Shashi Kapoor

 Shashi Kapoor – the ever smiling, scintillating son of doyen Prithviraj Kapoor, has left indelible impressions on the celluloid with his distinctive performances through scores of flicks in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Though belonging to the illustrious Kapoor clan, Shashi a.k.a Shashi Raj carved a great career for himself by the dint of his dashing personality and hard work. Shashi learnt the lesson of hard work from his eldest brother Raj- whom he not only idolizes but also calls him a 'tough task master'.

Shashi was born as Balbir Raj on 18th March 1938 as the younger brother of Raj and Shammi in Calcutta. Under the gigantic shadow of his father, Shashi imbibed the 'orthodox skills of theatre', which are manifested in his personality till date. He was a reluctant entrant into the 'masala movies' as his first love was always theatre. But once aboard the 'Bollywood Bandwagon' Shashi became the versatile entertainer, who could churn out virtually every kind of performance under the sun.

His rendezvous with Jennifer Kendall, the daughter of famous theatre actors, George and Laura Kendall of Shakespeare repertory at Calcutta, proved to be a turning point in his life. It was love at first sight and after a brief of courtship they got married. Jennifer was to etch the 'European influences' into his acting style. Probably this east-west union made Shashi one of the most familiar faces in western movie world.

Shashi had made his debut in Hindi films as a child artist. He had played the young Raj Kapoor in Aawara (1951). Through his teens he was often seen on the stage with his father's troupe. By the 60s, Shashi had fallen into prolific filmmaking. Shashi got big break with Yash Chopra's 'Dharamputra' (1961) and Bimal Roy's 'Prempatra'. But these 'Putra' and 'Patra' affair could hardly launch him into the galaxy of stars to which, now he earnestly yearned to belong.

A family drama titled 'Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath' (1962) with co-stars Nanda and Ashok Kumar, PL Santoshi's 'Holiday in Bombay' (1963), Benazir (1965) with tragedy queen Meena Kumari followed but failed to click. But none could provide him with name, fame and finances he was looking for. James Ivory's English film 'Shakespearewallah' cast with Shashi and Kendalls made a landmark in the history of filmmaking.

But it were finally 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965) with brother Shammi and Nanda and Waqt (1965) with Nanda and Sunil Dutt that brought the much wanted acclaim to Shashi Kapoor -- he was to enjoy through out his life. Once this legend was in orbit, he didn't let his fortunes to dip.

 Like a true "Kapoor" he rubbed shoulders with all great contemporary stars – Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh, Sanjiv Kumar, Jeetendra and Rajinder Kumar and Raj Kumar. Shashi immortalised himself with all time favourite song: “Ley Jayenge…Dilwale … Dulhani Lye Jay Jayenge" in 'Chor Machaye Shor (1974) done with petite Mumtaz.

Shashi Kapoor won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Deewar (1975). His dialogue “Mere Paas Ma Hain" became firmly ensconced in every cinegoer's memory for eternity. Shayam Benegal's Junoon with Nafisa Ali saw him portraying a 'Nawab' with emotiveness that can be expected only of a stage actor. From 'Faqira' onwards Shashi Kapoor acted in large number of films with success, which took his overall film tally to over two hundred. He did noteworthy roles in Hira Aur Pathar, Chor Sipahi, Ahuti, Shaan, Suhaag, Silsila, Namak Halaal (1983), Bhawani Junction (1985) and those were the times when Shashi rode like a colossal in the industry. He would always be loved for his roles in buddy Ismail Merchant's Householder (1969), Heat and Dust (1982) and In Custody (1994). Mid way he also tried his hand at some inconsequential directorial and production ventures.

But as we said earlier, there is more to Shashi than the casual entertainer. In 1978, he with his wife Jennifer resurrected the Prithvi Theatres in Bombay in the fond of memory of his father. Shashi showed his love for the theatre art, which was fast losing out to the shine of the tinsel. But unfortunately, Jennifer caught with cancer left the world forever in 1984. Shashi was crestfallen. Nevertheless, he didn't let the tragedy overtake his gusto for life. He started taking keen interest in charities for Cancer Research (It is a great irony that he lost his father, mother and wife to this malady).

His three children are well settled in life. While Karan is an established photographer in London, Kunal runs an advertising agency and Sanjana has taken over the responsibility of running the Prithvi Theatres.

Nargis Dutt

Nargis Dutt (Hindi: नर्गिस; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981), born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna. During a career that spanned from the 1940s to the 60s, Nargis appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor and filmmaker Raj

 Kapoor. One of her best-known roles was that of Radha in the Academy Award-nominated Mother India (1957), a performance that won her Best Actress trophies at the Filmfare Awards and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In 1958, Nargis married her Mother India co-star, actor Sunil Dutt, and left the film industry. She would appear infrequently in films during the 60s. Some of her films of this period include the drama Raat Aur Din (1967), for which she got the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress.
Along with her husband, Nargis formed the Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe, which roped in several leading actors and singers of the time and held stage shows at border areas. In early 1970s, she became the first

patron of Spastics Society of India, and her subsequent work with the organisation brought her recognition as a social worker, and later a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980.
Nargis died in 1981 of pancreatic cancer, a few days before her son Sanjay Dutt made his film debut in Bollywood. In 1982, the Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation was established in her memory. The award for best feature film on national integration in the annual National Film Awards ceremony is called the Nargis Dutt Award in her honour.

Johny Walker (Best Commedian)

I think I knew Johnny Walker. Why else do I feel as if I have lost someone I know?
I never met him or saw him in person and don't even remember when I saw him on screen for the first time. The earliest memory I have of him was when my father spoke so fondly of the cinema of the 1950s and 1960s. I marveled how effortlessly Papa could move from verse to verse, singing Johnny Walker's songs in full.
Those melodious songs picturised on Johnny Walker reminded me of Papa while watching Chitrahaar in boarding school. Sitting in front of the school's black and white television, I could imagine my dad's face lighting up as the bars of the opening sequence began.
Boarding school kids have their own ways of connecting with home -- Johnny Walker was mine.
I did not know he shared his name with a brand of Scotch. Papa didn't drink Scotch. In fact, I never saw him drink at home and as little girls we were more interested in exchanging Enid Blytons than discussing booze.
Four years ago, when looking for a house to rent, the estate agent took me to a building at the end of a nondescript lane. A lane like so many other lanes and bylanes in suburban Mumbai [ Images ]. The rain that Sunday morning had left the street a slushy mess and I wasn't too impressed. The building had all the trappings that newly constructed residential complexes in Mumbai have -- smart elevators, tastefully done apartments -- and as the agent told us very good people living in the building and around it.

He did not identify these people. I don't think he knew any, barring Johnny Walker.
He pointed to the bungalow across the lane and said that was where the legend lived. I don't remember what it looked like. I think it was covered by a thicket of trees, I am not sure.
Anxious to check other prospective apartments so that I could extract the maximum from my only day off in the week, I did not give the information much thought. I don't think I even turned back to glance at the bungalow a second time. Once I left that lane, that house meant nothing at all.
I did not even think it important to mention it to Papa.
I soon moved to an apartment in a lane not too far from where Johnny Walker lived. But it was only on the day he died that I thought of that bungalow again. I haven't been to that lane since that rainy Sunday morning, but I want to go there now.
I just want to walk that street and make up for not giving him his due the last time I was there.
Last afternoon when Mumbai went silent during the bandh I did not rent a DVD. Instead, I plugged a VCD of Guru Dutt's Pyasaa just to see Johnny Walker as Sattar Bhai, the mystical masseur and loyal friend.
Somehow I feel Johnny Walker was just like that -- a loyal friend and a good human being. He touched people's hearts with his comedy. He made them laugh and became a part of so many lives.
I will return to that lane this weekend to place some flowers at his door. I owe it to Johnnysaab.
Papa would like it if I did so too.

Kishore Kumar (Kishore Da)

 Kishore Kumar (Bengali: কিশোর কুমার, Hindi: किशोर कुमार,  pronunciation (help·info); born Abhas Kumar Ganguly 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter. Kishore Kumar sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. He was the winner of 8 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category

Date of Death

13 October 1987, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (heart attack)

 Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishna Giri Goswami on 24 July 1937) is an award-winning Indian actor and director in the Bollywood film industry. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname "Mr Bharat" (Bhaarat is the Sanskrit and Hindi term for India). In 1992, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Early life

Manoj Kumar was born in Abbottabad, a town of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, then part of India. Abbottabad is now located within the borders of Pakistan. His original name was Harikishan Giri Goswami. When he was 10, his Gosain Hindu family had to move to Delhi owing to partition. His family lived as refugees in Vijay Nagar, Kingsway Camp and later moved to Patel Nagar area of New Delhi. After graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi, he decided to enter the film industry.

Career

As a youth, he admired Bollywood superstar Dilip Kumar, and decided to name himself Manoj Kumar after Dilip's character in Shabnam (1949).
After making a little-noticed début in Fashion in 1957, Manoj landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia (1960) opposite Sayeeda Khan. Piya Milan Ki Aas and Reshmi Roomal followed, setting the stage for the Vijay Bhatt-directed Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) opposite Mala Sinha. Kumar then appeared with Sadhana in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi (1964), and reunited with Vijay Bhatt and Mala Sinha in Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965).

Personal life

Kumar is married to Shashi Goswami (originally from Jodhkan, Sirsa district, Haryana). He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal, Vishal tried his skills as a singer and Kunal as an actor. His brother, Rajiv Goswami, also entered the film industry, but none were able to gain any footing in Bollywood.

Ashok Kumar (Muni Da)

 Ashok Kumar (Bengali: অশোক কুমার; 13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001) was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly (Bengali: কুমুদলাল গাঙ্গুলী) in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He broke from the theatrical style then common in Indian film towards a more naturalistic method. Given his versatility and proven brilliance over five decades, he is considered by many to be one of the finest ever Indian actors.^] The Government of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his contributions towards Indian cinema.

Family

His father Kunjalal Ganguly was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy Bengali family. His family was based in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. His brothers Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar also acted in films. Three brothers worked together in the comedies Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi and Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi. Ashok, though the eldest of the three by quite a margin, survived them both. In fact, he stopped celebrating his birthday after the youngest brother, Kishore, died on that day in 1987. His sister, Sati Devi, was married to Sashadhar Mukherjee of the Mukherjee-Samarth family.
Ashok Kumar married Shobha. They had a troubled marriage due to his wife being an alcoholic. 

Later career and death

He acted in fewer films in the 1980s and 1990s and occasionally appeared on television, most famously anchoring the first Indian soap opera Hum Log and appearing as the title character in the unforgettable Bahadur Shah Zafar. His last film role was in Aankhon Mein Tum Ho in 1997. Besides acting, he was an avid painter and a practitioner of homeopathy.Altogether, he starred in over 275 films. He has done more than 30 Bengali dramas in Dhakuria.
Ashok Kumar died at the age of 90 in Mumbai on 10 December 2001 of heart failure at his residence in central Mumbai suburbs of Chembur. The then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee described him as "an inspiration... for many generations of aspiring actors.

Jeevan (Great Villain)

Remembered today as the sinister villain with a face only a mother could love, Jeevan was one of the top bad guys of 60s, 70s, and 80s Bollywood cinema. However Jeevan has been an actor in Hindi cinema since the mid 1930s and his parts were not just confined to villains but mythological and comedy characters as well. In an film career that spanned over 50 years Jeevan worked in well over 300 movies and he acted with every actor and actress mentioned on this web site.
The list of classic films Jeevan acted in goes on and on. Some of his memorable villain roles were in, "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Deewaar", "Jony Mere Naam", "Kohinoor", and "Dharmatma". I am currently searching for information on the life of Jeevan.