Sujit Kumar (7 February 1934 – 5 February 2010) was an Indian actor and producer. He appeared in over 150 Hindi films in the 1960s through the 1990s, and in at least 20 Bhojpuri films. Sujit played the major lead actor in many films in Bhojpuri cinema[1] whereas in Hindi films he played pivotal roles either as a villain or as a character actor. One of his most memorable screen appearances was of a friend playing the mouth organ while driving a jeep as Rajesh Khanna courted Sharmila Tagore in the 1969 film Aradhana .[2] Beginning in the late 1980s through the 2000s, Sujit primarily worked as a film producer.

Sujit Kumar
Born(1934-02-07)7 February 1934
Died5 February 2010(2010-02-05) (aged 75)
Other namesSujeet Kumar
Occupation(s)Actor, Producer
Years active1960–2001
Spouse
(m. 1970; died 2005)
Children2

Biography edit

Hindi cinema edit

Sujit was the leading man in suspense flicks in Hindi in the early 1960s, like in Lal Bangla (1966) and Ek Saal Pehle (1965). He was often part of films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero, like in Aradhana, Ittefaq, Aan Milo Sajna, Haathi Mere Saathi, Amar Prem, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Roti, Mehbooba, Avtaar, Aakhir Kyon? and Amrit.

His other notable roles include that of a spy in Ramanand Sagar's Aankein (1968), Naya Raasta (1970), Jugnu (1973), Hamrahi (1974), Charas (1976), Dharamveer (1977), Dev Anand's Des Pardes, The Burning Train, Kaamchor, Krantiveer, Tiranga and many more. Sujit produced small budget movies like Asmaan Se Ooncha (1989) in the 1980s and then subsequently bigger budget films later like Daraar (1996), and Champion.

His best friends from the film industry were, Jeetendra and Rakesh Roshan, the two with whom Sujit used to hit the gym regularly. Other close friends included producer Saawan Kumar Tak and Randhir Kapoor, all of whom practically grew up together in the Hindi Film industry since the early 1960s.

Bhojpuri cinema edit

He appeared in such films as Bidesiya, Loha Singh, Dangal, Pan Khaye Saiyya Hamar, Champa Chameli, Patoh Bitiya, Sajan Kare Kanyadan, Bairi Bhaile Hamar , Nag Panchami, Saiyya Se Bhaile Milanawa, Aaeel Basant Bahar, Bidhana Nach Nachawe, Mai Ke Lal, Sampurna Teerth Yatra, Sajai Da Maang Hamar, Saiyya Magan Pahalwani Me, Ganga Kahe Pukar Ke, Ganga Jaisan Bhauji Hamar and Ganga Hamar Mai.

Death edit

Kumar died in 2010 of cancer, an illness from which he was suffering since 2007. His wife, Kiran Singh predeceased him in 2005; they have two children, son Jatin Kumar, a film producer, and a daughter Henna Singh. A condolence meeting took place on 8 February 2010, at the Indian Medical Association, beside PVR Cinema, Juhu, Mumbai where many of his friends from the industry, like members of the Kapoor family, Rakesh Roshan's family, and Rajesh Khanna's family paid their last respects.

Filmography edit

Bhojpuri edit

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo First Bhojpuri Film
Bidesiya Bidesi Thakur
1977 Dangal First Color Film in Bhojpuri
1984 Bhaiya Dooj
Paan Khaye Saiyaan Hamaar Directed too

Hindi edit

Year Title Role Notes
1954 Taxi Driver (first movie smoking cigarette in background) Dev Anand's movie
1966 Lal Bangla Raja
1967 Sab Ka Ustad
Jaal
1968 Aankhen Nadeem
1969 Gustakhi Maaf Shankar
Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke Taxi Driver Special Appearance
Aradhana (IAF Flight lieutenant) Madan, Arun Verma's friend, playing the mouth organ in the song "Meri Sapno Ki Rani Kab Aayengi Tu"
Ittefaq Police Inspector
1970 Maharaja Shyamu
Geet Kunver Shamsher Singh
Maa Aur Mamta
Naya Raasta Ramu
Aan Milo Sajna Mohan
1971 Naag Pooja
Murder in Circus
Haathi Mere Saathi Gangu
Bikhre Moti Gopi
1972 Putlibai
Yeh Gulistan Hamara Teju
Gaon Hamara Shaher Tumhara Shyam C. Pandey[3]
Tangewala Zamindar
Amar Prem Mahesh Sharma
Mere Jeevan Saathi
1974 Insaaniyat Ram
Hamrahi Sujit
Amir Garib Police Inspector Anand
Resham Ki Dori Dinesh
1975 Do Jasoos G L Sippy
Sunehra Sansar Mohan
Warrant Thompson
1976 Aadalat Sujit Singh
Aap Beati Prakash Kapoor
Chhoti Si Baat Dacoit in song Janeman Janeman
Barood Ratan - Bakshi's Las Vegas Associate
Charas Shaikh
Mehbooba Dr. Vinod
Bairaag
1977 Farishta Ya Qatil Gautam
Kalabaaz Malhotra
Dildaar Chokelal
Ram Bharose David
Dharam Veer Rajkumar Sujan Singh
Kasam Khoon Ki Laxman
1978 Jindri Yar Di Punjabi movie
Des Pardes Gangaram
Nalayak Prem
1979 Aatish Khan, Bank Manager
The Great Gambler Marconi he was gang leader of Prem Chopra under control gang
Khandaan Vikas G. Srivastav
1980 Guest House Kalia
Dhan Daulat Sudhir Kumar
The Burning Train Inspector Ranveer
Agreement Deepak
Takkar Police Inspector
Abdullah Jameel
Insaaf Ka Tarazu Owner of Ad Agency
Ram Balram Daku Satarawala
Shaan
1981 Bhula Na Dena
Raaz
1982 Gopichand Jasoos Kaliram
Kaamchor Sohan
Karwat
1983 Avtaar Bawaji (Parsi Man)
Arpan Ashok
Pukar Hasmukh
1984 Boxer Police Inspector Khatau
Qaidi Police Inspector
Yaadgar Suresh
1985 Haveli
Haqeeqat Superintendent of Police Surajpal Singh
Aakhir Kyon? Kumar
1986 Anubhav Mamaji
Dharm Adhikari Inspector
Kala Dhanda Goray Log Inspector Shiva Singh
Amrit Doctor
Ek Aur Sikander
Avinash Police Inspector Rajan
Nafrat Teja
1987 Kaamaagni
Mera Yaar Mera Dushman Gopal
1989 Asmaan Se Ooncha Police Commissioner
Aakhri Baazi
Kala Bazaar Girdharilal
1990 Kishen Kanhaiya Bholaram
Amba Bhiku, Servant
1992 Khel Principal / Father
1993 Tirangaa Police Commissioner
1994 Krantiveer

Producer edit

  • 1986 : Anubhav
  • 1989 : Aasmaan se Ooncha
  • 1992 : Khel
  • 1996: Daraar
  • 2000: Champion
  • 2004 : Aetbaar
  • 1991 : Ganga Kahe Pukar Ke

He also acted in Zee horror show's episode Dahshat 1994-1995

References edit

  1. ^ By: Gayathry V Pillai (6 February 2010). "Actor Sujeet Kumar of  — Oneindia Entertainment". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Character actor Sujit Kumar no more". The Times of India. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
  3. ^ Premacanda, 1881-1936. Naag pooja. OCLC 927427971.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links edit

  • Sujit Kumar at IMDb (as actor) Note that, as at 13 July 2010, IMDB has two records for the person identified in the IndianExpress obituary as one person