By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
तुमसे ओ हसीना कभी
मोहब्बत ना मैंने करनी थी
मगर मेरे दिल ने
मुझे धोखा दे दिया
Although “Geeta Gaya Pathron Ne” was Jeetendra’s debut film, he actually shot into prominence with the release of “Farz” also starring Babita in the lead. He plays secret agent Gopal. The film, directed by Ravi Nagaich starred David, Aruna Irani & Sajjan. The runaway success of the film catapulted him into the starry heights of the tinsel world.
Ironically, Babita had to quit the movie scene in the middle of her blossoming career & she got married to Randhir Kapoor. The couple’s daughters Karishma & Kareena also became actresses in films later.
Earlier in his career the actor played bitsy roles like that of a simpleton, or an uncultivated, often clumsy, boy from the the country. His love scenes with heroines too were puerile. He acted like a scared lamb. It was in “Farz” that he demonstrated that he could act a hot-blooded lover. Since then the actor earned himself the reputation of a romantic hero, both off & on screen. His dancing skills remained a hidden talent until he had his first encounter with or a close brush with Sridevi in a potboiler called “Himmatwala”. In the film Sridevi acted & danced uninhibitedly ,making a dazzling display of her shapely, curvaceous & voluptuous anatomy through variety of costumes -sexy ,skimpy, exotic and gaudy. As a gifted dancer she shook her legs & swung her hips so erotically that she came to be called “The thundering Thighs”. Jeetendra who matched her dancing expertise step for step, jerk for jerk , hug for hug and grind for grind earned the epithet “Jumping Jack”.
Interestingly, Jeetendra’s career was on the decline before the release of “Himmatwala’. The film provided him the required impetus or sort of shot in the arm .The film was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao , a remake of the Telugu film ‘Ooruki Monagadu’. (1981). It was followed by ‘Justice Chaudhury’, ‘Mawaali’ (1983 ) & “Tohfa” (984) all directed by the South directors thereby adding spice to his career. “Maqsad” & “Mawwali” were directed by by K. Bapaiah, while “Justice Chaudhury” & “Tohfa” were directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Jaya Prada played the second fiddle in some of these films.
“Khushboo”(1975 ), directed by Gulzaar starring Jeetendra & Hema Malini & “Arpan” directed by J. Om Prakash starring Jeetendra, Raj Babbar, Reena Roy & Parveen Babi have been his highly acclaimed films. His earlier films include the likes of ‘Aulad’, ‘Mere Huzoor’ (1968) , ‘Jeene Ki Raah’ ‘Jigri Dost’ (1969), ‘Khilona’, ‘Humjoli’ , ‘Jawab'(1970), “Judaai” (1980) & “Aulad” (1987).
“Caravan”(1971), directed by Nasir Hussain starring Jeetendra & Asha Parekh was another of his popular ilm with some of the titillating numbers like- “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” & “Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani” under the music score R. D. Burman with, lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. It was declared a super-hit film.
In 1990 the actor worked in 11 films of which 3 “Ari Garibi”, ‘Souten Ki Beti’ & ‘Agnikaal’ clicked. The actor was divinely gifted with eternal youth. No wonder, he worked with heroines half his age .I met the actor on the sets of “Hatim Tai” (1990) starring Jeetendra, Sangeeta Bijlani & Satish Shah. I found the actor thoroughly introvert, unlike Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor & Raj Kapoor, the other stars I met earlier & later in Bombay.
