Rajendra Kumar

Rajendra Kumar's family was based in Punjab, British India. He was born in a Punjabi Hindu family in Sialkot, in the Punjab province of British India.[2] His grandfather was a successful military contractor and his father had a textile business in Karachi, Sindh, British India. During the Partition of India, the family had to leave all the land and property behind and move to India. When they came to Bombay, Kumar decided to try his luck in the Hindi film industry. He never wanted to be a hero and took up work with director H. S. Rawail as an assistant. For nearly five years, he worked with Rawail as an assistant in films like Patanga, Sagai, Pocketmaar.

During this time he made his film debut with a cameo in the 1949 film Patanga, followed by a small role in Kidar Sharma's 1950 film Jogan, opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis. It was producer Devendra Goel who noticed Kumar in Jogan and gave him a break in Vachan in 1955. Kumar was paid only fifteen hundred rupees for the film; however, the film was a hit and was Kumar's first silver jubilee film and he was given a title – 'A star is Born'.[3] He got further success with his supporting role in Mehboob Khan's blockbuster epic film Mother India in 1957 in which he played Nargis's character's son. His first major success as a romantic leading man was in Amit Saxena's musical Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), co-starring Ameeta.

The 1960s saw Kumar rise to stardom. There were times when he had six or seven films which had run for more than 25 weeks (known in India as a "silver jubilee film"), all running at the cinema at the same time, which rendered him the nickname "Jubilee Kumar".[4] He starred in many box office hits including Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Mere Mehboob (1963), Sangam (1964), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Arzoo (1965), Suraj (1966), Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan (1968), Talash (1969) and Ganwaar (1970). He received the Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor for Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Arzoo (1965), and as Best Supporting Actor for Sangam (1964).[5] Rajendra kumar also starred in K.Asif's incomplete film 'Sasta khoon mehanga paani' co- starring Saira banu.

From 1972 onwards, he faced competition from Rajesh Khanna and many of his films were flops. He then switched to character roles in the late 1970s and 1980s. He was offered a role in the film Saajan Bina Suhaagan opposite Nutan in 1978 which was a success. He also starred in a number of Punjabi films like Teri Meri Ek Jindari. His brother Naresh Kumar was also a director and directed him in films like Gora Aur Kala (1972) and Do Jasoos (1975).

In 1981, Rajendra introduced his son Kumar Gaurav in the film Love Story which he produced and also starred in. The film was declared a blockbuster.[6] Rajendra produced a few other films starring his son but none matched the success of Love Story with the exception of the 1986 film Naam, which featured his son starring alongside Sanjay Dutt. His last production was the 1993 film Phool which also didn't do well. In 1995, he acted in the television serial Andaz which was his last acting role.

Kumar was linked to actress Saira Banu during their works. Though neither confirmed their affair. Saira Banu went on to marry Dilip Kumar. He married Shukla who was the Sister of director OP Ralhan[7] He and Shukla had a son and two daughters. His son Kumar Gaurav is a former actor.

Kumar acted with Sunil Dutt and Nargis in the film Mother India (1957) where Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar played natural sons of Nargis's character. He had a special relationship with Dutt and used to actively participate in campaigning for him, whenever the latter used to contest for elections. Dutt quoted as having said that "Even though Rajendra Kumar did not win any 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." Kumar was best friends with Raj Kapoor, so much so that his son Kumar Gaurav was engaged to the latter's daughter, Reema. However, their friendship fell apart after their children broke the engagement and Kumar Gaurav married Sunil Dutt and Nargis's daughter Namrata.

He attained a Ph.D. and had a title of 'Doctor' prefixed to his name.

For the premier of his film Vachan, he was asked if he wanted any seats for his relatives or friends, and thinking that it would be complimentary, he answered ten. After some days when he went to get his fees from the producer's accountant, he was given a lesser amount and when he asked why he was told that the money was deducted for the seats he took for his relatives and friends. He took this lesson as a principle of production and when he produced Naam, he deducted some amount from Amrita Singh's fees for the long calls she had made from Hong Kong to India.

Known to refuse taking any medication, he succumbed to cancer on 12 July 1999, just a day after his son's 39th birthday, and just 8 days before his 70th birthday.

The star of 150-odd films died of cardiac arrest peacefully in his sleep eight days before his 70th birthday.[8]

Kumar on a 2013 stamp of India

• Rajendra Kumar was honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 1969.
• He was also conferred with Justice of Peace honour and served as Honorary Magistrate.
• He was awarded the National Honour by late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru simultaneously for "Kanoon" (Hindi) and "Mehndi Rang Lagyo" (Gujarati film).
• He received a special Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award and was associated with several charity schemes.[9]

Filmfare Awards

Rajendra Kumar was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actor for three consecutive years in 1964, 1965 and 1966. In the year 1965 he was nominated both for Filmfare Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.[10]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rajendra Kumar.

• Rajendra Kumar at IMDb
• Rajendra Kumar profile at Rediff.com