Remembering Rajendra Kumar

( 20th July 1929 to 12th July 1999 ) 

' The Jubilee Kumar '

It is debatable ......what was instrumental to earn him the title of ' The Jubilee Kumar ' or 'Jubilee Star' as his 6 to 7 films used to run for more than 25 weeks in the same city at the same time  in different theatres ! Whether it was his strong shrewdness in selection of films or  sheer luck or superb talent or combination of all these ? Or is the result of the superstitious Bollywood in which the producers run after an actor if they found him lucky ? Whatever it  may be.... Rajendra Kumar  definitely played  his innings well and will ever be remembered as the ' First Jubilee Star of Bollywood '

Rajendra Kumar in fact did not wish to be an actor but wanted to become the  director instead. He initially worked as an assistant director for five years. But somehow he was cast in a small role in ' Jogan ' by Kidar Sharma. Thereafter he did some bigger roles in the films Vachan and in V.Shantaram's ' Toofan or Diya'. He came to the spot light from ' Mother India' and became a ' Star' from the film ' Goonj Uthi Shahanai '.

Soon the film makers noticed in him a ' Dilipkumar, the tragedy king ' at an affordable price. He also had him within a typical romantic hero of Hindi Cinema with pleasant looks and modest attitude. He was engaged in number of films and his  hits  started coming in an uninterrupted sequence .... Kanoon, Sasural, Dil Ek Mandir , Mere Mehboob, Zindagi, Sangam, Aye Milan ki Bela, Arzoo, Suraj and so on....

Early 70s witnessed the ascent of Superstar Rajesh Khanna  and Rajendra Kumar lost his supremacy as ' Jubilee Star'. But he was wise enough to change the gears and moved to production. He co-produced the film ' The train' by engaging Rajesh Khanna himself which became superhit. He subsequently  launched the films 'Love story' and 'Naam' starring his son Kumar Gaurav.

He also continued to appear in films  but his charishma as a star was over and excepting the films 'Saajan Bina Suhagan ' and ' Bin Phere Hum Tere'   none of his films were noteworthy.

The appalling paradox  for Rajendra Kumar, is though  Jubilee Star, he  did not receive a single Filmfare or Screen Cine award during his entire career.......

When realised  he has been diagnosed  with cancer, he refused to take any medication and hugged death with the same calmness and restraint as he has displayed the same  in 'Sangam' while  shooting himself in the chest !