Winner of two National Awards, star of India's highest grossing film, this actor never wanted to be hero and predicted his own death
In Hollywood, Philip Seymour Hoffman made a name for himself playing all sorts of diverse roles, from leading men to sadistic villains, and everything in between. It is telling that there was once an Indian actor who was said to be the predecessor to Hoffman, similar in his range and probably surpassing him in stardom. And yet, this man was never a superstar because of his own choices.
The actor who never wanted to be hero
Harihar Jethalal Jariwala was born in a Gujarati family in 1938. But it was with his screen name – Sanjeev Kumar – that he gained fame in the 70s and 70s. Sanjeev Kumar began his career in 1960 with the Indian People Theatre Association, playing senior citizens when he was just 22. This was a penchant he carried over to his film career. After making his breakthrough in Bollywood with Nishan in 1965, Sanjeev Kumar appeared in supporting roles in Sunghursh, and did lead roles in Khilona and Seeta Aur Geeta. However, despite this success, Sanjeev Kumar preferred to play older men, playing fathers to actors their age in films like Parichay, Trishul, and Sholay.
When Sanjeev Kumar gave India’s biggest film
In 1974, Ramesh Sippy approached Sanjeev Kumar to play Veeru opposite Hema Malini in Sholay. However, after Dharmendra lobbied to play Veeru, Sanjeev Kumar opted to play the 50-year-old Thakur instead. Sholay also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Amjad Khan. Upon release, it became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time, grossing Rs 30 crore worldwide.
How Sanjeev Kumar predicted his death
The reason for playing older men in his 20s and 30s was Sanjeev Kumar’s belief that he would not live to be an old man. In an interview, actress and journalist Tabassum once said, “I asked him once, why are you so obsessed with older roles? He revealed to me, ‘Tabassum, a palm reader once predicted that I wouldn’t live long and I won’t see older age. This is why I play older roles in films to live that life which I am not fated to otherwise’.” The prediction sadly came true when the veteran actor passed away in 1985 at the age of 47.
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 "Sanjeev Kumar in Naya Din Nayi Raat")
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