By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

हवा के साथ साथ
घटा के संग संग
ओ साथी चल

मुझे लेके साथ चल तू
यूं ही दिन रात चल तू
ओ साथी चल

Sanjeev Kumar born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala was one of the finest exponents of film acting. Though he started his film career at an early age doing odd stunt movies until “Raja Aur Rank” (1967) brought him into the limelight with some hit numbers like “O Phirkiwali, Tu Kal Phir Aana, Nahin Phir Jaana” & “Mera Naam Hai Chameli”, to mention few. H.S. Rawails “Sunghursh” was another mentionable film of the actor. He had opposite him thespian Dilip Kumar . It was a story based on family feud and the film had veteran actors like- Vyjayanthimala, Balraj Sahni, Jayant, Ulhas & Sapru. Kumar came out with flying colors. “Saathi” & “Shikar” for which he won Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor were other prominent films of the year. The years that followed saw him groom into one of the most talented actors who rubbed shoulders with many of his seniors, and so successfully, too.

It is very difficult to contain his achievements in few paragraphs, as I was preparing myself for writing about Guru Dutt, yet I ventured to write & remember the great actor hurriedly. I was at Kanpur when I saw him in L.V. Prasad’s “Khilona” playing a mentally deranged Thakur who in a fit of sexual madness rapes a nautch girl Chand (Mumtaz) who is brought in to bring him back to normal condition. Interestingly, after the rape incident his mental condition begins to improve. The film boasts of some of the loveliest songs like- “Sanam, Tu Bewafa Ke Naam Se Mashoor Ho jaye”, “Khilona Jaankar Tum To Mera Dil Tod Jaate Ho” & “Khush Rahe Tu Sada, Yeh Dua Hai Meri” under the music score Laxmikant Pyarelal. Sanjeev Kumar was highly acclaimed for his role & also received Filmfare Best Actor Nomination .

Gulzar was too impressed by the actor and signed him for some of the finest films of his career like ” Parichay” & “Koshish” (1972), “Aandhi” (1974) & later “Mausam”(1975). Ramesh Sippy’s “Sholay”( 1975) did wonders on the box office front. Jaya Bhaduri plays his widowed daughter-in-law. The film starred Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan & Amjad Khan in key roles. The film ran packed houses all over & created history. Sanjeev & Jaya Bhaduri earlier co-starred in “Koshish”, giving an impeccable performance as a deaf & mute couple. Sanjeev also played opposite Rajesh Khanna in “Aap Ki Kasam” also featuring Mumtaz in the lead with a heart-touching number “Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Gujar Jate Hai Jo Makaam Phir Nahi Aate”. Sanjeev Kumar won National Film Award for Best Actor for “Dastak”(1971) & “Koshish” ( 1973). Bestowed with Filmfare Best Actor Award twice for “Aandhi” ( 1976) & “Arjun Pandit” (1977). He was adjudged Best Supporting Actor for his role in film “Shikar”.

Rated as one of the finest actors ever born, Sanjeev Kumar’s other notable hits include the likes of “Seeta Aur Geeta” (1972), “Manchali” (1973 )”Shatranj Ke Khiladi” ( 1977), ‘Trishul”(1978) & “Angoor”, “Vidhaata” & “Ayaash” (1982), the last starring Rati Agnihotri & Arun Govil. Kumar received Best Actor Filmfare Award for “Aandhi” (1976) & “Arjun Pandit” (1977). He was earlier bestowed with Best Supporting Actor Award for “Shikar” (1969) including 11 other Nominations .The actor indeed was unlucky on marital front. He liked & loved Hema Malini who married Dharmendra & he refused to Marry Sulakshana Pandit who was in love with him. She never married in life. Died in the prime of his life.

Born 9th of July 1938 in Surat.