Latest news with #Deewaar
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Bollywood's greatest character actor died in abject poverty, was ‘banned' by Shiv Sena, funeral went unattended by big Bollywood stars
Actor AK Hangal, who worked across several decades in Hindi cinema, became a household name through his memorable supporting roles in landmark films such as Sholay and Deewaar. Hangal was born in undivided India, jailed in Karachi for his communist views, and 'banned' by the Shiv Sena for associating with Pakistani nationals. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by President APJ Abdul Kalam. Towards the end of his life, he suffered financially, with several of his past colleagues stepping up to lend support. But his funeral was unattended by many of the major stars that he'd worked with over the years. Hangal died in 2012 at the age of 98; this is his story. In a 1997 interview with Rediff, Hangal looked back on his youth. He said, 'After the Partition, I stayed back in Pakistan but I was arrested because of communist ideologies. I spent two years in jail. I was beaten regularly because I would resist everything from bad food to bad civic facilities. I was asked to leave Pakistan and go to India. But how could I leave the place and culture where I was born? One day, Muslim seniors from my party told me to go to India and start party work there, as I was the only Hindu among them. I was given 12 hours to leave Pakistan.' Also read – The director who launched Dharmendra, Kabir Bedi and Zeenat Aman died broke: 'Not in good shape financially or physically' He added, 'I wanted to go to New Delhi to my sister but I had no money. I came to Mumbai with Rs 20 in my pocket. I was 21 years old then. I met some friends from Karachi and they took care of my family and me. Soon, I got a job as a tailor and was paid Rs 500 per month. Those days in 1949, this was a huge amount. I used to have rich customers like the nawab of Pataudi and Britishers. I had to look presentable at all times, so I always wore suits to work.' It was after this that Hangal's career as an actor took off. He appeared in films such as Abhimaan, Anubhav, Deewaar, Sholay, Aandhi, Namak Haraam, Aap Ki Kasam, Shagirdh, Mere Apne, Parichay, Daag, Joshila, Heera Panna, Jawani Diwani, Garam Hawa, Bawarchi, Kora Kagaz, Chit Chor, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Some of his most memorable final roles came in the films Lagaan and Paheli. During his career, he is said to have appeared in 300 films. In 1993, he was banned by the Shiv Sena for interacting with Pakistani nationals and seeking a visa. 'I wanted to visit Pakistan and wanted to collect some material for my memoirs. Was that a crime?' he told Rediff, adding, 'I suffered mental and economic anguish for one year.' He didn't mind that the industry didn't stand up in support of him during this time, saying, 'I was only a character actor. The film industry can choose to ignore me. No huge funds were blocked because of my absence. But theatre people from Kerala sent me some lovely poems, supporting my stand.' A decade or so later, Hangal found himself struggling to make ends meet. His son, the then-75-year-old Vijay Hangal, sent out a message to the industry asking for support. 'There were many people from the industry, who helped me as he went through financial crisis. However, I feel that he never saved money or invested in mediclaim facilities and that's why he went through financial crunch,' he told Rediff. But the support he was looking for came through. 'People who have worked with my father, like Mr Amitabh Bachchan and also people much, much younger, like Karan Johar, have helped out financially when they heard of the state we were in,' he told CNN-IBN. Also read – Bollywood's biggest star of the 1950s became destitute, Amitabh Bachchan spotted him 'alone, unnoticed' at a bus stop: 'I drove on…' Amitabh wrote about Hangal's difficulties in a blog post. 'It has been sad and unnerving to learn today of the dire condition of one of our most devoted and dedicated character artists of the industry, Mr A.K. Hangal. I came to know of this through the kind offices of the cyber – the net and the social net. I have now initiated my office, sitting some distance, to render immediate support and help. As individuals, as fraternity, as humans, that is the least we can do. It has always been disturbing to read and learn of such occurrences. I do not wish to mention names here, for they are individuals that were idolised and revered in their prime, and bringing up their condition now is an act that would seem most demeaning to them and to their stature.' He continued, 'Life's stories have been overloaded with vivid descriptions of unfortunate circumstances. Circumstances that have brought the greats down to their knees. It is shocking and most undesirable to comment on it, but a quiet yet considered action for their good, is what I would want to get involved in. And I do. My prayers and wishes for Hangal Saheb.' Hangal died on August 25, 2012, shortly after celebrating his birthday. His son spoke about the funeral, and said that he wasn't upset that the stars his father worked with didn't attend it. 'The last day was very difficult for him. I am not upset that people from Bollywood did not come for the funeral — may be they have their own problems and there is no point in making stories of all these things. If I do that, I will start feeling small from inside,' he said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jai Santoshi Maa—rivaled Sholay, beat Deewaar
/ May 30, 2025, 11:17PM IST 50 years ago, a film with no superstars went on to become a blockbuster. Such was the impact of this film that it rivalled Sholay in terms of its box office success and even beat the Amitabh-Shashi Kapoor starrer- Deewaar. And at the heart of it was a lesser-known goddess, who drew in the crowds to cinema halls. Theatres felt like temples and the audience like devotees. That was the power of Jai Santoshi Maa that was made on a frugal budget but left a lasting impression.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
The producer of an Amitabh Bachchan film was kidnapped in broad daylight by Pathan mafia; Dilip Kumar got the investigation started
Director Ramesh Sippy's grand follow-up to Sholay, the film Shaan, united the hit Deewaar pair of Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. The film was written by Sholay's Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, but it failed to live up to expectations. Sippy took a third bite of the apple some years later, with the film Shakti. Not only was it written by Salim-Javed, it brought together Amitabh and Dilip Kumar. Shakti was a high-profile project, but it was marred by a curious incident that not many might remember. One of the film's producers, Mushir Alam, was kidnapped in broad daylight by the Pathan mafia. The police were able to identify and apprehend the kidnappers thanks to crucial details that Mushir had memorised, such as seeing a poster of Sholay through a blindfold. Details of the kidnapping were shared by noted crime journalist S Hussain Zaidi on his YouTube channel, and in the memoirs of Isaque Bagwan, a Mumbai police officer who worked in the crime branch at the time, and participated in the investigation. Zaidi said that Mushir was on his way to work when a white Ambassador car pulled up next to him, and three men stepped out with weapons. They grabbed Mushir and shoved him into the Ambassador. A blindfold was put on his eyes. Mushir had the presence of mind to take note of details, like seeing a poster of Sholay (which was still running in theatres seven years after its release), and noting that the stairs that he was instructed to climb were wooden. He also noted hearing the voice of children reading the Quran in chorus. These details would help the police identify and track down the kidnappers later. Also read – When Ramesh Sippy pulled off the biggest casting coup in Hindi cinema, brought together Dilip Kumar-Amitabh Bachchan Mushir's blindfold was taken off, and he was told that he'd need to pay Rs 20 lakh as ransom. He called up an aide, who arranged for nearly Rs 3 lakh. The money was exchanged, and Mushir was let go at an intersection. The story, Zaidi said, was sensational. How could someone with such major connections be kidnapped in broad daylight? While Mushir had resolved to move on with his life, Dilip Kumar insisted that the matter be investigated. In his book, Isaque Bagwan wrote, 'On 24 September 1982, a constable informed us about the arrival of thespian Dilip Kumar at the commissioner's office. We thought that such a famous actor must have come to see the commissioner for the renewal of his gun licence or some other security matter. But that was not the case.' He added, 'When we reached the commissioner's office, we saw Dilip Kumar sitting with two other people. Commissioner Ribeiro said, 'This is Mr Mushir and Mr Riaz.'' Read more – Sikandar: Anurag Kashyap's right; Bollywood is doomed if stars like Salman Khan enable the Snapchat-ification of cinema Mushir narrated his ordeal in detail to the police. Bagwan asked Mushir some critical questions, about the time it took for them to drive to their destination from Haji Ali, about the number of stairs he was asked to climb, about the smells and sights he remembered. Luckily, Mushir did. Bagwan deduced that the building Mushir was taken to must be in the Nagpada area. Upon reaching the location, he discovered the room that Mushir had described, and asked the crowd that had gathered there who the room belongs to. 'Sir, this is the inquiry room of the Amirzada–Alamzeb gang,' they told him. Having identified the kidnappers, the police got to business and tracked them down. They discovered that the plot was hatched with an insider who worked with Mushir, and that the gang's efforts to murder Dawood Ibrahim had depleted their resources. 'Once the whole picture was taken into consideration, we realized that all attempts to kill Dawood had taken a heavy toll on the financial resources of the gang. They desperately needed funds, which is why they had forced Ahmed Sayyad Khan to identify rich targets in the film industry, who in turn led them to Mushir,' Bagwan concluded.
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Emotional Shashi Kapoor Touches Shammi Kapoor's Feet Before Accepting Award
Shashi Kapoor, born on March 18, 1938, was the youngest son of legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor and brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. An emotional throwback video of Shashi Kapoor from the Filmfare Awards has resurfaced online, melting hearts all over again. In the clip, the legendary actor is seen receiving the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and what followed next is now being fondly remembered by fans. A tearful Shashi Kapoor touched the feet of his elder brother, Shammi Kapoor, before receiving the award. Shammi gently cupped his younger brother's face and planted a kiss on his cheek, making it a touching moment of love and respect between the Kapoor siblings. Hosts Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan were present on stage to announce the honour. As Shashi Kapoor made his way up, both stars respectfully touched his feet, a gesture that earned them praise from the audience. Accompanying the moment were Shabana Azmi and Yash Chopra, who jointly presented the award. Before handing over the trophy, Shabana Azmi took a moment to speak about Shashi Kapoor's legacy. 'When I first worked with you in 1974, I could never imagine that I would be given the honour and the privilege to give you the Lifetime Achievement Award. I thank Filmfare for giving me this opportunity. To a wonderful actor, a remarkable human being, a generous producer, and above all, the most beautiful man in the world, Shashi Kapoor," she said. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, acknowledging his unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema. Shashi Kapoor, born on March 18, 1938, was the youngest son of legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor and brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. His career spanned decades, with hits like Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, and Junoon. He also made a mark in international cinema and was a key figure behind Prithvi Theatre's revival. He was married to British actress Jennifer Kendal and together, they created a strong legacy in theatre and film. Shashi Kapoor passed away in 2017 but remains a cherished icon of Indian cinema. First Published:
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Javed Akhtar bought 4,000 sq ft bungalow on Bandra Bandstand for Rs 5 lakh in 1970s, reveals Sahir Ludhianvi was paid in prime real estate by BR Chopra
Javed Akhtar may be one of the most prolific writer-lyricists in the history of Indian cinema, but he's also among the most successful. So much so that he purchased an entire 4,000 square feet bungalow at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai with his savings. The veteran screenwriter-lyricist-poet revealed recently that he bought the bungalow for a mere Rs 5 lakh in the 1970s. When asked if he was the first person in the history of Mumbai real estate to buy a bungalow with just words, Akhtar said, 'I don't know. I have no idea. I'll have to go to everyone's house to find out (laughs),' said Akhtar. But he claimed that his contemporary, Gulzar, who has a bungalow Boskyana at Pali Hill, Bandra, earned from not only poetry and screenwriting, but also direction. 'He had a successful star wife,' Akhtar pointed out, referring to Rakhee Gulzar, popular lead actor in the 1960s and '70s. Boskyana is named after Bosky, the nickname of Meghna Gulzar, filmmaker and the daughter of Gulzar and Rakhee. In the interview with Mid-Day, Akhtar added, 'First of all, bungalows were not so much in vogue anyway in Mumbai. But if Sahir (Ludhianvi, legendary poet and lyricist) wanted, he'd have a bungalow. Ultimately, he made a building in Juhu, bang opposite Sun-N-Sand (hotel), Parchhaiyan, where he had two floors upstairs. The land was given to him by Mr. BR Chopra against the songs of a film. Land was so cheap at that time. And that building was made by Karim Bhai Nadiadwala as remuneration for another film. Maybe he chose not to do it, but he could've made a bungalow.' Akhtar quoted the example of late actor Balraj Sahni, who made a bungalow in exchange of his acting fee. 'It's in a bad condition. I feel very sad looking at it,' he said. Sahni was depressed in the last few months of his life because of the untimely death of his daughter Shabnam. A year after her death, he died of a cardiac arrest inside his bungalow in 1973 at the age of 59. Akhtar has three properties in Maharashtra now — a bungalow at Bandra Bandstand, a sea-facing bungalow in Juhu, and a farmhouse in Khandala. Back in the 1970s and early '80s, Akhtar was part of arguably the most formidable screenwriting duo in the history of Indian cinema — Salim-Javed, which also consisted of Salim Khan, the father of Salman Khan. Also Read — Javed Akhtar on why Indian actors don't speak up against govt: 'There was no income tax raid on Meryl Streep…' They co-wrote scripts of iconic films like Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer (1973), Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975), and Yash Chopra's Deewaar (1975), which crystallised Amitabh Bachchan as the Angry Young Man. After they parted ways in the early 1980s, Akhtar began writing scripts on his own. He wrote films like Rahul Rawail's Betaab (1983) and Shekhar Kapur's Mr India (1987). Akhtar also became a lyricist with Chopra's Silsila (1980) and continues to write songs for films till today.
