An insightful biography of a great actor, Sanjeev Kumar
Reduce to the e-book. Zaveri and Batra have accomplished a commendable job for 2 causes. One, the e-book precisely, in truth and insightfully current the largely unknown back-story of one among Bollywood’s – and India’s – actually gifted actor’s journey from obscurity to centre-stage. Two, it emphasises his relentless focus and agenda to be recognised, accepted, appreciated and revered as an actor first, a star later.
In star-centric Bollywood, actors have all the time misplaced out within the recognition polls to the glitzy, shiny stars; the audience-friendly creatures who blaze the neons. Be it Dilip-Balraj, SRK-Naseer, Salman-Nawaz, star energy has all the time hi-jacked the excitement. Sanjeev Kumar is probably – arguably – the one actor who has held his personal, each in multi-starrers and solo-projects. Be it , , , , , , , , , , … or , , , , , , … Sanjeev Kumar all the time stood out. Even minus his seems and physique hardly conforming to the necessities of a matinee idol [read: Rajesh, Amitabh, Vinod Khanna, Jitendra, Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor], the paunchy actor crossed the rubicon, with ardour and objective and triumphed like only a few others have.
The authors hint and observe the trajectory of Sanjeev Kumar’s life and & occasions not in a fan boy method, however with perspective, sensitivity and soul. From the altering of his title, Haribhai Jhariwala, the Gujarati stage actor to Sanjeev Kumar, the Bollywood aspirant; his unsung, unnoticed and unheralded entry into the {industry} with B-grade stunt movies; his first cameo in opposition to the Emperor of Bollywood Dilip Kumar in [chronicled in an unmisssable, fascinating chapter entitled ] and the terrific impression it made on the industry-wallahs and audiences; his subsequent regular rise within the {industry} when it comes to title, fame and roles; his bonding and movies with Gulzar; his awe of Bengali diva Suchitra Sen; his passionate affair with a co-star and well-liked main girl of the time; it’s tragic finish and subsequent heart-break; iconic multi-starrers he participated with memorable elan and beauty; his everlasting availability for soul-strip roles (which others wouldn’t dream of accepting) that challenged the artist in him; his well being points and gradual, unhappy fade-out … and naturally alongside his position as a real, loving, caring son, brother, uncle and dutiful supplier for his household, and a yaron ka yaar to his shut mates like Shatrughan Sinha.
