The term superstar was a Western concept for most of the 20th century. Indian cinema did not use it up until the rise of Rajesh Khanna and eventually Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth. But retroactively, many actors have been dubbed superstars because of their stature during their peak. The first of them was a star of the silent era, before he adapted to talkies and emerged as India’s first acting-singing superstar.
India’s first superstar
Kundan Lal Saigal was popularly known as KL Saigal. Born in 1904 in Jammu to a member of the Raja of Kashmir’s court, Saigal soon showed interest in the performing arts. His mother Kesarbai made sure he was trained as a singer and played sitar. In the 1930s, he moved to Calcutta to become a singer and recorded his first album there. Prior to embarking on his film career, Saigal worked as a railway timekeeper and a salesman for typewriters. He even worked in a soap factory.
In 1932, he appeared in his first film Mohabbat Ke Ansu, which was a flop. It wasn’t until the release of Yahudi Ki Ladki the following year that Saigal first tasted success. From then on, he never looked back. The 1935 superhit Devdas made him the number one hero in India, and he followed it up with hugely successful films like President, Dharti Mata, Street Singer, and Dushman.
He often sung for his own films and his songs became a rage too. After he moved to Bombay in 1941, he continued his successful streak with Tansen and Bhakta Surdas. But his swansong came with the 1946 smash hit Shahjehan, in which he gave three chartbusters, including the evergreen classic ‘Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya’.
KL Saigal’s battle with alcoholism and death
By the 1940s, alcohol was a constant companion of Saigal’s. It was being said that the star could not record a song unless he was drunk. While the drinking did not affect his performances, it did take a toll on his health. In early 1947, after he fell ill and his liver gave away, Saigal travelled to his hometown of Jalandhar to recuperate. He died there on January 18 at the age of 42. In a career that stretched 15 years, Saigal worked in 36 films, of which 12 were superhits. He also recorded 185 songs in six languages, most of which were top of the charts. His acting and singing style influenced several future stars, including Mukesh, Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar, and Raj Kapoor.
The DNA app is now available for download on the Google Play Store. Please download the app and share your feedback with us.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "India's first superstar")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}