Indian Cinema's Most Missed!

Age: 86

Acted in: 62 films

Last movie: Qila in 1998

Career: Popularly known as 'Tragedy King' and one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema, Dilip Kumar aka Yusuf Khan started his career in 1944. He went on to star in some of the biggest commercially successful films till the 1980s. His performances have been regarded as the epitome of emoting in Indian Cinema. He was the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won in that category. He was one of the biggest stars of Bollywood along with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. His historical Mughal-E-Azam, as of 2008, is the second highest grossing film in the Hindi film history. In the 70s, roles dried up for Kumar and after 1976 he left films to take a five-year break. He returned in 1981 with a character role in the blockbuster film Kranti and continued playing central character roles in hits such as Shakti, Karma, Mashaal and Saudagar. In 1996 he made his directorial debut with Kalinga but the film was shelved for some unknown reason.

At Present: The actor has stopped signing films due to ill health.

Manoj Kumar

Age: 71

Acted in: 52 films

Known in Bollywood: Mr Bharat

Last movie: Maidan-E-Jung in 1995

Real Name: Harikishen Goswami

Career: Manoj Kumar made an unnoticed debut in Fashion (1957). After a string of hits as an actor-filmmaker, Manoj carved a strong niche for himself. The success of Shaheed (1965), a biopic on the martyr Bhagat Singh, became a beacon for the direction his career was to take. After Kranti, Manoj's career began to decline as many of his films failed at the box office including Clerk. He quit acting after Maidan-E-Jung. He tried to revive his patriotic aura in his son, Kunal Goswami's Jai Hind which was a flop as well.

At present: The actor is trying to make a comeback with another patriotic film.

Shammi Kapoor

Age: 77

Acted in: 127

Last movie: Sandwich in 2006

Known in Bollywood as /for: Junglee

Career: Shamsher Raj Kapoor aka Shammi Kapoor joined his father on the stage in his theatrical company 'Prithvi Theatres' as a junior artiste in 1948. He started off with a salary of Rs 50 per month and worked till 1952. He got the first break as a hero in Jeevan Jyoti (1953). His first success came with Tumsa Nahin Dekha but it was Junglee that made him an overnight star.

He was known for pairing up with the maximum number of newcomers until his nephew Rishi broke his record. Tragedy struck him when his first wife, actress Geeta Bali, passed away due to small pox. Later he married again and his significant weight gain ruined his career as a romantic hero in the early 70s. Andaaz is considered as his last hit.

At present: Enjoying his time off at home.

Biswajit

Age: 75

Movies: 61

Known in Bollywood: King of romance of the 60's

Last movie: Inth Ka Jawab Patthar (2002)

Career: Biswajit Chatterjee is remembered as one of the most romantic actors from the 1960s. After a couple of hit films in Bengali like Mayamrigo (1960) and Dui Bhai (1961), Biswajit came to Bombay. In 1962, he catapulted to fame with his superhit film, Bees Saal Baad. Within a short period of time Biswajit appeared in major romantic films during that period. With Saira Banu, Biswajit gave the biggest musical blockbuster of that era, April Fool.

In 1975, Biswajit produced, directed and acted in his own film, Kahte Hai Mujhko Raja. The film had major stars such as Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and Rekha. The film did moderately well at the box office. Later he went back to acting.

At present: The actor lives in Mumbai with his wife Ira and their daughter Prima.

Vinod Khanna

Age: 62

Acted in: 130 films

Known in Bollywood: Mr Handsome

Last movie: Risk (2007)

Career: Vinod Khanna made his debut in Sunil Dutt's Man Ka Meet in 1968 as a villain. He acted in multi-starrers, often playing supporting roles in hit films such as Purab Aur Paschim, Sachaa Jhutha and Mera Gaon Mera Desh. He got his success with Mere Apne (1971). The actor left the industry all of a sudden to join Osho at a time when he was competing with Amitabh Bachchan for the numero uno position. He rejoined the industry, eight years later, in mid 1980s but couldn't manage to lure the audience. Later, he joined politics.

At present: The actor is planning to sign a few films again.

Jeetendra

Age: 66

Movies: 208

Last movie: Kucch To Hai in 2003

Known in Bollywood: Jumping Jack

Real Name: Ravi Kapoor

Career: Jeetendra was born in a business family that dealt with imitation jewellery. One day while delivering jewellery to filmmaker V Shantaram, Jeetendra landed himself a film. The director cast him as Sandhya's body double in the 1959 film Navrang. Jeetendra got his first big break when Shantaram cast him as a hero in Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne.

Jeetendra came into the spotlight in 1967 with Ravikant Nagaich's Farz, which went on to become a golden jubilee success. The tee shirt and white shoes he picked up from a retail store for the Mast Baharon Ka Main Aashiq number in Farz (sung by Mohammed Rafi) became his trademark. His vigorous dancing in films like Farz, Mere Huzoor, Warris, Humjoli (1970), Khatputli , Jigri Dost, Jawab, Himaat, Caravan (1971) and Banphool won him the title of 'Jumping Jack'.

At present: He recently made an appearance in a popular TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He was a judge for the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa on Sony. Wants to make a comeback but waiting for the right role.

Shatrughan Sinha

Age: 62

Acted in: 184 films

Known in Bollywood: Shotgun

Last movie: Aan - Men At Work in 2004

Career: Shatrughan Sinha is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India. He was selected as one of the most unconventional actors in Hindi cinema, the others being Ajay Devgan, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan and Suniel Shetty.

He began his career doing villainous roles and was immensely successful in it. He then switched over to playing the main lead with Kalicharan and was successful in that as well, both as a solo hero and in multi-starrers.

There are certain things about Shatrughan that people are not aware of. Firstly, Amitabh's role in Sholay was first offered to Shatrughan. Since he was emerging as the lead in those days he didn't want to play such a role. Secondly, Salim-Javed's Deewar was originally written for Shatrughan. It was lying with the producer for a long time. Due to some differences between the producer and Salim Khan, the signing amount was taken back. The film was then given to Yash Chopra.

At present: He's co-hosting the Laughter Challenge show on Star One along with Navjot Sidhu and is also busy with his political assignments.

Pran

Age: 88

Movies: 288

Known in Bollywood: Villain of the millennium

Last movie: Jai Hind in 1999

Career: Pran Sikand, better known as the 'Villain of the Millennium' acted for six decades and is one of the most celebrated actors in the industry. So effective was his acting, that people stopped naming their children 'Pran' because of his negative roles.

Pran happened to meet the well-known filmmaker Mohammed Walli outside a pan shop in Lahore where he was learning still-photography. This meeting changed young Pran's life forever. Walli recommended him to his friend Dalsukh Pancholi, who cast him as a villain in a Punjabi film Yamla Jat, which went on to become a big hit. He acted in one more Punjabi film. Both were huge hits and the maker repeated Pran as the hero in his next film, Khandaan. The film was a major hit and Pran was flooded with offers to play the lead. But Pran turned them all down as he didn't fancy chasing girls around trees.

He went on to act in 22 films as a villain before his career came to a pause in the wake of the partition. He later came to Mumbai, where the going wasn't easy. He had given up his career in films when he ran into Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto and late actor Shyam. They managed to get him a villain's role in the Dev Anand-Kamini Kaushal starrer Ziddi. He was paid Rs 500 for the film, of which Pran demanded Rs 100 in advance, to celebrate. After that there was no looking back. Believe it or not, Pran got much more remuneration than Amitabh Bachchan in Don.

At present: The actor is hardly seen socialising these days.

Eesha Koppikhar

Last in the limelight: In Farhan Akhtar's Don with Shah Rukh Khan.

Recently spotted at: Walking the ramp with current beau Timmy Narang in a wedding trousseau for designer Azeem Khan. And a showstopper again, this time for designer Pria Kataria Puri.

Originally posted by: TallyHo

Where is Rakhi Gulzar these days??😕