Raj Kumar's Biography

Raj Kumar's Biography  

Raj Kumar was a well-known Indian film actor and a prominent personality in the Hindi film industry. He was born as Kulbhushan Pandit on October 8, 1926, in Loralai, Balochistan, which is now part of Pakistan. He was known for his unique style of dialogue delivery, which made him one of the most celebrated actors of his time. He acted in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades. Raj Kumar was also a writer and a poet, and his works were widely appreciated.

Early Life and Education

Raj Kumar was born in a family of Kashmiri Pandits who had migrated from Srinagar to Balochistan. His father, Pandit Raghunath Prasad, was a government employee, and his mother, Krishna Rani, was a homemaker. Raj Kumar was the second of their four children. He had two elder sisters and a younger brother.

As a child, Raj Kumar was interested in literature and drama. He used to participate in school plays and dramas and was also fond of reading books. After completing his schooling, he moved to Mumbai to pursue his passion for acting. He joined the Filmalaya Acting School and learned acting under the guidance of Sashadhar Mukherjee.

Career in Films

Raj Kumar made his debut in films with the film Rangili in 1952. However, his breakthrough film was the 1959 film Paigham, in which he played the lead role opposite Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Raj Kumar's performance was widely appreciated. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in the film.

After the success of Paigham, Raj Kumar went on to act in several successful films such as Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Heer Raanjha (1970), Mere Humsafar (1970), and Pakeezah (1972), among others. He also worked with some of the most renowned directors of his time, such as B.R. Chopra, Yash Chopra, and Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Raj Kumar was known for his unique style of dialogue delivery, which became his trademark. He used to speak his dialogues in a slow and deliberate manner, emphasizing every word. His style was widely imitated and became a rage among the audiences. He also had a deep and resonant voice, which added to his screen presence.

Apart from acting, Raj Kumar was also a writer and a poet. He wrote poetry under the pen name "Rajinder Krishan". He wrote the lyrics for several songs in his films and also wrote the screenplay and dialogues for some of his films.

Personal Life

Raj Kumar was married to Gayatri from 1958 until his death in 1996. They had three children together, two sons named Puru Rajkumar and Panini Rajkumar, and a daughter named Vastavikta.

Raj Kumar was a deeply spiritual person and was known for his philanthropic activities. He used to donate a significant portion of his earnings to charitable causes. He was also a follower of the spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti and used to attend his talks and lectures regularly.

Death

Raj Kumar died on July 3, 1996, at the age of 69, due to throat cancer. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he underwent treatment for cancer. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away within a few days of his admission. His death was a great loss to the Indian film industry, and he was mourned by his fans and colleagues.

Legacy

Raj Kumar was one of the most celebrated actors of his time and left a lasting impact on Indian cinema. He was known for his unique style of dialogue delivery, which became his trademark. He was also a versatile actor and portrayed a wide range of characters on screen.

Apart from his acting career, Raj Kumar was also a writer and a poet. His works were widely appreciated, and he was considered one of the leading poets of his time. He wrote the lyrics for several songs in his films and also wrote the screenplay and dialogues for some of his films.

Raj Kumar was also known for his philanthropic activities. He used to donate a significant portion of his earnings to charitable causes and was involved in several social causes. He was also a follower of the spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti and used to attend his talks and lectures regularly.

In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, Raj Kumar was honored with several awards and accolades. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Paigham (1959) and the Filmfare Best Actor award for his performance in Dil Ek Mandir (1963). He was also awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1966 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Conclusion

Raj Kumar was a legendary actor and a prominent personality in the Hindi film industry. He was known for his unique style of dialogue delivery, which became his trademark. He acted in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades and worked with some of the most renowned directors of his time. He was also a writer and a poet, and his works were widely appreciated.

Raj Kumar was a deeply spiritual person and was known for his philanthropic activities. He used to donate a significant portion of his earnings to charitable causes and was involved in several social causes. His death was a great loss to the Indian film industry, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest actors of his time.