Sujit Kumar

Sujit Kumar (born Shamsher Singh), 7 February 1934 – 5 February 2010, was an Indian film actor and producer. He appeared in over 150 Hindi films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and 25 films in Bhojpuri. From the late 90s, he primarily worked with production. Kumar was considered a major actor in Bhojpuri cinema. He played pivotal roles either as a villain or as a character actor. One of his most notable roles was as a man playing the mouth organ while driving a jeep in the 1969 film Aradhana.

Biography

Hindi cinema

Sujit was the leading man in the suspense flicks in Hindi in early sixties like Lal Bangla (1966) and Ek Saal Pehle (1965). He was always part of the films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero like in 'Aradhana', Ittefaq, Aan Milo Sajna, Haathi Mere Saathi, Amar Prem, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Roti, Mehbooba, Avtaar, Aakhir Kyon?, Amrit.

His other notable roles include that of a spy in Ramanand Sagar's Aankein (1968), Naya Raasta (1970), Jugnu (1973), Hamrahi (1999), Charas (1976), Dharamveer (1977), Dev Anand's Des Pardes, Burning Train, Kaamchor, Krantiveer, Tiranga and many more. He produced big budget movies like Asmaan Se Ooncha (1989), Daraar (1996) Champion (2000), Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam (2009) . His best friends from the film industry were Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Rakesh Roshan, the two with whom Sujit used to hit the gym regularly and other close friends included producer Saawan Kumar Tak and Randhir Kapoor as all of them practically grew up together in the Hindi Film industry since the early sixties.