This actor did over 200 films, played same role in 144 films, failed to become a star, his name was..., was Bollywood's most...
Today, we will highlight the journey of this actor who played the same kind of role in over 100 films, and was stereotyped so strongly that just one role defined his entire career. In his nearly 50-years of career, he arguably became Bollywood's most typecast actor. The man is none other than Jagdish Raj Khurana, recognised as just Jagdish Raj on-screen.
The actor, who worked in over 200 films, played every kind of role from a villain to second lead, but found his true calling in a cope role. For over 40 years, Jagdish Raj portrayed the role of a police cop in 144 different films. This significant achievement made him secure a name in Limca Book of Records and Guinness Book of World Records for playing just one role in most number of films. Whether in a big or small project, he truly embraced his cop role, without fearing of getting stereotyped.
Born in 1928, Jagdish Raj started his acting career with the film Seema (1955), in which he played the role of a doctor. After that, he played a cop for the first time in CID , and garnered limelight, with several police officer roles coming his way.
Over the next 15 years, he starred in hits like Madhumati, Kala Bazar, Waqt, Bhoot Bungla, Johnny Mera Naam, and Bobby, majorly playing a cop role in mostly all the films. He also experimented with his craft, and played a gangster in Deewar and a dacoit in Zameer.
He then came back to playing police officer roles in films like Don, Kaala Patthar, and Shakti. By 1980s and 90s, he began playing DSPs and DIGs instead of inspectors. Over the course of his acting career, Jagdish Raj appeared in number of films, but unfortunately, failed to attain the status of superstar.
Before retiring from films, the actor's final role was in 2001 release Kasam , in which he played the role of a senior inspector. Jagdish Raj died in 2013 at the age of 85 due to respiratory illness.
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