Sanjeev Kumar Birth Anniversary: From Losing His Father at 11 to Becoming Bollywood's Iconic Thakur

Sanjeev Kumar was a legendary Bollywood actor who was born on July 9, 1938, as Harihar Jethalal Jariwala. However, Harihar Jethalal's life was not easy. When he was only eleven years old, his father passed away. After his father's death, Harihar and his family relocated to Mumbai. He faced several hardships there, including poverty and a lack of food. 

Harihar had always been an enthusiastic actor since his childhood. He started acting in plays through IPTA and Indian National Theatre. His mother, who even sold her jewellery to help him pursue his passion, became a strong pillar of support in his acting journey.

Harihar made his film debut in 1960 with a small role in the film "Hum Hindustani." Harihar appeared as a police inspector in the film. His appearance in the film was so minor that his name was not even mentioned in the credits.

From Harihar Jethalal to Sanjeev Kumar

Harihar adopted the screen name Sanjeev Kumar when he started working as a lead actor in films. The famous director Sawan Kumar Tak had changed his name. He became known due to his films "Shanghaar" and "Shikar," made in 1968.

Sanjeev's greatest distinction was that he never shied away from portraying older characters on the big screen. At the age of 34, he won the National Film Award for his portrayal of a deaf and mute man in the film "Koshish" (1972).

The Iconic Role of Thakur in Sholay

In the 1975 film "Sholay," which remains popular even today, Sanjeev played the role of Thakur Baldev Singh. This role became so popular that people now call it an immortal character. His performance as a man without hands and using only his eyes and voice, remains unmatched even today.

Some of his most notable blockbusters include "Aandhi," "Mausam," "Angoor," "Trishul," and "Khilona." During his career spanning about 25 years, he acted in almost 140–150 movies, out of which around 100 were leading roles, while the others were parallel lead roles.

Sanjeev Kumar's Health Struggles

Sanjeev Kumar died on November 6, 1985, at the age of 47, from a severe heart attack. On the morning of November 6, 1985, Sanjeev suffered severe chest pain at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai, but he died before he could be admitted to the hospital. Sanjeev had already suffered an earlier heart attack in 1978, following which he had gone to the US for treatment and had bypass surgery.

Sanjeev Kumar was known to be fond of food. He would eat heavy and oily meals late at night after shooting. He also had a habit of drinking and smoking, which further weakened his heart. Furthermore, his family had a genetic history of early male deaths. His father and younger brother (Nikul) both died of heart disease before the age of 50.

Today, Sanjeev is not present among us, but the characters played by him are still alive in the hearts of people.