Vijay Kumar (British filmmaker)

2024-05-02T16:35:38Z

140.228.33.179: Remove daughter - incorrectly added

{{Distinguish|Vijay Kumar (Tamil filmmaker)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Vijay Kumar
| image = VJ 1 (2).JPG
| image_size =
| alt = Picture of Vijay Kumar
| caption =
| birth_place = New Delhi, India
| nationality = British
| citizenship = United Kingdom
| occupation = Actor / Director / Presenter
| years_active = 1988 – Present
| organisation = LondonToBollywood
| notable_works = Gangster, Johnny
| height = 5ft7inches (170cm)
| spouse = Geeta (Kashyap) Makol (1986 – Present)
| website = www.vijaykumar.co.uk
}}

'''Vijay Kumar''' (born Vijay Kumar Makol) is a British-Indian author, film director and actor.<ref>"Exclusive with Vijay Kumar", ''[[Evening Standard]]'', London, 1995.</ref> In 2018 he published an autobiography chronicling his friendship with [[Dev Anand]] titled ''[[Dev Saab: A Journey with the Legend Dev Anand]].[https://books.apple.com/us/book/dev-saab/id1371495968]''

Having started in his early days as an actor in theatre productions, Vijay appeared in a number of feature films in Bollywood, such as: ''[[Gangster (1994 film)|Gangster]]'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275364/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm "Gangster Casting"], "[IMDB]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> ''[[Main Solah Baras Ki]]'', ''Master'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382176/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm "Master Full Casting"], "[IMDB]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> ''[[King of Bollywood]]'' and ''[[Love U...Mr. Kalakaar!|Love U Mr Kalakaar]]''.

== Early life ==
Vijay Kumar was born in [[New Delhi]], [[India]] in 1958. His birth name Vijay Makol, was changed to Vijay Kumar for his acting career. He debuted in the hit TV series ''[[Dekh Bhai Dekh]]''. Vijay moved to [[Liverpool]], [[UK]] at the age of 16 with his family and attended [[Cowley International College]]. Vijay returned to [[Mumbai]], [[India]] in his early 20's with the ambition of breaking into [[Bollywood]].

== Professional career ==
Vijay played a comic role in the hit TV series ''[[Dekh Bhai Dekh]]'', which led to his featuring in hit feature films, ''[[Gangster (1994 film)|Gangster]]'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275364/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm "Gangster Casting"], "[IMDB]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> ''[[Main Solah Baras Ki]]'', ''Master'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382176/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm "Master Full Casting"], "[IMDB]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> ''[[King of Bollywood]]'' and ''[[Love U...Mr. Kalakaar!|Love U Mr Kalakaar]]''. During Vijay's career as an actor, he also presented over 1,800 shows for both the [[BBC]] and [[Asian Sound Radio]].<ref>Hookam, Mark. "We'll make Liverpool Bollywood of the UK", ''[[Liverpool Daily Post|Daily Post]]'', Liverpool, October 2003.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/well-make-liverpool-bollywood-uk-2940096 "Liverpool, Bollywood of the UK"], "[Daily Post]", Retrieved on 12 October 2014.</ref> Vijay has Directed, Written and Produced a number of short films that have been featured in film festivals such as: [[Cannes Film Festival]],<ref>[http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/208978.html "Cannes Festival Profile"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072904/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/208978.html |date=6 October 2014 }}, "[Cannes Film Festival Website]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> Ekotop Film Festival, JIFF India, Wirral International Film Festival<ref>[http://liverpool-live.info/culture/wirral/3565-coming-up-wirral-international-film-festival-12-17-nov-2012 "Wirral Film Festival"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121106/http://liverpool-live.info/culture/wirral/3565-coming-up-wirral-international-film-festival-12-17-nov-2012 |date=6 October 2014 }}, "[Liverpool-Live]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> and the [[Edinburgh Film Festival]].

== Short films ==

Vijay’s first short film, ''Johnny'', was shown at [[Cannes Film Festival]] and cast on [[Sky UK|Sky TV]]. Vijay was then picked up by Basement films of [[John Moore University]], [[Liverpool]] to direct ''A Fatal Accident''.<ref>[http://film.britishcouncil.org/a-fatal-accident "Fatal Accident on British Film Council"], "[British Film Council]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref><ref>Taggart, Gareth. "Two day film hit", ''[[Wirral News Group]]'', Wirral, March 2003.</ref> Fatal Accident featured in festivals such as the Edinburgh film Festival and Jaipur International Film Festival. He then went on to produce ''Unwanted Bride''<ref>[http://film.britishcouncil.org/unwanted-bride "Unwanted Bride on British Film Council"], "[British Film Council]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref> and ''Bombay Beauty'',<ref>[http://films.bureau-va.com/bombay-beauty "Bombay Beauty on British Film Council"], "[British Film Council]", Retrieved on 2 October 2014.</ref><ref>Mann, Manjit. "Bollywood in Britain", ''[[Eastern Eye]]'', London, 2003.</ref> a short film shown in the Ekotop Film Festival for a number of consecutive days. Vijay's latest foray into short films was ''Audition'', Vijay's first India based short film.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Other notes
|-
| rowspan=2|2010 || ''[[Johnny]]'' || Director ||Cannes Film Festival Screening
|-
| ''[[A Fatal Accident]]'' || Director ||Edinburgh Film Festival Screening

Jaipur Film Festival Screening
|-
|}

== Author ==

Vijay published his first book, ''[[Dev Saab, A Journey with the legend Dev Anand]]'' in 2018, recounting his friendship and many adventures with Indian film industry legend, ''[[Dev Anand]]''. Vijay launched the book for the U.K. territory alongside his wife Geeta on [[BBC Asian Network]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dev-Saab-Journey-Legend-Anand/dp/1980351570]</ref> The book was launched in [[Mumbai]], [[India]], by [[Suneil Anand]], [[Dev Anand]]'s son.<ref>[https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2018/04/book-launch-of-dev-saab-a-journey-with-the-legend-dev-anand/]</ref> Vijay is currently working on his second book, When Rhea Meets Jessica, which is expected to be released in 2020-21.

== Personal life ==

Vijay Kumar's family consists of wife Geeta, son Karan & son Rohit.

He was the Vice-President of Clearcom Global Communications Private Limited until 12 October 2013 and is a lifelong member of [[British Actors Equity Association]]. In 2018, Vijay oversaw the opening of the [[Dev Anand]] wing of the Seksaria hospital in [[Mumbai]], [[India]].

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title
! Production
! Director
|-
| ''8119 Miles'' (2016)
| Joe Eshwar Productions
| Joe Eshwar
|-
| ''Vagatore Mixer'' (2015)
| Navketan Films
| Suneil Anand
|-
| ''Love U Mr Kalakaar'' (2014)
| Rajshri Productions
| S. Manasvi
|-
| ''King of Bollywood'' (2002)
| I Dreams
| Piyush Jha
|-
| ''Master'' (2001)
| Navketan Films
| Suneil Anand
|-
| ''Main Solah Baras Ki'' (1998)
| Navketan Films
| Dev Anand
|-
| ''Gangster'' (1995)
| Navketan Films
| Dev Anand
|-
| ''Sau Crore'' (1990)
| Navketan Films
| Dev Anand
|-
| ''Roti Kee Keemat'' (1988)
| Rohitasha Films
| Ramesh Ahuja
|-
| ''Taqdeer Ke Rang'' (1988)
| Balram Movies
| Ashok Mann
|-
| ''Dekh Bhai Dekh'' (1993)
| Sarasvati Audio Visual
| Aanand Mahendroo
|-
| ''Better Safe Than Sorry'' (2000)
| Dragons Garden Film
| Tim Royale
|-
| ''Chicken Karma'' (2002)
| Six Foot High Films
| Emma Farrel
|-
| ''Bombay Beauty'' (2002)
| Planet Productions
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Going for Green'' (2002)
| Scottish Television
| Charlie Stuart
|-
| ''Liver Birds'' (1998)
| BBC Television
| John Mcbride
|-
| ''Carry On Biff'' (1991)
| Granada Television
| Peter Smith
|-
| ''Aaj Ki Biwi'' (1990)
| Cineface Productions
| Ajay Kumar
|-
| ''Parvarish''
| Ekjute Theatre
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Looking Back in Anger''
| Roundabout Players
| Colin Roper
|-
| ''Kitney Naye Kitney Purane''
| Geeta Arts
| A.K. Chaterjee
|-
| ''Gorian Ranna Da Shoukeen''
| Lokantar Productions
| B.K. Sood
|-
| ''Tram Track Tragedy''
| Roundabout Players
| Val Sanders
|-
| ''Johnny'' (2005)
| Met Film School
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Bombay Beauty'' (2004)
| Planet Productions
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Audition'' (2009)
| Planet Productions
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Fatal Accident'' (2006)
| Basement Film Unit
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Transitional Driver'' (2003)
| Planet Productions
| Vijay Kumar
|-
| ''Unwanted Bridge'' (2007)
| Planet Productions
| Vijay Kumar
|}

==Radio==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Presenting
! Role
! Organisation
|-
| Open House/News (800 Shows)
| Presenter
| BBC
|-
| Top 30/Chat Show (1000 Shows)
| Presenter
| Asian Sound Radio
|-
| IFFA Awards Coverage
| Planet Productions
| Asia 1 TV / Sky TV
|}

==References==
<references />

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Vijay}}
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:British film directors]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century British male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century British male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from New Delhi]]

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Vijay Kumar (British filmmaker)