Rajendra Kumar Tuli (20 July 1929 - 12 July 1999) was an Indian film actor who starred in Bollywood films. Starting his career in 1950, he appeared in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades. He was considered as one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s. He also produced several films starring his son Kumar Gaurav. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1969.

He was born in a Punjabi Hindu family in Sialkot, in the Punjab province of British India, now in Pakistan.

Career

Rajendra Kumar's family was based in Punjab, Pakistan. His grandfather was a successful military contractor and his father had a textile business in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. During the Partition of India, the family had to leave all the land and property behind and move to India. When they came to Bombay, Kumar decided to try his luck in the Hindi film industry. He never wanted to be a hero and took up work with director H. S. Rawail as an assistant. For nearly five years, he worked with Rawail as an assistant in films like Patanga, Sagai, Pocketmaar.

During this time he made his film debut with a small role in Kidar Sharma's 1950 film Jogan, opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis. It was producer Devendra Goel who noticed Kumar in Jogan and gave him a break in Vachan in 1955. Kumar was paid only fifteen hundred rupees for the film; however, the film was a hit and was Kumar's first silver jubilee film and he was given a title - 'A star is Born'. He got further success with his supporting role in Mehboob Khan's blockbuster epic film Mother India in 1957 in which he played Nargis's character's son. His first major success as a romantic leading man was in Amit Saxena's musical Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), co-starring Ameeta.

The 1960s saw Kumar rise to stardom. There were times when he had six or seven films which had run for more than 25 weeks (known in India as a "silver jubilee film"), all running at the cinema at the same time, which rendered him the nickname "Jubilee Kumar". He starred in many box office hits including Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Mere Mehboob (1963), Sangam (1964), Arzoo (1965), Suraj (1966), Talash and Ganwaar (1970). He received the Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor for Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Arzoo (1965), and as Best Supporting Actor for Sangam (1964).

From 1972 onwards, he faced competition from Rajesh Khanna and many of his films were flops. He was offered a role in the film Saajan Bina Suhaagan opposite Nutan in 1978 which was a success. He then switched to character roles in the late 1970s and 1980s. He also starred in a number of Punjabi films like Teri meri ek jindari.

In 1981 Rajendra introduced his son Kumar Gaurav in the film Love Story which he produced and also starred in. The film was declared a blockbuster. Rajendra produced several other films starring his son including Naam, which also featured his son's brother-in-law Sanjay Dutt, in leading role. He produced and acted with his son again in the 1993 film Phool. In 1995 he acted in the television serial Andaz which was his last acting role.

Personal life

He married Shukla (producer/director O P Ralhan's sister) and had a son and two daughters. His son Kumar Gaurav also had a brief acting career.

Kumar acted with Sunil Dutt and Nargis in the film Mother India (1957) where Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar played natural sons of Nargis's character. He had a special relationship with Dutt and used to actively participate in campaigning for him, whenever the latter used to contest for elections. Dutt quoted as having said that "Even though Rajendra Kumar did not win any award throughout his career, he was one of the most genuine human beings I have ever encountered. When I was struggling with the troubles related to the arrest of my son Sanjay Dutt and my house was repeatedly being searched by means of numerous police raids, Rajendra Kumar was the one who came to my rescue by staying at my house and ensuring that raids were conducted using due procedures, false evidences were not planted in the house and valuables were not stolen." Kumar was best friends with Raj Kapoor, so much so that his son Kumar Gaurav was engaged to the latter's daughter, Reema. As fate would have it, this friendship could not last long after their children broke the engagement and Kumar Gaurav got married to Sunil Dutt and Nargis's daughter Namrata.

He attained a PHD and had a title of 'Doctor' prefixed to his name.

For the premier of his film Vachan, he was asked if he wanted any seats for his relatives or friends, and thinking that it would be complimentary, he answered ten. After some days when he went to get his fees from the producer's accountant, he was given a lesser amount and when he asked why he was told that the money was deducted for the seats he took for his relatives and friends. He took this lesson as a principle of production and when he produced Naam, he deducted some amount from Amrita Singh's fees for the long calls she had made from Hong Kong to India.

Death

Known to refuse taking any medication, he succumbed to cancer on 12 July 1999, just a day after his son's 39th birthday, and just 8 days before his 70th birthday.

Honours and recognitions

• Rajendra Kumar was honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 1969.
• He was also conferred with Justice of Peace honour and served as Honorary Magistrate.
• He was awarded the National Honour by late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru simultaneously for "Kanoon" (Hindi) and "Mehndi Rang Lagyo" (Gujarati film).
• He received a special Shastri National Award and was associated with several charity schemes.

Awards and nominations

Rajendra Kumar was nominated for Best Actor award three times.

Filmography

Actor

• Andaz (1995) TV series
• Vansh (1995) TV series
• Phool (1993) .... Dharamraaj
• Insaaf Ka Khoon (1991) .... Judge Kumar
• Clerk (1989) .... Rahim U. Khan
• Main Tere Liye (1988) .... Shiva
• Lovers (1983) .... Christian Priest
• Rustom (1982) .... J. D. Mehta
• Yeh Rishta Na Tootay (1981) .... Police Inspector Vijay Kumar
• Saajan Ki Saheli (1981) .... Barrister Avinash Kumar
• Love Story (1981) .... Vijay Mehra
• Oh Bewafa (1980) .... R.K
• Dhan Daulat (1980) .... Raj Saxena
• Badla Aur Balidan (1980)
• Gunehgaar (1980)
• Bin Phere Hum Tere (1979) .... Jagdish Sharma
• Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978) .... Raj Kumar
• Aahuti (1978) .... CID Inspector Ram Prasad/Rocky
• Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath (1978) .... Shankar
• Daku Aur Mahatma (1977)
• Do Sholay (1977)
• Shirdi Ke Sai Baba (1977) .... Doctor (Pooja's husband)
• Mazdoor Zindabaad (1976) (uncredited) .... Ram Singh
• Do Jasoos (1975) .... Karamchand Jasoos
• Rani Aur Lalpari (1975) .... Rani's dad
• Sunehra Sansar (1975) .... Chandrashekhar
• Teri Meri Ik Jindri (1975) .... Jaggar Singh Fauji
• Do Sher (1974)(Punjabi Movie) .... Shera
• Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974) .... Boatsman
• Lalkar (The Challenge) (1972) .... Wing Commander Rajan Kapoor
• Aan Baan (1972) .... Suraj
• Gaon Hamara Shaher Tumhara (1972) .... Brij "Birju" Bhushan
• Gora Aur Kala (1972) .... Karan Singh/Kali Singh (Kalua)
• Tangewala (1972) .... Rai Bahadur Kishandas/Raju/Dilbahadur Khan
• Aap Aye Bahaar Ayee (1971) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Rohit Kumar Verma
• Dharti (1970) .... Bharat
• Ganwaar (1970) .... Gopal Rai
• Geet (1970) .... Suraj 'Sarju' Kumar
• Mera Naam Joker (1970) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Mahender Kumar
• Anjaana (1969) .... Raju
• Shatranj (1969) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Jai/Vijay/Shinranz
• Talash (1969) .... Raj Kumar 'Raju'
• Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Sanjay/Tarun Kumar 'Battu' 'Pappu' Saxena
• Saathi (1968) .... Ravi
• Aman (1967) .... Dr. Gautamdas
• Palki (1967) .... Naseem Baig
• Suraj (1966) .... Suraj Singh
• Arzoo (1965) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Gopal/Sarju
• Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Shyam
• Sangam (1964) .... Magistrate Gopal Verma
• Zindagi (1964) .... Rajendra "Rajan"
• Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) (as Rajendrakumar) .... Prince Amardeep
• Dil Ek Mandir (1963) .... Dr. Dharmesh
• Gehra Daag (1963) .... Shanker
• Hamrahi (1963) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Shekhar
• Mere Mehboob (1963) .... Anwar
• Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) .... Rajan 'Raju' Khanna
• Dharmputra (uncredited) .... Special appearance
• Amar Rahe Yeh Pyar (1961) .... Advocate Iqbal Hussain
• Gharana (1961) .... Kamal
• Pyaar Ka Saagar (1961) .... Kishen Chand Gupta
• Sasural (1961) .... Shekhar
• Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961) .... Inspector Manoj
• Kanoon (1960) .... Advocate Kailash Khanna
• Maa Baap (1960) .... Raj Kumar 'Raju'
• Mehndi Rang Lagyo (1960) .... Anil
• Patang (1960) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Dr. Rajan
• Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959) .... Dr. Anand
• Dhool Ka Phool (1959) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Mahesh Kapoor
• Do Behnen (1959)
• Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) .... Kishan
• Santan (1959)
• Devar Bhabhi (1958)
• Ghar Sansar (1958) .... Deepak
• Khazanchi (1958) .... Harish Mohan
• Talaaq (1958) .... Ravi Shankar Chaube
• Mother India (1957) .... Ramu
• Ek Jhalak (1957)
• Aawaz (1956) .... Ashok
• Toofan Aur Deeya (1956) .... Satish Sharma/Master-Ji
• Vachan (1955) .... Kishore
• Jogan (1950) .... Vijay's friend
• Patanga (1949) .... Small Stage Role

Producer

• The Jungle Book (1994) (co-executive producer) (co-producer)
• Phool (1993) (producer)
• Jurrat (1989) (producer)
• Naam (1986) (producer)
• Lovers (1983) (producer)
• Love Story (1981) (producer)

Presenter

• The Train (1970)
• Ganwaar (1970)
• Talash (1969)
• Phool Aur Patthar (1966)

Editor

• Jurrat (1989)

Director

• Love Story (1981)

Soundtrack

• Mere Mehboob (1963) (performer: "Mere Mehboob Tujhe", "Allah Bachaye", "Tere Pyar Mein Dildar", "Janeman Ek Nazar", "Yaad Mein Teri", "Tumse Izhar e Haal", "Mere Mehboob Mein Kya", "Ae Husn Zara Jaag", "Yaad Mein (revival)")

Thanks

• Mera Naam Joker (1970) (acknowledgment) (as Rajender Kumar)

Self

• Raj Kapoor (1987) .... Himself (during funeral)
• Star (1982) .... Himself (Guest Appearance)
• Shrimanji (1968) .... Himself
• Kala Bazar (1960) .... Himself

Archive Footage

• Film Hi Film (1983) (uncredited)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]