| Sanjeev Kumar | |
| Birth Name: | Harihar Jethalal Jariwala |
| Other Names: | Haribhai |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1960-1985 |
Sanjeev Kumar started his acting career as a stage actor, starting with IPTA in Bombay. He later joined the Indian National Theatre.[1] Even as a stage actor, he had a penchant for playing older roles; at age 22, he played an old man in an adaptation of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. In the following year, in the play Damru directed by AK Hangal, he again played the role of a 60-year-old with six children.[2]
He made his film debut with a small role in Hum Hindustani in 1960.[3] His first film as a protagonist was in Nishan (1965). In 1968, he acted alongside the famous actor of that time, Dilip Kumar, in Sangharsh. He also starred opposite Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana in the superhit film Sachaai (1969).
Movies such as Arjun Pandit, Sholay and Trishul, along with the remakes of Tamil films into Hindi such as Khilona, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Naya Din Nai Raat, Devata, Itni Si Baat and Ram Tere Kitne Naam exemplify his talents. He also did suspense-thriller films such as Qatl, Shikar, Uljhan and Trishna. Kumar also proved his ability to do comedy in films such as Manchali, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Angoor, Biwi-O-Biwi and Hero. He is well remembered for his versatility and genuine portrayal of his characters.His double role in the film Angoor was listed among the 25 best acting performances of Indian cinema by Forbes India on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema.[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Hum Hindustani | Police Inspector | ||
| 1964 | Ramat Ramade Ram | |||
| Aao Pyaar Karen | Hari | |||
| 1965 | Nishan | Badal / Kiran | Double role | |
| 1966 | Alibaba Aur 40 Chor | Alibaba | ||
| Smuggler | Mohan | |||
| Pati Patni | Amar | |||
| Kalapi | Prince Sursinhji Takthasinghji Gohil | |||
| Husn Aur Ishq | Ashiq Hussain | |||
| Badal | Badal / Azaad | |||
| 1967 | Aayega Aanewala | |||
| Naunihal | Rakesh | |||
| Gunehgar | Deepak | |||
| Chhoti Si Mulaqat | Uncredited | |||
| 1968 | Mitti Ka Dev | |||
| Sunghursh | Dwarka Prasad | |||
| Shikar | Police Inspector Rai | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | ||
| Saathi | Ashok | Guest appearance | ||
| Raja Aur Runk | Sudhir / Vijay | Double role | ||
| Mare Javun Pele Paar | ||||
| Gauri | Sanjeev Kumar | |||
| Anokhi Raat | Baldev Singh | |||
| Aashirwad | Dr. Biren | |||
| 1969 | Bandhan | Advocate Ravi Sharma | Special appearance | |
| Oos Raat Ke Baad | Thakur Sunder Singh | |||
| Satyakam | Narendra Sharma 'Naren' | |||
| Sachaai | Kishore Dayal | |||
| Jyoti | Nirmal | |||
| Jeene Ki Raah | Manohari | Guest Appearance | ||
| Insaaf Ka Mandir | Sunil | |||
| Gustakhi Maaf | Jai | |||
| Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke | MotiRam | |||
| Chanda Aur Bijli | Sheru | Remake of Anandhai Anandhan | ||
| Bombay by Nite | Santosh | |||
| 1970 | Ho Jamalo | |||
| A Night in Calcutta | ||||
| Khilona | Vijaykamal | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Umang | Gopal | Uncredited | ||
| Priya | ||||
| Maa Ka Aanchal | Bhagwan Dada | |||
| Jigar Ane Ami | Jigar | |||
| Insaan Aur Shaitan | Vijay / Jay (Bichho) | Double role | ||
| Gunah Aur Kanoon | Rakesh | |||
| Devi | Dr. A.N. Shekhar | |||
| Dastak | Hamid | National Film Award for Best Actor | ||
| Bachpan | Kashi | |||
| 1971 | Kangan | Sunil | ||
| Ek Paheli | Police Inspector | Uncredited | ||
| Subah-O-Shaam | Naseer | |||
| Purani Pehchan | Dr. Prabhat | |||
| Anubhav | Amar Sen | |||
| Paras | Dharam Singh | |||
| Man Mandir | Deepak | |||
| Homaye Saadat | Naser | |||
| Donhi Gharcha Pahuna | ||||
| 1972 | Rivaaj | Shekhar | ||
| Parichay | Nilesh | Guest appearance | ||
| Seeta Aur Geeta | Ravi | |||
| Koshish | Haricharan Mathur | National Film Award for Best Actor | ||
| Sabse Bada Sukh | Narrator | |||
| Jai Jwala | Special appearance | |||
| 1973 | Anhonee | Inspector Sunil | ||
| Rocky Mera Naam | Rocky 'Vimal' / Kamal | |||
| Suraj Aur Chanda | Suraj | |||
| Manchali | Sushil Kumar | |||
| Door Nahin Manzil | Kewal | |||
| Anamika | Devendra Dutt | |||
| Agni Rekha | Suresh Verma | |||
| Bharatha Vilas | Himself | Guest role, Tamil film | ||
| 1974 | Manoranjan | Constable Ratan / Sheru | ||
| Aap Ki Kasam | Mohan | |||
| Naya Din Nai Raat | Anand / Swami Rahasyanand / Mr. Sarang / Seth Dhanraj / Sher Singh / Four Other Roles | Played 9 different characters. | ||
| Kunwara Baap | Doctor | Special appearance | ||
| Shaandaar | Rajan | Remake of Kannada film Kasturi Nivasa | ||
| Oorvasi | ||||
| Imaan | Madhav / Lakhan | Double role | ||
| Dawat | Defence Advocate | |||
| Chowkidar | Dr. Shyam | |||
| Charitraheen | Indrajeet Mukherjee | |||
| Archana | Prakash | |||
| 1975 | Apne Rang Hazaar | Sunil | ||
| Aandhi | J.K. | Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Aakraman | Major Ajay Verma | |||
| Sholay | Thakur Baldev Singh | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Apne Dushman | Doctor | |||
| Faraar | Inspector Sanjay | |||
| Mausam | Dr. Amarnath Gill | Lion Club of North Calcutta Actor of the Year. Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Uljhan | C.I.D. Inspector Anand Chander | |||
| Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty | Inspector Wagle | |||
| 1976 | Zindagi | Raghu Shukla | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | |
| Do Ladkiyan | Avinash | |||
| Arjun Pandit | Arjun Pandit | Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| 1977 | Immaan Dharam | Kabir Das | ||
| Yehi Hai Zindagi | Anand Narayan | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Shatranj Ke Khiladi | Mirza Sajjad Ali | |||
| Dhoop Chhaon | Dr. Paras | |||
| Alaap | Raja Bahadur | Guest appearance | ||
| Mukti | Ratan | |||
| Vishwasghat | Mahesh/King | |||
| Paapi | Dr. Ashok Roy | |||
| Dil Aur Patthar | Prithvi | |||
| Apnapan | Raja Yashpal Singh | Special appearance | ||
| Angaare | Rakesh | |||
| 1978 | Udeekan | Major | Special appearance | |
| Trishul | Raj Kumar Gupta / R. K. Gupta | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | ||
| Pati Patni Aur Woh | Ranjeet Chaddha | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Trishna | Dr. Sunil Gupta | |||
| Devata | Tony/Tarun Kumar Gupta | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Tumhare Liye | Prakash/Gangadhar Upadhyay | |||
| Swarg Narak | Pandit Sohanlal Tripathi | |||
| Saawan Ke Geet | Kishan | |||
| Muqaddar | Inspector Vijay Saxena | |||
| 1979 | Hamare Tumhare | Jairaj Verma | ||
| Inspector Eagle | Inspector Eagle | |||
| Jaani Dushman | Thakur | |||
| Griha Pravesh | Amar | |||
| Kaala Patthar | Dr. Ramesh | Uncredited | ||
| Nauker | Amar | |||
| Maan Apmaan | Shankar | |||
| Ghar Ki Laaj | Devender/Debu | |||
| 1980 | Takkar | Kishan/Suraj | ||
| Hum Nahin Sudhrenge | ||||
| Jyoti Bane Jwala | Special appearance | |||
| Be-Reham | Police Commissioner Kumar Anand | |||
| Abdullah | Ameer | Special appearance | ||
| Hum Paanch | Krishna | |||
| Swayamvar | Ram | |||
| Patthar Se Takkar | Bindra | |||
| Fauji Chacha | Fauji Chacha | Punjabi film | ||
| 1981 | Waqt Ki Deewar | Vikram | ||
| Chehre Pe Chehra | Dr. Wilson / Blackstone | |||
| Ladies Tailor | Mehboob | |||
| Itni Si Baat | Raja | |||
| Biwi-O-Biwi | Colonel Mangal Singh/ Shankar | Double role | ||
| Daasi | Anand | |||
| Silsila | Dr. V.K. Anand | |||
| 1982 | Haathkadi | Harimohan/Rai Saheb Gopaldas Mittal | ||
| Shriman Shrimati | Shankar Lal | |||
| Angoor | Ashok & Ashok | Double role, Nominated– Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
| Suraag | Professor Saxena | |||
| Sawaal | Dhanpathrai Mehta | |||
| Khud-Daar | Hari Srivastav | |||
| Ayaash | Thakur Jaswant Singh | |||
| Vidhaata | Abu Baba | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | ||
| Sindoor Bane Jwala | ||||
| Namkeen | Gerulal | |||
| Log Kya Kahenge | Dr Jeevan | |||
| 1983 | Hero | Inspector Damodar Mathur | ||
| 1984 | Pakhandi | Ashok Ahuja | ||
| Bad Aur Badnam | James Carlo | |||
| Lakhon Ki Baat | Advocate Prem Sagar | |||
| Yaadgaar | Rai Sahab Kalpnath Rai | |||
| Meraa Dost Meraa Dushman | Goli Chacha | |||
| 1985 | Ram Tere Kitne Naam | Ram Kumar/Petu Ram | ||
| Zabardast | Ratan Kumar/Ramesh Kumar | |||
| Rusvai | ||||
| 1986 | Bud-Kaar | Inspector Suraj | ||
| Qatl | Rakesh | |||
| Kaanch Ki Deewar | Jaswant Singh/ Durjan Singh | |||
| Love and God | Qais-E-Emir (Majnu) | Posthumous release | ||
| Haathon Ki Lakeeren | Dr. Bhanupratap | Posthumous release | ||
| Baat Ban Jaye | Suraj Singh / Ravi Khanna | Posthumous release | ||
| 1987 | Raahee | Dr. Prabhat Kumar | Posthumous release | |
| Hiraasat | Appearance in a movie clip | |||
| 1988 | Namumkin | Friendly appearance; Posthumous release | ||
| Do Waqt Ki Roti | Jailor Vijay Saxena | Posthumous release | ||
| 1989 | Oonch Neech Beech | Hariram Pandey | Posthumous release | |
| 1993 | Professor Ki Padosan | Posthumous release |