2406:E003:1444:2601:C3:DEA7:39A5:7456 at 11:20, 28 August 2021

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{{Short description|Indian film actor}}
{{For|other actors with the same name|Rajkumar (disambiguation){{!}}Rajkumar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raaj Kumar
| image = Raj kumar.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Kulbhushan Pandit
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1926|10|08}}
| birth_place = [[Loralai]], [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Baluchistan]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day [[Balochistan, Pakistan]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1999|06|03|1926|10|08}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Film actor
| yearsactive = 1952–1995
| spouse = Jennifer "Gayatri" Pandit
| children = 3, including [[Puru Raaj Kumar]]
}}
'''Raaj Kumar''' (born '''Kulbhushan Pandit'''; 8 October 1926 – 3 July 1999), was an Indian film actor. He was a [[sub inspector]] in the [[Mumbai Police]] in the late 1940s before he turned to acting with the 1952 [[Hindi language|Hindi]] film ''Rangeeli''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0474855/bio|title=Raaj Kumar|website=IMDb|access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211051854/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0474855/bio|archive-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> He appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1957 film ''[[Mother India]]'' and went on to star in over 70 Hindi films in a career that spanned over four decades.

==Personal life==
Raaj Kumar was born in [[Loralai]], [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Baluchistan]], [[British India]], now Pakistan in a [[Kashmiri Pandit]] family.<ref name="iDiva.com">{{cite web|url=http://idiva.com/news-entertainment/purru-raaj-kumar-dad-was-bizzare-but-never-boring/19710|title=Purru Raaj Kumar: Dad was Bizzare [sic] But Never Boring|work=iDiva.com|date=21 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310160759/http://idiva.com/news-entertainment/purru-raaj-kumar-dad-was-bizzare-but-never-boring/19710|archive-date=10 March 2014|access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> In the late 1940s he moved to [[Mumbai]], India where he became [[Sub Inspector]] under [[Mumbai Police]].<ref name="India Today 2015">{{cite web | title=Remembering Raaj Kumar: 10 facts about the veteran Bollywood actor | website=India Today | date=2015-10-08 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/raaj-kumar-265762-2015-10-08 | access-date=2021-01-15}}</ref> He married Jennifer, an Anglo-Indian, whom he met on a flight where she was an air hostess. She later changed her name to Gayatri as per Hindu customs.<ref name="iDiva.com"/> They had three children, sons [[Puru Raaj Kumar]] (a Bollywood actor), Panini Raajkumar and daughter Vastavikta Pandit, who made her screen debut in 2006 film ''Eight: The Power of Shani''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/jan/25raajkumar.asp|title=Raaj Kumar's daughter VASTAVIKTA debuts - bollywood news : glamsham.com|publisher=glamsham.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818003637/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/jan/25raajkumar.asp|archive-date=18 August 2012|access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref>

==Career==
Raaj Kumar made his acting debut in the 1952 film ''Rangili'' and appeared in films like ''Aabshar'', ''Ghamand'' and ''Lakhon Mein Ek'', but it was as Prince Naushazad in [[Sohrab Modi]]'s ''[[Nausherwan-E-Adil]]'' (1957) that he became famous. In 1957, he achieved prominence with his brief role as the husband of [[Nargis]] in ''[[Mother India]]''. He also worked alongside [[Shammi Kapoor]] in Ujala (1959). He followed this with the unglamorous role of a mill worker in ''[[Paigham]]'' (1959) alongside [[Dilip Kumar]]. In Sridhar's ''[[Dil Ek Mandir]]'' (1963), Raaj Kumar played the role of a cancer patient for which he won the Filmfare Award in the Best supporting actor category.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/01/29/stories/2010012950180400.htm |title= Blast From the Past – Dil Ek Mandir (1963) |date= 2010-01-29 |location= Chennai, India |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110191750/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/01/29/stories/2010012950180400.htm |work= [[The Hindu]] |archive-date= 10 November 2013}}</ref> He was cast with [[Sunil Dutt]], [[Shashi Kapoor]] and [[Balraj Sahni]] in [[Yash Chopra]]'s family drama ''[[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]]'' in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/life/article2281723.ece|title = Raj Kumar of dialogue delivery|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120928235301/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/life/article2281723.ece|archive-date = 28 September 2012}}</ref> He became known for his distinct style of dialogue delivery.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/king-of-dialogue-delivery/article2545706.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu| title=King of dialogue delivery | date=17 October 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110201856/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/king-of-dialogue-delivery/article2545706.ece | archive-date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

His other notable films included ''[[Hamraaz]]'' (1967), ''[[Heer Raanjha]]'' (1971), ''[[Maryada (1971 film)|Maryada]]'' (1971), ''[[Lal Patthar]]'' (1971) and ''[[Pakeezah]]'' (1972). After a period of flops in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he had notable successes as a supporting actor in ''[[Kudrat]]'' (1981), ''[[Ek Nai Paheli]]'' (1984), ''[[Marte Dam Tak]]'' (1987), ''[[Muqaddar Ka Faisla]]'' (1987) and ''[[Jung Baaz]]'' (1989). In 1991, he reunited with fellow veteran actor Dilip Kumar after 32 years in [[Subhash Ghai]]'s ''[[Saudagar (1991 film)|Saudagar]]''. His last hit film was the 1992 film ''[[Tirangaa Movie|Tirangaa]]'' and his final film was 1995's [[God and Gun|''God & Gun]]''.

From his screen debut in ''Rangili'' in 1952 to his last film ''God & Gun'' in 1995, he played memorable characters in 60-odd films.

==Death==

Raaj Kumar died at the age of 72 due to throat cancer.<ref name="Dhawan M.L.">{{cite news|last=Dhawan|first=M. L.|title=Remembering A Legend|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030629/spectrum/main5.htm|access-date=28 April 2014|newspaper=The Sunday Tribune|date=29 June 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110190832/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030629/spectrum/main5.htm|archive-date=10 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Singh Kuldip">{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Kuldip|title=Obituary Raaj Kumar|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-raaj-kumar-1327472.html|access-date=28 April 2014|newspaper=The Independent|date=6 July 1996|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429075612/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-raaj-kumar-1327472.html|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> According to [[Puru Raaj Kumar]] in his interview to Farhana Farook, his father suffered from Hodgkins for which he had chemotherapy. The last two years were bad with the nodes recurring in the lungs and ribs.<ref name="Farhana Farook">{{cite web|last=Farook|first=Farhana|title=Dad Was Bizarre But Never Boring|url=http://idiva.com/news-entertainment/puru-raaj-kumar-dad-was-bizzare-but-never-boring/19710|work=news-entertainment|date=21 February 2013|publisher=iDiva.com|access-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310160759/http://idiva.com/news-entertainment/purru-raaj-kumar-dad-was-bizzare-but-never-boring/19710|archive-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1952|| ''Rangeeli'' || ||
|-
| 1952|| ''Anmol Sahara'' || ||
|-
| 1953|| ''Aabshar'' || ||
|-
| 1955|| ''Ghamand''|| ||
|-
| 1957|| ''Krishna Sudama''|| ||
|-
| 1957|| ''[[Mother India]]''||Shyamu||
|-
| 1957|| ''[[Nausherwan-E-Adil]]''||Shehzada Naushazad / Joseph||
|-
| 1958|| ''[[Dulhan (1958 film)|Dulhan]]'' ||Mohan||
|-
| 1958|| ''[[Panchayat (1958 film)|Panchayat]]'' ||Mohan||
|-
| 1959|| ''Durga Mata''|| ||
|-
| 1959|| ''[[Paigham]]''||Ram Lal||Nominated, [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]]
|-
| 1959|| ''[[Shararat (1959 film)|Shararat]]''||Suraj||
|-
| 1959|| ''[[Ardhangini (film)|Ardhangini]]'' ||Prakash||
|-
| 1959|| ''Swarg Se Sundar Desh Hamara''|| ||
|-
| 1959|| ''[[Ujala (film)|Ujala]]'' ||Kalu||
|-
| 1960|| ''[[Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai]]'' ||Dr. Sushil Verma||
|-
| 1961|| ''[[Gharana (1961 film)|Gharana]]''||Kailash||
|-
| 1963|| ''[[Dil Ek Mandir]]'' ||Ram||[[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]]
|-
| 1963|| ''[[Godaan]]'' ||Hari||
|-
| 1963|| ''[[Phool Bane Angaare]]'' ||Captain Rajesh||
|-
| 1963|| ''[[Pyar Ka Bandhan]]'' ||Kalu||
|-
| 1964|| ''[[Zindagi (1964 film)|Zindagi]]'' ||Gopal||
|-
| 1965|| ''[[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]]'' ||Raju / Raja||[[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]]
|-
| 1965|| ''[[Kaajal]]''||Moti||Nominated, [[Filmfare Best Actor Award]]
Nominated, [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]]
|-
| 1965|| ''[[Oonche Log (1965 film)|Oonche Log]]'' ||Inspector Shrikant||
|-
| 1965|| ''[[Rishte Naate]]'' ||Sundar||
|-
| 1967|| ''[[Hamraaz]]'' ||Captain Rajesh||
|-
| 1967|| ''[[Nai Roshni (1967)|Nai Roshni]]'' ||Jyoti Kumar||
|-
| 1968|| ''[[Mere Huzoor]]'' ||Nawab Salim||
|-
| 1968|| ''[[Neel Kamal (1968 film)|Neel Kamal]]'' ||Chitrasen||Nominated, [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award]]
|-
| 1968|| ''[[Vaasna]]'' ||Kailash Chander||
|-
| 1970|| ''[[Heer Raanjha]]'' ||Ranjha||
|-
| 1971|| ''[[Lal Patthar]]'' ||Kumar Bahadur Gyan Shankar Rai||
|-
| 1971|| ''[[Maryada (1971 film)|Maryada]]'' ||Raja Babu / Raj Bahadur||
|-
| 1972|| ''[[Pakeezah]]'' ||Salim Ahmed Khan||
|-
| 1972|| ''[[Dil Ka Raja|Dil Ka Raaja]]'' ||Raja Vichitra Raghupati Singh / Raja Raj Singh 'Raju'||Double Role
|-
| 1973|| ''[[Hindustan Ki Kasam]]''|| Rajib ||
|-
| 1974|| ''[[36 Ghante]]'' ||Editor Ashok Rai||
|-
| 1976|| ''[[Ek Se Badhkar Ek (1976 film)|Ek Se Badhkar Ek]]'' ||Shankar||
|-
| 1978|| ''[[Karmayogi (1978 film)|Karmayogi]]''||Shankar / Mohan||Double Role
|-
| 1980|| ''[[Chambal Ki Kasam]]''||Thakur Suraj Singh||
|-
| 1981|| ''[[Bulundi]]'' ||Professor Satish Khurana||
|-
| 1981|| ''[[Kudrat]]'' ||Choudhary Janak Singh||
|-
| 1982|| ''[[Dharam Kanta]]'' ||Thakur Bhawani Singh||
|-
| 1984|| ''[[Ek Nai Paheli]]'' ||Upendranath||
|-
| 1984|| ''[[Raaj Tilak (1984 film)|Raaj Tilak]]'' ||Samadh Khan||
|-
| 1984|| ''[[Sharara]]'' ||Dharamveer Singh Pathan||
|-
| 1987|| ''[[Itihaas (1987 film)|Itihaas]]'' ||Joginder Singh||
|-
| 1987|| ''[[Marte Dam Tak]]'' ||Sub Inspector Rane / Rana||
|-
| 1987|| ''[[Muqaddar Ka Faisla]]'' ||Pandit Krishnakant||
|-
| 1988|| ''[[Mohabbat Ke Dushman]]'' ||Rehmat Khan||
|-
| 1988|| ''[[Saazish (1988 film)|Saazish]]'' ||Kailash||
|-
| 1988|| ''[[Mahaveera (film)|Mahaveera]]'' ||DSP Karamveer / Don||
|-
| 1989|| ''[[Desh Ke Dushman]]'' ||Sher Khan||
|-
| 1989|| ''[[Jung Baaz|Jungbaaz]]'' ||Advocate Krishna Prasad Saxena||
|-
| 1989|| ''[[Galiyon Ka Badshah]]''||Ram / Raja||
|-
| 1989|| ''[[Suryaa: An Awakening|Suryaa]]''||Rajpal Chauhan||
|-
| 1990|| ''[[Police Public]]''||CBI Inspector Jagmohan Azad||
|-
| 1991|| ''[[Saudagar (1991 film)|Saudagar]]'' ||Thakur Rajeshwar Singh||
|-
| 1992|| ''[[Police Aur Mujrim]]'' ||Police Commissioner Veer Bahadur Singh||
|-
| 1993|| ''[[Insaniyat Ke Devta]]'' ||Jailor Rana Pratap Singh||
|-
| 1993|| ''[[Tirangaa]]'' || Brigadier Suryadev Singh||
|-
| 1994|| ''[[Ulfat Ki Nayee Manzilen]]''||Raj||
|-
| 1994|| ''[[Betaaj Badshah]]'' ||Raja Prithviraj||
|-
| 1995|| ''[[Jawab (1995 film)|Jawab]]''||Ashwini Kumar Saxena||
|-
| 1995|| ''[[God and Gun|God And Gun]]''||Sahib Bahadur Rathore||
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0474855}}

{{FilmfareBestSupportingActorAward}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Raaj}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Police officers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Male actors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]

Raaj Kumar - Revision history

2406:E003:1444:2601:C3:DEA7:39A5:7456 at 11:20, 28 August 2021