By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

बेदर्द मुहब्बत का
इतना सा है अफ़साना
नज़रों से मिली नज़रें
मैं हो गया दीवाना
अब दिल के बहलाने की

तदबीर नहीं बनती
तस्वीर नहीं बनती
तस्वीर बनाता हूँ
तस्वीर नहीं बनती

Noted Bollywood actor of 1950s, 1960s & 1970s, Chandrashekhar, started his film career as a junior artist in late 1940s & early 1950s.He worked in more than 200 films including the likes of ” Baradari” ( 1955), “Basant Bahar” ( 1956), “Gateway of India” ( 1957), “Barsat Ki Raat” ( 1960), “Hulchul” ( 1971),”Namak Halaal” & “Nikaah” (1982), “Aaj Ki Awaz” ( 1984), “Tridev” , “Elaan-E-Jung” (1989) & “Aaj Ka Shahenshah” (1990)

He worked opposite Helen in “Cha Cha Cha’ ( 1964) to get recognition & fame. In most later films he was portrayed as a Police Inspector, Police Commissioner or a Politician. He worked opposite Shakila in “Kali Topi Lal Rumal”( 1959) with a soulful number “Laagi Chhute Naa Ab To Sanam” . “Do Badan Pyaar Ki Aag Main Jal Gaye, Ik Chameli Ke Mandeve Tale” was another popular number from “Cha Cha Cha”. “Tasveer Banata Hoon Tasveer Nahi Banti” (Baradari) was yet another lovely song picturized on him.

Interestingly, towards the fag end of his career he suddenly ventured to try his hand at film direction. He expressed his desire to Gulzar who happily obliged him. He worked as assistant director in some of his films including “Aandhi”, “Khushboo” and “Mausam” in 1970s. Also featured in teleserial “Ramayan”.

I met the actor twice in 1982 on the sets of Sanjeev Kumar starrer “Ayyash” & later in 1988 , albeit brief, as he was off color & looking in the void , sitting on a stool in the premises of Film City. At some distance the shooting of Sunny Deol, Chunky Pandey starrer “Aag Ka Gola ” was in progress.

Born on 7 July 1922, the veteran actor died this Day, aged 98 in 2021.