His versatility was his hallmark. Harihar Jethalal Jariwala aka Sanjeev Kumar brings to the audience a wide range of characters in the most relatable manner. He was one of the finest actors of Indian cinema and loved to play unconventional roles. That he was willing to play the role of father to those who were his contemporaries – Sharmila TagoreMausam), Jaya Bhaduri (introduction) and Amitabh Bachchan (trident) – told about his attitude towards acting. He was a man for all seasons.
Hanif Zaveri and Sumant Batra put together an authoritative biography of Sanjeev Kumar 35 years after his death with an emotional foreword by Shatrughan Sinha. This book is a perfect tribute to Sanjeev the man and the artist. It is a lively anecdotal journey that traces the star’s rise from tough times to his status as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema.
It took a while for the book to take shape – 12 years to be exact. Zaveri spoke to at least 110 friends, personal and professional, and family members of Sanjeev to come up with this comprehensive story, which includes a glimpse into the actor’s childhood and early days of struggle in the film industry. The book may not have happened but Dilip Kumar suggests to Zaveri that he should write on Sanjeev.
Sanjeev passed away at the age of 47, but he left a huge impact on the industry with his friendly personality and helpful nature. Sanjeev, as the book tells us, went through difficulties in his formative years as his mother struggled to make ends meet, being unable to maintain her education. Due to financial constraints, he had to shift to a Gujarati medium school.
The author also throws light on the little known aspects of Sanjeev’s life. He was a keen sportsman, interested in table tennis and cricket. He was a good batsman in the Inter School Tournament held at the Oval Ground near Churchgate. It was during these matches that Sanjeev befriended an opponent, a bowler, who later developed into a popular character actor by the name of Satyen Kappu.
After struggling to make a mark in the tinsel town through a few ‘B’ grade films, Sanjeev got his big break Conflict in 1968. The veteran Dilip Kumar played the lead role in it. Sanjeev did not applaud some critics saying that he is better than Dilip Kumar. “People wrote that Conflict I was better than Dilip Kumar. Do you think this was correct? I do not think so. people went to see Conflict For Dilip Kumar, not for me. The truth is that Dilip Kumar is Dilip Kumar. No one can beat him,” Sanjeev is quoted in the book.
The book goes into detail about Sanjeev’s involvement with Nutan, who ended the relationship by slapping him in a studio, and his subsequent love affair with Hema Malini. The author writes, “Sanjeev was determined to marry Hema.” They came very close to each other after an incident during the shooting of a song in Seeta Aur Geeta, Skating on the streets of Mahabaleshwar. “In a terrifying moment, the trolley came loose, while both Hema and Sanjeev were on it, and headed towards a cliff. Fortunately, the road turned inward and both actors fell through the treacherous abyss. He survived with minor cuts and injuries. This brush with death brought him closer, ”the author writes.
However, the marriage never took place, as Hema was keen to continue her career in films, which did not meet the approval of Sanjeev’s family. “They both parted ways. More than friends, Sanjeev needed a wife who could take care of him and Hema was capable of that,” reflects actor Rehana Sultana.
Sanjeev continued to conquer peaks with his acting, playing some amazing roles so effortlessly that he got the pleasure of a director. The writer sums it up nicely, “Sanjeev Kumar went against the tide, playing diverse and complex roles, each completely different from the other. He could not be tied down to any one stereotype. He knew that audiences were thrifty and that stereotypes ran the risk of becoming stale. His love for the craft and the tendency to experiment led him to choose films solely for the thrill of challenging himself. ,
Actor Sulbha Arya also highlighted the man who was Sanjeev, “Sanjeev was an actor who worked for everyone. He never believed in the difference between A- and B-grade films. Some films he signed for money, some for friends and some for good roles. Whenever he got challenging roles, he worked as hard as he could, even if he had to compromise on his cost. ,
Naya Din Nai Raat, released in 1974, in which he played nine characters. It was a tribute to his talent and earned him praise for his portrayal of a hunter, mobster, scheming god, lover, leper, transvestite stage actor, widower, psychotherapist and alcoholic. For his fans, it was a feast as Sanjeev enthralled the audience with his scintillating range.
For Zaveri, this book is a labor of love. “I am glad that I could do justice to a great actor. I made every effort to reach out to all the important people associated with Sanjeev. They talked about him a lot and loved him for his honesty and helpful nature. He was more than an actor, he was an institution. It is a pity that he died at such a young age,” said Zaveri.
Published by Penguin, the book is a delightful read by Zaveri, a journalist, actor, and playwright, and a fitting tribute to Sumant Batra, a prominent bankruptcy lawyer, and one of India’s most talented actors. As veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha says in his foreword, “Yes, the show must go on, and it is gone. But without Sanjeev Kumar, the show is not what it could have been, would have been and should have been.”
(Vijay Lokpally is a freelance journalist and author)
about the book
An Actor’s Actor: An Authorized Biography of Sanjeev Kumar
Hanif Zaveri, Sumant Batra
Penguin Ebury Press
498/248 pages (hardcover)
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