In the 1950s there were 3 male actors/star who ruled Bollywood and they were Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, all of them had started their career in 1940s but they came of their own in 50s. Now in 1950s there were more actors/stars who started their career in this decade but they came into lime light in 1960s and they were Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shammi Kapoor. All of them reached the height of their career and ruled the 1960s along with other three mentioned above. In today’s blog I am writing about one of them, and he is
RAJENDRA KUMAR
His real name was Rajendra Kumar Tuli, and he was born on 20th July 1929 in Sialkot (now in Punjab province of Pakistan). His father had a textile business in Karachi. During the partition family moved to Bombay. He decided to try his luck in the Bollywood. Initially he never wanted to be hero and took up work with director HS Rawail as an assistant. Later he made his acting debut with a small role in 1950 film Jogan, which had Dilip Kumar & Nargis in the main lead. It was producer/director Devendra Goel gave him a big break as leading man in Vachan in 1955. He got then success with Toofan Aur Diya (1956) and Mother India (1957), where he played the role of Nargis’ son. His first major success as leading romantic hero came with Goonj Uthi Shenai (1959) with Ameeta.
The 1960s saw him rise to stardom. There was time in early 60s when 5 of his films were running simultaneously in Bombay and all of them celebrated Silver Jubilee (25 weeks run in same theatre), that time media gave him the title of ‘Jubilee Kumar’. Some of his famous films of 1960s & 70s were Dhool Ka Phool, Sasural, Gharana, Kanoon, Dil Ek Mandir, Mere Mehboob, Sangam, Aaye Milan Ki Bela, Suraj, Arzoo, Jhuk Gya Aasman, Hum Rahi, Saathi, Zindagi, Talash, Mera Naam Joker, Geet, Lalkar, Dharti etc. By mid 70s his films were not doing well because of Rajesh Khanna, who ruled the early 70s. Later then he switched over to character roles and acted in many films as character artist.
In his personal life he had a special relationship with Sunil Dutt and used to participate in campaigning for him, whenever Sunul Dutt stood for an election. In his acting Rajendra Kumar was greatly inspired by Dilip Kumar and he openly admitted the same. Sunil Dutt quoted as having said “ Even though Rajendra Kumar never won any acting award throughout his career, he was one of the most genuine human beings I have ever encountered. When I was struggling with the troubles related to the arrest of my son Sanjay Dutt and my house was repeatedly being searched by means of numerous police raids, Rajendra Kumar was the one who came to my rescue by staying at my house and ensuring that raids were conducted using due procedures, false evidences were not planted in the house and valuables were not stolen.” Rajendra Kumar was best friends with Raj Kapoor.
In his professional career there was hardly any scandal about him barring one, which was his relationship with his co star Saira Banu. His proximity to Saira Banu had unnerved his wife. He even cut short a holiday abroad to attend Banu’s birthday, only to be greeted by the news next morning that the actress had been engaged to Dilip Kumar. Rajendra Kumar admitted having a soft corner for Saira Banu and Saira Banu’s mother had pleaded with Dilip Kumar to rescue her from the clutches of a ‘married man’. However, RK followed actor Ashok Kumar’s advice that no matter what, ‘have your dinner with your wife every day.’
In his personal life he was married with Shukla and they had three children, one son and two daughters. He launched his son Kumay Gaurav in his home banner in film ‘Love story’ in 1981 which was a super hit, but his son could not achieve the same success again, what he had achieved. Although he produce few more films for his son, but could not revive his Son’s career. His son Kumar Gaurav is married to Sunil Dutt’s daughter Namrata.
It was Rajendra Kumar’s good luck that his films always had a very good music, and some of his films became hit because of music also. I am listing below some of the hit songs picturised on him :
1 ‘Yaad Na Jaye Beete Dinon Ki’, from Dil Ek Mandir, music by Shankar Jaikishan.
2 ‘Teri Pyari Pyari Surat Ki , Kisiki Nazar Na Lage’, from Sasural, music by Shankar Jaikishan
3 ‘Mere Mehboob Mujhe Teri Mohabbat Ki Kasam’ from Mere Mehboob, music by Naushad.
4 ‘Mujhko Apne Gale Lagalo Ae Mere Humrahi’ from Humrahi, music by Shankar Jaikishan.
5 ‘Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon’ from Dhool Ka Phool, music by N Dutta.
6 ‘Yeh Mera Prempatra Padh Kar Ke Tum Naaraj Na Hona’ fro Sangam, music by Shankar Jaikishan
7 ‘Baharon Phool Barsao Mera Mehboob Aaya Hai, from Suraj, music by Shankar Jaikishan
8 ‘ Palkon Ke Peeche Se Kya Tumne Farma Dala’ from Talaash, music by SD Burman.
9 ‘ Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin’ from Gharana, music by Ravi.
10 ‘Dheere Dheere Bol Koi Sun Na Le’ from Gora Aur Kala, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
There were many more hit songs, but I have listed above some of my favourite. Personally I was not a great admirer of his acting but in few films like Dil Ek Mandir, Kanoon , Sangam and mere Mehboob I liked his work.
He died due to cardiac arrest in his sleep on 12th July 1999, just 8 days before his 70th birthday.
He was awarded Padma Shri in 1969.
Waiting for your feed backs/comments/views.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
23rd October 2020