Known by aliases such as Haribhai, Hari bhai, and Harihar Jethalal Jariwala, Sanjeev Kumar was a distinguished actor whose career spanned various genres and languages. Born on July 9, 1938, in Surat, Gujarat, India, Kumar embarked on his acting journey with IPTA in Mumbai and later joined the Indian National Theatre.
Physical Attributes:
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Black
Career:
- Debut: “Hum Hindustani” (1960) as a Police Inspector
Awards/Honours:
- 1971: Dastak – Hamid
- 1973: Koshish – Haricharan
- 1976: Aandhi – J.K.
- 1977: Arjun Pandit – Arjun Pandit
- 1969: Shikar – Inspector Rai
Famous For:
- Known for portraying “Thakur Baldev Singh” in the Bollywood film “Sholay” (1975)
Personal Life:
- Date Of Birth: [Date of Birth]
- Birthplace: Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India (present-day Gujarat, India)
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Nationality: Indian
- Hometown: Surat, Gujarat
- Caste: Gujarati Brahmin
- Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian
Relationships:
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Affair(s): Nutan
Family:
- Parents:
- Father: Jethlal Jariwala
- Mother: Zaverben Jethalal Jariwala
- Siblings:
- Brothers: Kishore Jariwala (Music Director), Nakul Jariwala (Film Producer)
- Sister: Leela Jariwala (Actor)
Even in his early twenties, Kumar displayed remarkable versatility, portraying much older characters such as a 60-year-old in AK Hangal’s play Damru and an elderly man in an adaptation of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. His cinematic debut came with a minor role in Hum Hindustani (1960), followed by his lead role debut in Nishan (1965). Notably, he shared the screen with superstar Dilip Kumar in Sangharsh (1968).
However, it was the film Khilona (1970) that catapulted Kumar to national acclaim, earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1971 and the BFJA Best Actor award in 1974. His repertoire extended beyond Hindi cinema to Gujarati films like Kalapi (1966) and Mare Javun Pele Par (1968), as well as diverse regional cinema including Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Sindhi.
While Kumar was renowned for serious roles, he showcased his comedic prowess in films such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Biwi O Biwi (1981), Pati, Patni Aur Woh (1978), Angoor (1982), and Hero (1983), earning praise for his impeccable timing. His illustrious career included iconic roles in Sholay and numerous supporting roles in films like Zabardast, Hero, and Silsila (1981). Kumar was also a recipient of the National Film Award for Dastak and Koshish.
