Latest news with #RaajKumar
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor increased his fees even after giving flop films, charged Rs... per movie, was once jailed for..., he was…
Bollywood has seen many aspiring stars who entered the industry with big dreams but faded away after facing box office failures. Some actors, despite having a hit debut, couldn't connect with the audience. After a few flops, many chose to quietly step away from the limelight, either shifting careers or returning to private life. But, there was this one actor who did the exact opposite by raising his fee by Rs 1 lakh even after giving multiple flops. Despite this, his unusual confidence and quirky attitude made him a memorable figure in the history of Bollywood. The Veteran Actor of Bollywood Here we are talking about legendary late actor Raaj Kumar, who is considered one of the renowned actors in the industry. However, before becoming Raaj Kumar, the actor was known as Kulbhushan Pandit, who started his work front in 1950 from Mahim Police Station as a policeman. Later, he made his Bollywood debut with the film Rangeeli in 1952 and later earned huge applause from the audience through many great films that include Mother India, Ghar Ek Mandir, Neel Kamal, Gharana, Pakeezah, Heer Ranjha, Saudagar, and Tirangaa. Meanwhile, the legendary actor with an unmatchable aura also tasted the bitter taste of many flops, but it did not affect his swag and style at all. When Raaj Kumar Talked About Hiking His Fees Despite Flops Many years back, during an interview with Lehren Retro, he talked about his fees and shared an interesting anecdote about his manager. The actor said, 'I remember my movies used to fail and my price used to go up by Rs 1 lakh and my secretary used to ask me, 'Raaj sahab, picture toh chali nahi, aap ek lakh aur badha rahe hai.' Maine kaha, picture chale na chale, main fail nahi hua, isliye ek lakh aur badhega.'' When Raaj Kumar Faced Legal Trouble Due To… Following the premiere of his iconic film Mother India, Raaj Kumar went for an evening drive with his friend, director Prakash Arora, and his wife. Raaj Kumar stopped at a nearby paan shop to enjoy a paan. Later, a few individuals gathered around Raaj Kumar and began heckling him. Eventually, the actor retaliated, resulting in a violent fight. At the end, one man was killed and Raaj Kumar was captured. After a year-long trial, Raaj Kumar was cleared of all charges pressed against him. It is also been said that Raaj Kumar's police background became one of the deciding factors for his dismissal from all allegations. Raaj Kumar's last film was 1995's God and Gun. He married his life partner, Jennifer, who was a flight attendant by profession. The couple stayed together for the rest of their lives and raised three children. In the year 1996, Raaj Kumar took his last breath due to throat cancer and left this world.
India.com
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Despite giving flop films, this actor's fees kept increasing, never regretted doing a flop film, not Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Chiranjeevi, Shah Rukh Khan, he is…
When we talk about famous one-liner dialogues or swag in Hindi films, Raaj Kumar's name comes to mind first. He was a star whose style was more talked about than his acting. Raaj Kumar was especially famous among every audience of his time for his swag. Perhaps this was the reason that people liked Raaj Kumar in whatever style he appeared in the film. The outcome of the film was a matter of later. Raaj Kumar had discussed his films and his fees in an interview. That same old interview of his is now going viral. This actor's film flopped, yet his fees increased An Instagram handle, Filmi Vichar has shared a video, veteran actor Raaj Kumar is seen. He is wearing a black jacket and holding sunglasses in his hand. It would not be wrong to say that Raaj Kumar's style looks amazing. In this interview, he is asked if he has ever regretted anything. Then Raaj Kumar says that he has never regretted it. He further reveals that once one of his films flopped, but his fees increased by Rs 1 lakh. Then his secretary asked him why the film flopped, and then how it increased. In response, Raaj Kumar says that the film flopped, but he did not fail. That is why he increased his fees. Take a look at this viral video: Whoever saw this old interview could not stop themselves from praising Raaj Kumar. One user wrote, 'What an attitude, this is called perfect attitude'. Another user penned that, 'a biopic should be made on him.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Govinda gifted his shirt to Raaj Kumar and got stunned by the reaction
Govinda and Raaj Kumar Back in 1987, during the shooting of 'Marte Dam Tak' the sets witnessed a memorable incident involving two iconic actors—Govinda and Raaj Kumar. Known for his unique and sometimes eccentric presence on film sets, Raaj Kumar once had a playful yet sharp exchange with the young Govinda that has since become a piece of Bollywood folklore. The story was recently shared by the film's director, Mehul Kumar who was giving fans a peek into the lighter side of the industry's veterans. Govinda had worn a bright and eye-catching shirt to the set that day which caught Raaj Kumar's attention. Raaj Kumar complimented the actor on his shirt but the praise was laced with sarcasm. However, Govinda didn't catch the subtle irony in Raaj Kumar's words. Taking the compliment at face value, Govinda decided to gift Raaj Kumar the very same shirt the following day as a gesture of goodwill. What happened next left everyone stunned Raaj Kumar with his trademark wit, transformed Govinda's generous gift into a practical handkerchief using it openly to wipe his hands and nose. This unexpected act of sarcasm played out right in front of Govinda, who was left speechless by the incident. Mehul Kumar recounted this moment to Bollywood Thikana adding that Govinda likely found the whole episode a bit awkward. Raaj kumar's playful jabs and behind-the-scenes banter Mehul Kumar also revealed another amusing anecdote about Raaj Kumar's observations on Govinda's energetic nature. The veteran actor remarked to the director that Govinda was constantly dancing—even while on set. Mehul's reaction was simple, 'he is a dancer,' but Raaj Kumar couldn't understand why Govinda's dancing seemed relentless, jokingly questioning his nonstop moves. This light-hearted teasing, however was never directed openly at Govinda, keeping their professional respect intact. Mehul Kumar's cinematic journey Though 'Marte Dam Tak' didn't make a major impact at the box office, Mehul Kumar went on to direct some of the most memorable hits in the 1990s. His films 'Tirangaa' (1992) and 'Krantiveer' (1994) remain cult classics, featuring powerful performances from legends like Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar. 'Tirangaa' paired Raaj Kumar with Nana Patekar, while 'Krantiveer' brought together Nana and Atul Agnihotri, further establishing Mehul Kumar's reputation as a filmmaker of impactful cinema. Looking ahead: Govinda's comeback Fans of Govinda can look forward to his upcoming film ' Bhagam Bhag 2 ,' slated for release in 2026. The actor's charm and energy continue to captivate audiences, proving his enduring appeal in the Bollywood landscape. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
India.com
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor once made fun of Dharmendra, called him a wrestler, the Sholay star broke his arrogance by showing him..., the actor was...
This actor once made fun of Dharmendra, called him a wrestler, He-Man broke his arrogance by showing him..., the actor was... The late Bollywood star Raaj Kumar exuded an enigmatic charm that gave him a commanding presence on-screen. Before venturing into films, he had served as a sub-inspector with the Bombay Police, and brought that no-nonsense cop persona with him on the silver screen. Apart from work, he was also famous in the industry for his arrogance, making it difficult for his co-stars to get along with him during the shoots. As much as he was respected for his craft, people feared him due to his behaviour. However, there was one actor who refused to hold it back and gave him the taste of his own medicine. The veteran actor was Dharmendra. During the making of the 1965 movie Kaajal , Raaj Kumar made a remark on Dharmendra's muscular appearance that didn't settle well with the actor. According to reports, he asked filmmaker Ram Maheshwari whether his requirement were actors or wrestlers for the movie. Dharmendra was furious after hearing this, but he chose not to react. However, Raaj Kumar later mocked Dharmendra, calling him monkey, and laughing at his joke. This time, the Sholay actor lost his temper and even held Raaj Kumar by his collar. The matter could have escalated further if the crew members not intervened and distanced the two. After the heated argument with Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar reportedly walked out of the sets and declined to shoot further. The film got completely eventually after convincing both the actors to make peace and work together. Kaajal was a box office hit and starred Meena Kumari, Padmini, Mumtaz and Helen in key roles. According to reports, Dharmendra and Raaj Kumar got into a nasty fight for the second time at a private party. Rumours claim that Raaj Kumar made some offending comments on Dharmendra's son Sunny Deol at his presence. Raaj Kumar died in 1996 due to throat cancer. His son Puru Rajkumar also starred in a few films.
India Today
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Waqt: Earthquakes, epiphanies and the baap of masala cinema
As part of our series on Hindi films from the past, we revisit the blockbuster 'Waqt' that can easily be called the baap of masala cinema, and the maa of lost-and-found–and the twain meet at the Waqt (1965)Cast: Balraj Sahni, Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Sadhana Shivdasani, Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Rehman, Achla Sachdev, Madan Puri and Yash ChopraBox-Office Status: Super-hitWhere to Watch: YouTubeWhy to Watch: Raaj Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Raaj Kumar –rewindMoral of the Story: Don't run when an earthquake hitsadvertisementYash Chopra made 'Waqt' (Time) for an audience with a sub-50 IQ. Sahir Ludhianvi wrote poetry for listeners with a plus-100 IQ. Between the two, they managed to fool all of India at the same time with an absurd masterpiece.'Waqt's' plot, an ode to the times when hominins had very small brains, could have been imagined in the Bhimbetaka caves. Photo credit: IMDb An earthquake strikes the posh abode of Lala Kedarnath (Sahni) while he is making grand plans for his three sons. Within minutes, the family gets scattered across India. Lalaji is presumed dead. The eldest son ends up in an orphanage. The middle one is picked up by a wealthy family from Bombay. The youngest and his mother (Achla Sachdev - the pre-Nirupa Roy mom in all such tragedies) wind up in Delhi. A chitrahaar, a farcical he-dunnit and a kindergarten-level court trial later, they are united. The final message: 'Waqt's' fleeting, all can an earthquake separate a family? To make the lost-and-found plausible, Chopra could have at least replaced it with some other tragic trigger - a flood perhaps, especially when Kedarnath and Sons are presumably from pre-partition Punjab, where rivers were plentiful. But no. He starts at the highest note of stupidity, and from there diligently follows the Olympic motto: faster, crazier, that's the beauty of the film. It is so inane that it is actually great. It is so dope that it is almost hallucinogenic - a trip to a land of unwavering belief in disbelief. You watch it till the end to figure out what other bizarre twists the writer-director will conjure to keep the 60000-BC vibe going. Photo credit: IMDb In the end, Chopra pulls it off with such audacity that he should have got the highest gallantry award for cinematic bravery, instead of the Filmfare for Best Director he actually film is relentless middle-finger-to-the-audience daring. Sample one:Raaj Kumar is accused of murdering Madan Puri. In court, his lawyer, Sunil Dutt, interrupts the proceedings to dramatically announce the discovery of the aala-e-qatl (murder weapon). He then flashes a Rampuri-chaku at Chinnoy Seth (Rehman), who is deposing as a (wide-eyed, in chaste Urdu): 'The knife shows there could have been only one murderer, Chinnoy Seth– his name is on it.'Rehman (wide-eyed, hair falling on forehead): 'Wrong.'Dutt (eyes drilling Rehman): 'Why?'Rehman: 'Because the victim was killed with his own knife'Dutt: 'How does he know the weapon was the victim's knife?' (Imagine a thigh-slap and a gotcha!)Stunned sweating now - you can sense another stupidity loading. He dabs his face with a handkerchief, unsheathes a rapier from a walking stick and thrusts it at 'Arrest him.'QED - Rehman implicates himself and the audience, proving that cinema is like democracy–by the director, of the director, for the how did this low-IQ film become a high-earner, grossing approximately Rs 6 crore, the equivalent of Rs 500 crore today?If you can't baffle them with your intelligence, dazzle them with your BS. So, Chopra cooks the trashy story with a cunning recipe: large variety, small portions, lots of masala and a grand setting. The ensemble ensures plenty of quick, snappy side stories till they merge with the main plot. The action oscillates between Punjab and Delhi, Mumbai and Khandla, Mumbai and Kashmir like a yo-yo on steroids. The frenzied editing leaves no time even for a loo break. When the pace stalls, Chopra serves Ravi's fabulous songs - each a masterpiece of Sahir's poetry. He sprinkles this lavish buffet with a scene far ahead of its time: Sadhana in a swimsuit, cootchie-cooing with a bare-chested Sunil Dutt (a precursor to 'Gapoochi-Gapoochi' of 'Trishul'.) And in no waqt, the film is over. Photo credit: IMDb advertisement'Waqt' has stood the test of time (in spite of its fool-ya-gotcha kind of plot) for two reasons. Its music and poetry are timeless. 'Aage Bhi Jaane', 'Waqt Se Din Aur Raat', 'Kaun Aaya' and 'Chehre Pe Khushi' are poignant, poetic and romantic -philosophical musings in a madhouse. Even 60 years later, 'Ae Meri Johra Zabin', is obligatory at wedding anniversary parties. The sight of couples dancing to it on their 25th/50th, reminds us the song's the anthem of till-death-do-us-part kinda the star of the show is Raaj Kumar. This was his greatest outing. He dresses impeccably in sharp suits and square-edge ties (the film's a fash-fest between Dutt, Kumar, Sadhana and Sharmila). With the right shoulder drooping, he struts around with a tiger-esque swag. Throughout the film, Sunil Dutt gets to speak fast, and gibberish like 'toofan-e-humdum, gul-e-gulzar.' But Raaj Kumar steals the show with just two lines - the dialogues that sum up his entire a moment of cinematic immortality, he walks up to Madan Puri, who has just flipped open a Rampuri, and coolly tells him: 'Ye bachchon ke khelne ki cheez nahin, haath kat jaye toh khoon nikal aata hai.' Throwing away the knife, he laughs disdainfully. Photo credit: IMDb The tone is conversational, almost like a parent chiding a kid. Yet, the sheer sound of Raaj Kumar's gravelly voice and its controlled anger convey the menacing power of a thousand a rare moment of exhilarating brilliance in a cornucopia of absurdity. Even 'Waqt' has its waqt–however ridiculous brilliance and Raaj Kumar's timeless swagger prove that even fleeting moments can create cinematic Sharma likes to spin gripping tales on cricket, cinema, and history, deeming all else utterly pointless and yawn-inducing. When not scribbling, he dodges life's mundane bits by reading everything under the sun, including his own Watch
