.
He gave 10 years to theatre and eventually decided to move to Mumbai to give a bigger platform to his acting dreams. After a few attempts at acting which proved his mettle, but unfortunately did not give him many opportunities to put him in the big league of actors in the industry, he decided to quit acting and give his all to writing.
He wrote Oye Lucky Lucky Oye which turned out to be a blockbuster. It not only won him recognition and acceptance in the industry as a fine actor but also won him his first Filmfare award, IIFA and numerous other prestigious awards.
Juggling between acting and writing, he gave many successful films as a writer and some more as an actor like Phas Gaye Re Obama, Kya Dilli Kya Lahore, 21 Topon ki Salaami, Ek Deewana Tha, What The Fish, Life ki toh Lag Gayi, Aankhon Dekhi, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, etc.
Now he's back as an actor. Watch out for him playing a primary character in a Web Series called Inside Edge for Amazon Prime directed By Karan Anshuman and produced by Excel Films.- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Mehmood, born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, was a legendary Indian actor, comedian, and filmmaker who left an indelible mark on Bollywood. Known for his impeccable comic timing, versatile performances, and unique ability to bring laughter to audiences, Mehmood remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of Indian cinema.
Mehmood started his career as a child artist in the film "Kismet" (1943). He began to gain recognition as a comedian with his work in films like "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953) and "Parvarish" (1958). His breakthrough, however, came with the film "Chhoti Bahen" (1959), where his portrayal of a South Indian character named Master Pillai garnered widespread appreciation.
As an actor, Mehmood displayed remarkable versatility by successfully transitioning between comedic and serious roles. He excelled in both character roles and as the lead actor in films such as "Kunwara Baap" (1974) and "Duniya" (1968). His performances were characterized by a unique blend of humor, emotion, and a keen understanding of the characters he portrayed.
Mehmood's contribution to comedy in Indian cinema is particularly noteworthy. He played pivotal roles in classic comedies like "Padosan" (1968), where his portrayal of the eccentric South Indian musician Master Pillai became iconic. His collaboration with Kishore Kumar and Sunil Dutt in "Padosan" remains etched in Bollywood history.
Apart from acting, Mehmood also ventured into filmmaking and direction. He directed films like "Bhoot Bangla" (1965) and "Kunwara Baap" (1974), showcasing his versatility and creativity behind the camera.
Mehmood's career spanned several decades, and he received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. His legacy endures not only through his performances but also through the influence he had on subsequent generations of comedians and actors.
Mehmood passed away on July 23, 2004, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in Indian cinema. His timeless contributions to comedy and entertainment continue to be celebrated, and he remains an enduring symbol of laughter and joy in Bollywood history.- Mukesh Tiwari, born in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India, is a versatile Indian actor known for his impactful performances in Bollywood films. With a career spanning several years, Mukesh Tiwari has established himself as a talented actor capable of portraying diverse characters.
Mukesh Tiwari made his acting debut in Bollywood in the late 1990s and gradually gained recognition for his strong screen presence and ability to excel in both positive and negative roles. He is often remembered for his powerful performances in supporting characters that leave a lasting impact on the audience.
One of his notable early roles came in the film "China Gate" (1998), directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film, which featured an ensemble cast, showcased Mukesh Tiwari's ability to hold his own among established actors and earned him praise for his performance.
Mukesh Tiwari has been a part of several successful films, including "Gangaajal" (2003), directed by Prakash Jha, where he played the role of a corrupt police officer. His portrayal of negative characters, often with shades of gray, has garnered attention and added depth to the films in which he appears.
In addition to his work in Bollywood, Mukesh Tiwari has ventured into regional cinema and television. He has been associated with various projects in different languages, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Apart from his acting career, Mukesh Tiwari has been actively involved in social and cultural activities. He has been part of initiatives aimed at promoting education and welfare.
Mukesh Tiwari continues to be active in the entertainment industry, contributing to various projects across different mediums. - Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Malayalam film actor Mammootty was born to Ismail (an agriculturist) and Fatima (a homemaker). He has two younger brothers Ibrahim and Zakariah; and three sisters, Ameena, Sauda and Shafina. He did his schooling in St.Joseph's Thevara, Maharaja's College and then studied law at Ernakulam Government Law College. It was during his days at Maharajah's that he got his first role as an extra (junior artist) in Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971. Along with Mohanlal, he is a top star in the Malayalam film industry of South India.- Actor
- Script and Continuity Department
- Writer
Makrand Deshpande was born in Dahanu, Maharashtra, India. He is known for his work on Hanan (2004), Company (2002), Danav (2003), Swades (2004), Sarfarosh (1999), Satya (1998), Darna Zaroori Hai (2006), Chameli (2003), Market (2003), and Jungle (2000). His contribution to the theatre industry includes over 50 short plays and 40 full-length plays, including Sir Sir Sirla, Joke, Maa In Transit, Krishna Kidding and Shakepearcha Mhatara.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Ranganathan Madhavan was born on June 01, 1970, to businessman R. Iyengar and his wife R. Saroja in a Tamil family. He is an Indian actor, writer, film director and producer.
At the age of 18, his college entrusted him with the responsibility of representing India as a Cultural Ambassador to Canada.
A year later, he and three others from his college were sent to Britain as army cadets and received training in the royal army, navy, and Air Force.
While conducting courses on public speaking, he met Saritha, an Air Hostess and both got married 7 years later. Their first child, a son, Vedaant, was born in 2005.
A vegetarian and animal lover, he is a brand ambassador for PETA. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Tamil.
Before making his appearance on the tinsel screen, he was popular on the idiot box on Sony's Deal Ya No Deal (2005). Having done close to 1800 episodes of various soaps on varied National Networks, he subsequently also appeared as the main character in a mobile game.
He made his debut with Inferno (1997) in 1998, and since then acted in nearly 48 movies in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada. He is popularly known as the 'chocolate hero', and his most popular film is 3 Idiots (2009) where he starred opposite Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Mohanlal was born to Viswanathan Nair (father) and Santhakumari (mother) in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, which is located in the southern part of India on the 21st May 1960. Starting his career with a classic villain role, he has now become an outstanding actor in Malayalam Cinema. Without a doubt, Mohanlal is today's one of the best actors India has ever produced. He is also rated as one of the most talented actors in India. His ranges of movies are enviable, his comedy roles are incomparable and his unique style of dialogue delivery is effortless. Not many actors can portray both comedy and serious roles with the same ease. And with all these rare talents he has received "Padma Shri" and "Padma Bhushan", the nation's highest civilian honors. He has also won 5 National Film Awards, including Best Actor twice for Bharatham (1991) and the highly acclaimed Vaanaprastham (1999), as well as numerous other awards and honors.
He has reached this position with his hard work and devotion to the movie industry. As far as his acting is concerned, it's been acknowledged many times that he's the most gifted actor in the Indian movie field.- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Mita Vashisht is an Indian television, film and theater actress, who graduated from National School of Drama, New Delhi in 1987.
She was born in Pune, Maharashtra, India to Rajeshwar Dutt Vasisht, a retired Colonel in the Indian Army and Meenakshi Mehta Vasisht, a teacher and musician.
She had her post-graduate in literature from Punjab University, Chandigarh before graduating from the National School of Drama (New Delhi).
She has worked in off-beat cinema as well as in commercial roles. She has worked in theater and has written scripts as well. Since 2004, she has performed her solo play in English and Hindi, titled, 'Lal Ded', based on life of medieval Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded{Lalleshwari(1320-1392)}.
She has written and produced three short films, as well as a serial. She has worked as an executive producer on the award winning film 'The name of a River'.
In June 2001, Vashisht established Mandala, space for arts collaborations research and education.She is also visiting faculty to some of the premier design, film and theater institutes of India.Apart from acting,she is also actively involved in social and humanitarian work.
She currently plays the role of the uptight principal on the hit show 'Suvreen Guggal'(an Indian TV drama series).- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Manoj Bajpayee is a highly acclaimed Indian film actor known for his versatile acting skills and intense performances. Despite facing financial struggles during his childhood, he pursued his passion for acting and worked hard to achieve success in the film industry. Bajpayee is the second child in a family of six siblings, with two brothers and two sisters.Bajpayee decided to become an actor after watching the 1973 film Zanjeer (1973). He began his acting career with small roles in plays and television shows. He made his acting debut in the film Droh Kaal (1994) in 1994. He also played a minor role as a dacoit in Bandit Queen (1994) the same year. Bajpayee gained recognition for his performance in the film Satya (1998) in 1998. Although considered a flop at first, this film won him critical acclaim and established him as a celebrated actor in Indian cinema. Since then, he has acted in numerous successful films and has become known for his ability to portray complex, grey, and challenging characters. He is well-known for his ability to deliver powerful performances in a variety of genres and roles, ranging from gangsters to cops to journalists. Bajpayee has a diverse filmography that includes both mainstream and independent films. His filmography includes many notable films, including Satya (1998), Shool (1999), Pinjar (2003), Special 26 (2013), Aligarh (2015), and Sonchiriya (2019). The actor was also part of the popular web series The Family Man (2019). Some of his other top works include Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), LOC: Kargil (2003), Raajneeti (2010), Satyameva Jayate (2018), and Shootout at Wadala (2013), among others. Bajpayee has also been seen in Despatch and Joram (2023). He has also been a part of Gulmohar (2023), directed by Rahul V. Chittella. The story is based on complex, dysfunctional family life. Throughout his career, Bajpayee has been recognized for his talent and has received numerous awards and nominations. He has won three National Film Awards - Best Supporting Actor for Satya in 1999, Special Jury Award (Feature Film) for Pinjar in 2004, and Best Actor for Bhonsle (2018) in 2021.He has also won four Filmfare Awards, two under the category of Best Actor (Critics) for the films Satya, Shool, and Aligarh in 1999, 2000, and 2017 respectively, and one under the category of Best Actor in a Short Film?? for Taandav (2016?) in 2017.In 2019, Bajpayee was awarded the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth-highest civilian honour. In addition to his work in the film industry, Bajpayee is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He is actively involved in various social and charitable causes, including education and healthcare. He is also a strong advocate for environmental protection. He has also voiced his concerns about the state of migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bajpayee married Shabana Raza in 2006. They met in 1998 at a Bollywood party when the latter debuted with the film Kareeb (1998) opposite Bobby Deol. They have a daughter, Ava Nayla.- Manoj Joshi is an India film and television actor. Joshi began his career in Marathi theatre, also putting up performances in Gujarati and Hindi theatre. He has also acted in over 60 films since 1998, many of his roles being comedic. His earliest well known serials include Chanakya, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Rau (Marathi), Sangdil, Kabhi Souten Kabhi Saheli, Khichdi (Occasional), Mura Raska Mai La (Marathi). This was followed by film roles in Sarfarosh (SI Bajju) alongside his brother who played the well known Bala Thakur in the film. Joshi's break came as a comedian in the priyadarshan flick Hungama which was followed by Hulchul, Dhoom, Bhagam Bhag, Phir Hera Pheri, Chup Chup Ke, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Billo Barber. Manoj Joshi is also in the Star Plus series Gulaal. His father is Navneet Joshi, and his younger brother was late actor Rajesh Joshi (d. 1998). Manoj Joshi hails from Adapodara Village, Near from Himatnagar City, District Sabarkantha, Gujarat.
- Actress
- Music Department
- Producer
Madhuri Dixit is one of the most acclaimed actors and Kathak dancers Bollywood have ever witnessed. Born in a Marathi Brahmin Koknastha family to Mr. Shankar and Mrs. Snehlata, Madhuri Dixit has two sisters Rupa, Bharti, and brother Ajit. She performed decently well in her academics and aspired to become a Microbiologist which made her pursue the subject from Mumbai's Sathaye College, formerly known as Parle College; but within six months she opted out from college to pursue her career in Bollywood. Though she debuted with 'Abodh' in 1984, it's with 'Tezaab' (1988), a romantic thriller caste opposite Anil Kapoor, where she started garnering fame and popularity. She earned her first nomination of Filmfare Best Actress with this movie and it was also the highest grossing film in that year. Her performance in 'Ek Do Tin' made every heart groove to the beats of the song. During this time, Madhuri also got featured on Debonair and she was also featured as the cover girl on 1986 Filmfare edition. Since then she has graced more than 72 movies with her stupendous performances.
After 'Tejaab', Madhuri Dixit once again was paired with Anil Kapoor for Subhash Ghai's 'Ram Lakhan'(1989) which went on to be a super hit and the second highest grossing movie of the year. In her next 'Prem Pratigya' she received critical acclamation for her performance and earned her second nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. Dixit continued her success with her fourth pairing with Anil Kapoor in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's drama 'Parinda'. In 1990, Madhuri starred in the romantic drama 'Dil' opposite Aamir Khan. The film became the biggest box office hit of the year and made her one of the leading actresses of Bollywood. Her performance in 'Dil' also earned her the first Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career. She was also seen in the dramas 'Sailaab' opposite Aditya Pancholi and 'Kishen Kanhaiya' opposite Anil Kapoor. The following year in 1991, she starred in the super-hit movie 'Saajan' opposite Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt which also earned her the fourth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. In 1992, Dixit featured in the film 'Beta' once again opposite Anil Kapoor which won her the second Filmfare Best Actress Award. Following the film's success, Dixit became famously known as the "Dhak Dhak Girl" for her performance on the song "Dhak Dhak Karne Laga".
In 1993, Dixit starred in the super-hit film 'Khalnayak; opposite Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff. Her portrayal of the police officer Ganga earned her critical acclaim and a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award and became the year's second highest grossing film. In 1994, Dixit starred in 'Anjaam', being paired with Shahrukh Khan for the first time. Dixit's performance of a revenge-seeking wife and mother earned her a seventh nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She was praised for her performance, even though the film was an average performer at the box office. Her next was 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' opposite Salman Khan. The film became one of the biggest hits & the highest grossing Bollywood film after its theatrical run and held this record for 7 years till the release of 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' (2001). Madhuri was awarded her third Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film. 1995 witnessed Dixit star in the hit film 'Raja' opposite Sanjay Kapoor. The film became the fourth highest grosser of the year and its success was attributed to her immense popularity. Her next release was David Dhawan's 'Yaraana' opposite Rishi Kapoor, in which she played a dancer on the run from her abusive lover. Both films earned her nominations for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
After a not so successful year in 1996 with films like 'Prem Granth' and 'Rajkumar'Madhuri Dixit bounced back with Prakash Jha's 'Mrityudand' in 1997 followed by Yash Chopra's 'Dil to Pagal Hai' (1997), opposite Shahrukh Khan and Karisma Kapoor. Her performance in 'Dil toh Pagal Hai' fetched her the fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award. The film also proved to be a success at the box office. However, her career growth slowed down with films like Wajood (1998) and Aarzoo (1999). In 2000, Madhuri starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Pukar' opposite Anil Kapoor which earned her twelfth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She then played the title character in 'Gaja Gamini' In 2001, Dixit starred in Deepak Shivdasani's love triangle 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke' opposite Ajay Devgan and Preity Zinta, followed by reuniting with Rajkumar Santoshi in the multi-starer 'Lajja' (2001). Dixit was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Lajja. In 2002, Dixit starred in a lead role in the love triangle film 'Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam' opposite Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan. Madhuri Dixit's next release was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance 'Devdas', co-starring Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Devdas was chosen as India's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. Dixit won the Filmfare Best supporting actress award for the film. It turned out to be her last film for a while as she shifted to Denver, U.S.A with her husband Dr. Shriram Madhav Nene, a Cardiovascular Surgeon. She subsequently became a proud mother of two sons (Arin and Ryan) in March 2003 and March 8, 2005, respectively.
In 2006, Dixit returned to India with her family and acted in Anil Mehta's dance film 'Aaja Nachle' (2007). It was her first release in five years and her performance was appreciated by critics and also earned her the nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
In 2008, she was also awarded the prestigious 'Bharat Ratna' for her contribution to Indian cinema by the Government of India. In 2011, Dixit was felicitated with the Filmfare Special Award for completing 25 years in the film industry.
In 2012, she was seen in the comedy 'Dedh Ishqiya' (2014), a sequel to Ishqiya (2010) opposite Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, and Huma Qureshi. The film opened to a positive response from critics who called it "one of the year's most important releases". The film also earned her the fourteenth nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her next release of the year was the debuted director Soumik Sen's 'Gulaab Gang' alongside Juhi Chawla.
Madhuri Dixit made her debut in Marathi cinema both as an actor & Producer in 2018. She played the lead in 'Bucket List' and produced "15th August" which is slated for a Netflix worldwide released in 2019. She has also lent her voice for the Netflix original 'Mowgli'.
In (2019) she was seen reunited with Anil Kapoor after 17years on screen in a comedy, action and adventure movie 'Total Dhamaal' the third sequel of 'Dhamaal' (2007). In the same year, she also a part of Dharma productions 'Kalank' a period drama film directed by Abhishekh Varman starring along with Sanjay Dutt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Alia Bhatt, and Sonakshi Sinha.
Madhuri Dixit is also associated with various philanthropic activities. She is associated with UNICEF since 2014 to advocate the rights of children, prevent child labor and child trafficking. She was appointed as the brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign by the Government of India in 2015 that aspires to create awareness and upgrade the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.
Dixit made her first appearance on television as a host for India's first reality show Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai on Sony TV followed by Jhalak Dikhla Ja & Dance Deewane.- Actor
- Music Department
Mohnish Behl, born in Mumbai, India, is a seasoned Indian actor known for his versatile performances in Bollywood films and television. He hails from a family with deep roots in the Indian film industry, as his mother, Nutan, was a legendary actress, and his father, Rajnish Behl, was a Lieutenant Commander in the Indian Navy.
Mohnish Behl made his acting debut in Bollywood with the film "Bekaraar" (1983). However, it was his collaboration with director Sooraj Barjatya in films like "Maine Pyar Kiya" (1989), where he played the role of Salman Khan's elder brother, that brought him widespread recognition. Mohnish's portrayal of the caring and responsible elder sibling resonated with audiences, establishing him as a reliable actor in family-oriented films.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Mohnish Behl became a familiar face in both mainstream and parallel cinema. He showcased his acting prowess in various films, including "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" (1994), "Hum Saath-Saath Hain" (1999), and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" (2001). His ability to play diverse characters, from positive and supportive roles to negative and complex ones, earned him acclaim.
In addition to his film career, Mohnish Behl has made significant contributions to Indian television. He gained widespread popularity for his role as Dr. Shashank Gupta in the long-running medical drama series "Dill Mill Gayye" (2007-2010). His portrayal of the wise and compassionate hospital head garnered him praise and a dedicated fan following.
Mohnish Behl has received several awards for his performances, including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Maine Pyar Kiya" (1989). His association with iconic filmmakers and his consistent performances across genres have contributed to his enduring presence in the Indian entertainment industry.
Mohnish Behl remains an esteemed figure in Indian cinema and continues to be active in both films and television.- Actor
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Mithun Chakraborty, whose birth name was Gouranga Chakraborty, is an actor, producer, and politician. He is a former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and has worked in several Hindi and Bengali films.
He studied at Oriental Seminary and then cleared his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from Scottish Church College in Kolkata. Chakraborty graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Chakraborty has appeared in over 350 films, including Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Odia, Kannada, Telugu, and Punjabi movies. He made his acting debut with Mrigayaa (1977). This debut earned him his first National Film Award for Best Actor.
During his early career as an actor, he had minor roles in movies like Do Anjaane (1976) and Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (1978). However, it was the low-budget espionage film Surakksha (1979) that propelled Chakraborty to fame. Additionally, Basu Chatterjee's film Prem Vivah (1979) was also a significant movie for Chakraborty in the late 1970s.
His collaboration with Deepak Bahry in 1979 with Tarana (1979) got him many hit films together in the 1980s, such as Humse Badhkar Kaun: The Entertainer (1998), Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983), and Woh Jo Hasina (1983).
Chakraborty debuted in Bengali cinema with Nadi Theke Sagare (1978), directed by Arabinda Mukhopadhyay. He impacted Hindi cinema in the 1980s with over 110 releases. He played Jimmy in the iconic 1982 film Disco Dancer (1982), which was the first film in India to gross Rs. 100 crores. He played dual roles for the first time in Taxi Chor (1980) and later played dual roles in 19 films.
Between 1990 and 1999, he appeared in over 100 movies and delivered several outstanding and unforgettable performances. Some of his notable works during this period include Agneepath (1990), which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as hits like Shandar (1990) and Trinetra (1991).
He also won two National Film Awards for his role in Tahader Katha (1992) and Vivekananda (1998).
Chakraborty appeared on screen in several blockbusters in the mainstream Hindi film industry from 2000-2019. His film Elaan (2005) received massive appreciation from the audience and his critics. His movie Zor Lagaa Ke... Haiya! (2009) won multiple International awards, and critics appreciated Chal Chalein (2009) for its bold theme.
His next film Phir Kabhi (2008), was critically acclaimed and saw a direct-to-home (DTH) premiere in September 2009. The movie won as many as six awards in as many categories at the Los Angeles Reel Awards of 2009.
The Bhojpuri film, Bhole Shankar (2008) was Chakraborty's debut in the industry and is believed to be the biggest Bhojpuri film. He has played a role in films like Veer (2010) with Salman Khan and Golmaal 3 (2010) with Ajay Devgn. In 2012, he did three films with Akshay Kumar, OMG: Oh My God! (2012), Housefull 2 (2012), and Khiladi 786 (2012).
Chakraborty also made his Kannada debut with The Villain (2018), starring Shivarajkumar and Sudeep. He was also seen in The Kashmir Files (2022). Chakaraborty's web series, Bestseller (2022), was his debut in digital cinema through the OTT platform Amazon Prime.
Chakraborty is the recipient of three National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards, one Screen Award, three BFJA Awards, two Anandalok Awards, one award from Stardust, one Annual Central European Bollywood Award, one Star Jahlsa Award, and one Star Jahlsa Award for his acting performance.
Chakraborty was the brand ambassador of Panasonic electronics in the late 1980s. He is the face of GoDaddy and the Manappuram Gold Loan for West Bengal state.
In 1979, he tied the knot with actress Helena Luke but their marriage lasted only for four months, and they separated, eventually getting a divorce. He then married another actress Yogeeta Bali in the same year. Together, they have four children - Mimoh, Ushmey Chakraborty, Namashi Chakraborty, and an adopted daughter named Dishani Chakraborty.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Mukesh Khanna is well know for playing Bhishma in the Mahabharata series by BR Chopra. Mukesh Khanna was born in 23 June, 1958. When Mukesh Khanna was born, the pandit advised his parents to name him "Govind". They did name him legally "Govind". But was always called "Mukesh" because the family preferred that name more. He is an well known actor. Khanna entered the film industry after graduating from Film and Television Institute of India. He attended the school with fellow Indian actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shakti Kapoor. In 80s Khanna worked in several films but rose to fame with the role of Bhisma Pitamah in B. R. Chopra's epic television series Mahabharat. The BR Chopra Mahabharat won several awards. Mukesh Khanna won the Uptron Award as Best Supporting Actor in 1989 whereas Pankaj Dheer won the Uptron Award for Best Actor in a lead role category for Karna.From 1997 to 2005 he starred as the protagonist in India's first superhero series Shaktimaan which was produced by his own production house Bheeshm International. The show became popular among 90s kid.- Mukul Dev, born in Delhi, India, is a versatile Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films, as well as in television and regional cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, Mukul Dev has showcased his acting prowess across various genres.
Mukul Dev made his acting debut in Bollywood with the film "Dastak" (1996). However, he gained recognition for his impactful performance in the critically acclaimed film "Dastak" (1996), where he played a negative role. His ability to portray intense and multifaceted characters caught the attention of both audiences and filmmakers.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Mukul Dev continued to make his mark in the industry with notable performances in films like "Jungle" (2000), "Yeh Hai Jalwa" (2002), and "Indian" (2001), among others. His versatility allowed him to seamlessly transition between positive and negative roles.
Apart from Bollywood, Mukul Dev has been active in regional cinema, particularly in Punjabi and Bengali films. He has demonstrated his acting skills in various languages, adding to his diverse filmography.
Mukul Dev's contributions also extend to the television industry, where he has been a part of popular shows. He has showcased his talent in both fictional dramas and reality shows, earning him a presence on the small screen.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Mukul Dev has ventured into writing and filmmaking. He has directed and produced projects, showcasing his multifaceted involvement in the creative process.
Mukul Dev continues to be an active and respected figure in the Indian entertainment industry, with audiences appreciating his diverse roles and performances. - Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Arguably the most beautiful artiste to ever grace the Indian screen, Madhubala rose from humble beginnings to become the most captivating star India has ever produced. Madhubala was born Mumtaz Jehan Begum on Valentine's Day 1933, in a poor, conservative family of Pathan Muslims in Delhi, a part of a prolific brood of sisters, and entered the world of films at the tender age of eight. After about five years of playing child roles, Madhubala got her first break in a lead role in Neel Kamal (1947), produced anddirected by her mentor, veteran filmmaker Kidar Sharma. At the age of 14, she played a romantic lead against another fledgling star, Raj Kapoor, and Madhubala had finally arrived on the Indian screen. Over the next two years she had blossomed into a truly rapturous beauty (which earned her the sobriquet of the Venus Of the Indian Screen) and with the movie Mahal (1949), literally overnight, she was a superstar.
It has been often said that her beauty overshadowed her acting talents, which to an extent is true; however this was more due to poor judgement than lack of talent. Being encumbered by a large family to support, and forever living under the domination of an imperious father who, she made several poor choices in movies which seriously undermined her credibility as a serious performer, to the extent of being labelled "box-office poison". However, her more or less dismal repertoire in the 50s was marked by spots of true brilliance - movies like Tarana (1951), Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955) and of course her swansong Mughal-E-Azam (1960) showcased her remarkable talents as a serious artiste across several genres and revealed what this ethereal beauty was truly capable of.
Sadly, she was plagued by a persistent heart disease that confined her to a bed for almost nine torturous years, and eventually claimed her life on February 23 1969, nine days after her 36th birthday. In this short life, she had made over 70 movies, and to this day remains one of the most enduring legends of Indian cinema.- Actress
- Costume Designer
- Music Department
The Empress of Indian Cinema!
A Sweetheart of 1950s, & The Undisputed Goddess of 1960s Bollywood, Meena Kumari bestrode the movies like few women in history have!
Combing enchanting grace, amazingly heart-melting expression, & consistently solid progressive content base, this Giant of Cinema will remain immortal as perhaps the greatest feminine incarnation of filmdom!
Born in 1933 into a poor Parsee theatre family of Ali Bux and actor-dancer Prabhavati Devi (converted to Iqbal Begum) (Prabhavati's mother's first husband till death, incidentally, being the cousin of Rabindranath Tagore, Prabhavati in turn borne of her second husband, a very famous Urdu poet of Meerut, from where she migrated to pursue a career in music) in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, she entered films to support her family in difficult times.
She was six when hired for Leatherface (1939) in 1939 by Vijay Bhatt and named Baby Meena. Later she became Meena Kumari when cast for Bhatt's Baiju Bawra (1952).
She did mythological films with Homi Wadia and then comedies like Miss Mary (1957). She became personified as the archetypal good Hindu wife through many roles, long suffering and always true to the man. She excelled at tragedy and was often shown in a white sari carrying the film with her emotive acting. She was also thought to be the only actress who could sell a film on the strength of her name alone. Her major films are Daaera (1953), Baiju Bawra (1952), 0046164, and of course her most well known film, Pakeezah (1972). She was married to Kamal Amrohi with whom she started making "Pakeezah". They separated in 1964.
She was also an accomplished Urdu writer and had several poems published by Gulzar after her death. She battled alcoholism and loneliness and finally died, alone, in 1972.- Actress
- Music Department
Mala Sinha, born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, is a legendary Indian actress who has left an indelible mark on the Hindi film industry. Known for her grace, versatility, and powerful performances, Mala Sinha became one of the leading actresses during the golden era of Bollywood.
Mala Sinha's journey in the world of cinema began when she won a beauty contest, leading her to a debut in the Bengali film "Roshanara" (1952). She made her mark in Hindi cinema with her first film, "Badshah" (1954). However, it was her performance in "Anpadh" (1962) that brought her widespread recognition and acclaim. Mala Sinha's portrayal of an illiterate woman seeking education showcased her acting prowess and set the stage for a successful career.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mala Sinha delivered stellar performances in a wide range of films, displaying her versatility as an actress. Her notable works include films like "Hariyali Aur Rasta" (1962), "Dhool Ka Phool" (1959), "Gumrah" (1963), and "Himalay Ki God Mein" (1965). She often played characters with depth and emotional complexity, earning her accolades from both audiences and critics.
Mala Sinha's on-screen chemistry with leading actors of her time, including Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and Manoj Kumar, contributed to the success of many films. Her ability to portray various shades of characters, from the romantic heroine to the tragic figure, showcased her range as an actress.
Apart from her acting career, Mala Sinha has been associated with social causes and charity work. Her contribution to Indian cinema was recognized with several awards, including the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mala Sinha's impact on the film industry continued into the 1980s, and even after her gradual withdrawal from the spotlight, she remains a respected figure in the history of Bollywood. Her timeless performances and the legacy she left behind continue to inspire new generations of actors in Indian cinema.- Manoj Pahwa is an Indian actor working predominantly in Hindi film and television. While he made his acting debut in the TV serial Hum Log (1984) in 1985, his career in the entertainment industry took off in the 1990s.
He then appeared in several other TV shows, such as Office Office (2000) and Home Shanti (2022). Since then, he has appeared in over 70 films in a career spanning over two decades.
Apart from TV shows, Pahwa has acted in numerous Bollywood films, ranging from comedies to dramas. He is known for his excellent comic timing and has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. Some of his notable films include Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Jolly LLB (2013), Housefull (2010), [linkl=tt0225515], Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), Singh Is King (2008), Mulk (2018), and Article 15 (2019).
Over the years, Pahwa has won several awards for acting, including the International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Article 15. His role in Mulk (2018) also earned him the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Apart from his acting career, Pahwa is a theatre actor and has worked with renowned theatre groups like the National School of Drama and the Delhi-based theatre group Asmita Theatre. Pahwa has also directed and produced several plays, including Ramleela and local projects of Doordarshan and Mandi House. - Actor
- Writer
- Visual Effects
Manoj Kumar, born Harikrishna Giri Goswami, is an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter best known for his work in Hindi films.
Born in Abbottabad, a small town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan), he and his family shifted to Delhi during the Partition.
Kumar made his film debut with Fashion (1957). He then got his break in Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961), where he acted with Sayeeda Khan.
After acting in Reshmi Rumal (1961) and Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961), Kumar was cast opposite Mala Sinha in Vijay Bhatt's Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962).
He continued to rule the roost with films, including Apna Banake Dekho (1962) and Nakli Nawab (1962).
He also acted in social films, including Grahasti (1963) and Apne Huye Paraye (1964).
In 1964, Kumar appeared in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) with Sadhana Shivdasani. He worked alongside Mala Sinha and Vijay Bhatt again in Himalay Ki Godmein (1965).
Kumar and Khosla built upon their joint success with Do Badan (1966), which became a success. In this film, Kumar was cast opposite Asha Parekh.
His thriller, Gumnaam (1965), was another box office hit, and it was one of the highest-grossing movies that year, earning Rs. 2.6 crores. In the same year, Kumar starred in the film Shaheed (1965), which explored the life of the great freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh.
He also played pivotal roles in classics such as Sawan Ki Ghata (1966) and Patthar Ke Sanam (1967).
In 1967, he forayed into film direction with Upkar (1967), where he starred as a farmer and a soldier. This film won multiple awards at the Filmfare Awards 1968, including Best Story, Best Dialogue, Best Director, and Best Film.
Kumar followed up his success with more films such as Aadmi (1968), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), and Be-Imaan (1972). He also directed and acted in Shor (1972).
Kumar acted in and directed Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) and won the Best Director award at the Filmfare Awards in 1975.
He then went on to appear in more classics, including Sanyasi (1975); Pehchan (1975), wherein he starred opposite Babita Kapoor; and Dus Numbri (1976).
He directed Dilip Kumar, his idol, in the film Kranti (1981), which explored the Indian struggle for Independence.
Post Kranti, Kumar acted in films such as Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987), Clerk (1989), and Maidan-E-Jung (1995). He also directed Kunal Goswami, his son, in Jai Hind (1999).
Kumar was conferred the title of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992. He also received The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for his work spanning four decades; the Bharat Gaurav Award in New Jersey, U.S., in 2012; and The Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016