| Rajendra Nath | |
| Birth Date: | 8 June 1931 |
| Birth Place: | Tikamgarh, Orchha State, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India) |
| Death Place: | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1938–1998 |
| Known For: | Comedy |
| Relatives: | Prem Nath (brother) Narendra Nath (brother) Raj Kapoor (brother-in-law) Prem Chopra (brother-in-law) |
Rajendra Nath Malhotra (8 June 1931 − 13 February 2008) was an Indian actor and comedian in Hindi and Punjabi films.
Rajendra Nath was born on 8 June 1931 in Tikamgarh, which is now in Madhya Pradesh.[1] [2] His family was from the Karimpura locality of Peshawar but settled in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He studied at Darbar College, Rewa, where Arjun Singh (a Congress politician) and R.P. Agarwal were his classmates.
Rajendra's elder brother Prem Nath went to Mumbai and became an actor, so Rajendra joined him in 1949. They were good friends of Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Rajendra and Prem's sister Krishna married actor-director Raj Kapoor.[3] He had also another brother Narendra Nath who also became an actor who usually played some villain's role in the movies.
Rajendra, who was little interested in studies, quit college and landed in Bombay to work in films like his brother. He did some plays at Prithvi theatre like Pathan and Shakuntala. It was here that he became close to Shammi Kapoor.
Initially Rajendra struggled to get roles till Sashadhar Mukherjee offered him a comedian's role in Dil Deke Dekho, a film directed by Nasir Hussain, starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Rajendra Nath along with Asha Parekh were a regular feature in many Nasir Hussain films like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Baharon Ke Sapne and Pyar Ka Mausam. He also played a villain's role in Hamrahi opposite Shashikala whose character he kills. He has done 187 movies. He was one of the most famous comedians. His best role as comedian was in Mere Sanam and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. He also played the role of Hero/Second Lead in "Vachan" and "Teen Bahuraniyan". He played supporting roles in films like Dharkan by Devendra Goel and Jeevan Mrityu by Rajshri Productions. He played a buffoon called Popatlal in Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, and since then the name became synonymous with Rajendra Nath. He used this name in the famous TV series Hum Paanch.
He then did many films, mostly in comic roles, such as in An Evening in Paris and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. One of his most applauded performances was in Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim though it was not a full-fledged comedy role.He also contributed to Nepal's first movie Maitighar which was shot in Kathmandu, Nepal.
He starred in a number of Punjabi films such as Jatt Punjabi and "Do Posti".
He died on 13 February 2008 from cardiac arrest.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Dil Deke Dekho | Kailash | |||
| 1961 | Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai | Popat Lal / Charlie | |||
| 1963 | Tere Ghar Ke Samne | Ranjit (Ronnie) | |||
| 1963 | Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon | Difu | |||
| 1964 | Rajkumar | Kapil | |||
| 1965 | Mere Sanam | Pyare | |||
| 1965 | Janwar | Chintu | |||
| 1966 | Maitighar | Nepali film special appearance | |||
| 1967 | Aamne Samne | Shubodh Mukherjee | |||
| Baharon Ke Sapne | Pandu | Parivar (1967 film) | Sitaram | ||
| An Evening in Paris | Makhan Singh | ||||
| 1968 | Teen Bahuraniyan | Kanhaiya | |||
| Jhuk Gaya Aasman | Hanuman Singh | ||||
| 1969 | Pyar Ka Mausam | Jhatpat Singh | |||
| Beti | Deepak | ||||
| Raja Saab | Pratap Singh | ||||
| Prince | Valiyatiram | ||||
| 1970 | Maharaja | Kishen | |||
| Jeevan Mrityu | Prem Prakash | ||||
| Purab Aur Paschim | Shankar | ||||
| Aan Milo Sajna | Manmauji | ||||
| The Train | Pyarelal | ||||
| Tum Haseen Main Jawaan | Romeo | ||||
| 1971 | Hare Rama Hare Krishna | Toofan | |||
| Main Sunder Hoon | Director | ||||
| 1972 | Dharkan | Inspector Darshan K. Lal | |||
| 1973 | Kahani Kismat Ki | Gopuchand | |||
| 1974 | Hamrahi | Hanuman Sharma | |||
| Patthar Aur Payal | Shankar Dayak | ||||
| 1975 | Julie | Rahim, Store Owner | |||
| 1976 | Chhoti Si Baat | Mauni Baba | |||
| 1976 | Chadi Jawani Budhe Nu (Punjabi movie) | Police man | |||
| 1978 | Giddha (Punjabi movie) | ||||
| 1979 | Badmashon Ka Badmaash | ||||
| Dada | Alibhai Motorwala | ||||
| 1980 | The Burning Train | Shambhunath- The Pandit in Train | |||
| 1980 | Guest House | Bawara | |||
| 1981 | popat lal | ||||
| Mangalsutra | Munim | ||||
| Biwi-O-Biwi | Veer Singh | ||||
| 1982 | Taaqat | ||||
| Prem Rog | Radha's Husband | ||||
| 1983 | Main Awara Hoon | Sardar Trilochan | |||
| 1984 | Ghar Ek Mandi | Announcer during Bidding | |||
| Mera Faisla | Jaleel Miya, Hostel Cook | ||||
| Yaadgar | Chotelal | ||||
| Phulwari | Dr. Gupta | ||||
| 1985 | Baadal | Sharbati | |||
| 1986 | Sasti Dulhan Mahenga Dulha | Fauja Singh, Taxi Driver | |||
| Ghar Sansar | Police Inspector Sharma | ||||
| 1987 | Dak Bangla | Gareebdas Daulat Ram | |||
| Hukumat | Charlie | ||||
| 1988 | Pyaar Ka Mandir | Astrologer Parmeshwar Shivaramakrishna | |||
| Veerana | Manager (Thakela Guest House) | ||||
| 1989 | Main Tera Dushman | Police Constable Dukhiram | |||
| Elaan-E-Jung | Manager of Massage Parlour | ||||
| Sindoor Aur Bandook | |||||
| Doosra Keval | Chowkidar | (TV Series) | |||
| 1990 | Naag Nagin | Sarpat | |||
| Pyar Ka Karz | Doctor | ||||
| 1991 | Farishtay | Mohanlal | |||
| Ajooba | Spectator in Public (Special Appearance) | ||||
| 1992 | Tahalka | Lifeguard At Swimming Pool | |||
| Bol Radha Bol | Blind Man | ||||
| 1994 | Ekka Raja Rani | John | |||
| Eena Meena Deeka | Cashier in Bank | Guest Role | |||
| 1995 | Taaqat | Rajendranath, host in Cookery program seen on Television | |||
| 1995-2006 | Hum Paanch | Jeetendra Bharadwaj as Popatlal, Aanand's boss | TV series |