Thursday, 20 June 2013

Lucky Ali

Lucky Ali (born 19 September 1958), born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali, is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.
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Biography

Lucky Ali is the second of the eight children of the popular Bollywood comedian, Mehmood. His mother Mahelaka, was part Bengali and part Punjabi, the sister of a popular Indian actress of the 1960s - Meena Kumari. The Bollywood actress and dancer, Minoo Mumtaz, is his paternal aunt. He attended Manekji Cooper (Kindergarten) (Juhu), Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, Hampton Court in Mussoorie, St. George's College, Mussoorie, and the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore.[1]
Ali is known to be a strict Muslim. Ali states his favourite piece of music is the Quran being recited. But, he says that religion is not something to be preached from rooftops, but, a personal regimen that a spiritual seeker uses to connect to God.[2]
His first wife was Meaghan Jane McCleary (a New Zealander), who has acted in the video O Sanam from his first album Sunoh. Ali has two children from his first wife - Ta'awwuz and Tasmia. His second wife is Inaya (Anahita-a parsi girl). He has two children from his second wife, Sara and Raiyan. He married a third time in 2010. His third wife is a British model and former Miss England Kate Hallam[3] and the couple have a son named Dani[4]
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Lucky and his father Mahmood shared a tempestuous relationship. Mehmood was a very busy actor in 1960s and 70s, and remained away from home for his shoots. Once, around the age of five when Lucky's mother came with him to receive Mehmood at the airport, Lucky didn't recognize his father and on seeing him said, "He's the film comedian Mehmood!" Lucky lived away from his family in a boarding school up in the foothills of the Himalayas in Mussoorie. Lucky's tryst with marijuana led Mehmood to write the script of the movie Dushman Duniya Ka (Enemy of the World).[5] The movie stars Ali's youngest brother,Manzoor. It is the story of the drug abuse of a young man called Lucky. In the end the young man kills his mother, destroys everything around him and is then killed by his father. Lucky differed with his father's vision and did not act in the movie. "I felt the story lacked hope," he said.[5] However he sang his first song for the film.
Lucky's wanderlust has led him to many places and to try different professions. He has bred horses, been an oil rigger off the coast of Pondicherry in South India, has tried to sell carpets,and is a farmer with a strong opinion on organic methods in farming. He is best known for his music, singing and acting.

Personal albums

Lucky made his debut on the Indian pop scene with the soulful album Sunoh which established him as a pop singer. This album won many of the top awards in Indian music, including the Best Pop Male Vocalist at the 1996 Screen Awards and the Channel V Viewers Choice Award in 1997. It stayed on the MTV Asia Charts for 60 weeks. The song O Sanam from Sunoh, launched his career and is considered by some to be one of the best indi-pop songs ever.[1] His next album, Sifar, wasn't quite as successful as Sunoh, but it was noted for its music, lyrics and vocals.
Lucky Ali is known for his distinctive music style and also for his husky voice. His third album and fourth albums were Aks and Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai, both of which were reasonably successful. After a five years hiatus, he released his new album Xsuie on 19 September 2009, on his birthday.
He is also known for contributing the song "Anjaani Raahon Mein" to the album "Meri Jaan Hindustan" which commemorated 50 years of Indian independence in the year 1997. The video was directed by Mani Shankar, and features him as a young urban man roaming the Indian countryside, trying to discover new meaning to life. When asked about the video, he once said "The video of 'Anjaani Raahon Mein' was a beautiful story in itself. It was done straight from the heart and it is very special to me."
Recently he sung the theme song of the F1 Indian Grand Prix, that was held in Delhi along with KK, Daler Mehndi.[6]

Playback singing career

Lucky Ali started his playback singing career with the song "Walking and I am Walking All Alone" from the film Ek Baap Chhe Bete in 1978. This film starred Mehmood and his 6 sons, including Lucky himself. Lucky's second song was "Nasha Nasha" from the film Dushman Duniya Ka which starred his brother Manzoor Ali in the lead role. The film was directed by their father Mehmood. However the song and the film both went unnoticed.
After that, his next song in films was in Hrithik Roshan's debut movie Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. The songs "Na tum jaano na hum" and "Ek pal ka jeena" became huge hits and he won the Filmfare award (Best Male Playback Singer) for "Na tum jaano na hum". "Ahista Ahista" for Ranbir Kapoor Starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno.
The latest song by him was "Hairat" in movie Anjaana Anjaani.

Acting career

Being the nephew of Meena Kumari, one of the great actresses to grace the Indian screen, and moreover being Mehmood's son, Lucky Ali did not lack the requisite opportunity to make his debut as an actor. He acted in a few films in the 1970s and 1980s such as Yeh Hain Zindagi (1977) Hamare Tumhare (1979) and Shyam Benegal 's Trikaal (1985). He also acted in the television series Bharat Ek Khoj Directed by Shyam Benegal. After a long break from acting, he returned in Sanjay Gupta's Kaante (2002) where he acted along leading stars like legend Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Kumar Gaurav and Suniel Shetty. Lucky also acted in the TV serial Zara Hatke. In 2002, he acted in the Hindi musical Sur-The Melody of Life essaying a complex role that earned him accolades as an actor..

Discography

Main article: Lucky Ali discography
His discography contains 6 studio albums, 6 compilations, 7 singles, 18 soundtracks, 2 concert tour and 2 other albums (as a composer).

Studio albums

Soundtrack

Videography

His videography contains 14 feature films as an actor, two television series as an actor and one feature film as a producer and director.

Filmography

Television series


Kunal Khemu

Kunal Khemu (25 May 1983) is an Indian film actor who appears in Bollywood films. He made his acting debut as a child artist in the 90s and made his comeback as an adult in 2005 with Kalyug. He is best known for his pivotal roles in the commercially successful films Traffic Signal (2007), Golmaal 3 (2010) and Go Goa Gone (2013).
http://www.kunalkhemu.com/uploaded_images/sexy-kunal-khemu-782403.jpg

Early life

Khemu was born to actors Ravi and Jyoti Khemu in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.[1] He attended Niranjanlal Dalmia High School in Mira Road, Mumbai and pursued higher education at Amity University. He is in a committed relationship with Soha Ali Khan, sister of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, and both of them live together.[2][1][3][4] His grandfather, Moti Lal Kemmu (original spellings of last name), is a well-known Kashmiri playwright and a recipient of several awards by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Rashtra Bhasa Prachar Samiti, Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his contribution to Kashmiri literature as a playwright, and Padamshree.[5]

Career

He made his debut as a child actor appearing in the Doordarshan TV series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987), directed by Ved Rahi. He made his film debut with Mahesh Bhatt's movie Sir (1993), starring Naseeruddin Shah and Pooja Bhatt. He went on to star as a child artist in many movies such as Raja Hindustani, Zakhm, Bhai and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke.
As an adult, he made his comeback as the male lead in the 2005 film, Kalyug, which was directed by Mohit Suri.[6][7] Kalyug was based on the pornography industry, leading Kunal Khemu to success thereon. In 2007, his first release was Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal, where he played a street-smart money lender who lends money to poor families, but always gets it back with interest.
His second release of the year 2007, was Dhol in which he again played a lead role. In 2008, his only release, Superstar in which he featured in a double-role. In 2009, he starred in Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge and Jai Veeru. In 2009, he appeared in the comic-thriller 99 opposite Soha Ali Khan. In 2010, he appeared in Golmaal 3 in which he played a supporting role as Laxman.
His comeback venture in 2012, is Mukesh Bhatt's Blood Money, in which he played the lead role as Kunal Kadam, an honest and hard worker who is unknowingly taken into the underworld by his senior boss. His latest release is Go Goa Gone, which is India's first zombie comedy film, opposite Saif Ali Khan, Vir Das, Anand Tiwari & Puja Gupta. The film released on 10 May 2013.
Khemu is currently working on Vikram Bhatt's Bhaag Johnny. Directed by Shivam Nair, the film is a thriller, which started filming in 2013.

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Filmography

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Actor
Year Film Role Notes
1993 Sir Kunal As a child artist
1993 Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke Sunny As a child artist
1996 Raja Hindustani Rajnikant As a child artist
1997 Bhai Krishna As a child artist
1998 Zakhm Young Ajay As a child artist
1998 Dushman Bheem As a child artist
2005 Kalyug Kunal Dharr Debut film as Adult
2007 Traffic Signal Silsila
Dhol Gautam "Goti" Sesodia
Superstar Kunal Mehra / Karan Saxena Double-role
2009 Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge Anand Pawar
Jai Veeru Veeru
99 Sachin
2010 Golmaal 3 Laxman
2012 Blood Money Kunal Kadam
2013 Go Goa Gone Hardhik
2014 Bhaag Johnny
Under Production

Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar (4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987),(Bengali:কিশোর কুমার ) born Abhas Kumar Ganguly was a popular Indian film playback singer. He is also known as an actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenplay writer and scriptwriter. Kishore Kumar sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. He won 8 Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won in that category. He was awarded the "Lata Mangeshkar Award" by the Madhya Pradesh government and from that year onwards, the Madhya Pradesh Government initiated a new award called the "Kishore Kumar Award" for contributions to Hindi cinema.
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Early life

Kishore Kumar was born into the Bengali Ganguly family in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar (now in Madhya Pradesh) as Abhas Kumar Ganguly.[1] His father Kunjalal Ganguly (Gangopadhyay) was a lawyer. His mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy Bengali family. Kishore was the youngest of four siblings, the other three being Ashok Kumar (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Anoop Kumar.
While Kishore was still a child, Ashok Kumar became a Bollywood actor. (Later, Anoop Kumar also ventured into cinema with the help of Ashok Kumar). Spending time with his brothers, Kishore also started to take a keen interest in movies and music. He became a fan of singer-actor Kundan Lal Saigal, whom he considered his guru, and tried to follow Saigal's singing style.

Career

After Ashok Kumar became a big star in Hindi films, the Ganguly family used to visit Mumbai regularly. Abhas Kumar changed his name to Kishore Kumar and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked. Kishore Kumar's first film as an actor was Shikari (1946), in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. Music director Khemchand Prakash gave Kishore Kumar a chance to sing "Marne ki duayen kyon mangu" for the film Ziddi (1948). After this, Kishore Kumar got many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career.[2] In 1949, he decided to settle in Mumbai.
Kishore Kumar played hero in the Bombay Talkies film Andolan (1951), directed by Phani Majumdar. Although Kishore Kumar got some assignments as an actor with help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a singer. He was not interested in acting, but his elder brother Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor like himself.[3]
He starred in Bimal Roy's Naukri (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's directorial debut Musafir (1957). Salil Chowdhury, the music director for Naukri was initially dismissive of him as a singer, when he came to know that Kishore Kumar didn't have any formal training in music.[4] However, after hearing his voice, he gave him the song Chhota sa ghar hoga, which was supposed to be sung by Hemant Kumar.
Kishore Kumar starred in films New Delhi (1957), Aasha (1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Half Ticket (1962), and Padosan (1968). Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi(1958), his home production, starred the three Ganguly brothers and Madhubala. The film is about romance between a city girl (Madhubala) and a car mechanic (Kishore Kumar), with a subplot involving the brothers.
Music director S. D. Burman is credited with spotting Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer, and advancing his singing career. During the making of Mashaal (1950), Burman visited Ashok Kumar's house, where he heard Kishore imitating K. L. Saigal. He complimented Kishore and told him that he should develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal.[3] He kept Burman's advice in mind and eventually developed his own style of singing, which featured the yodeling that he had heard on the gramophone records of Tex Morton and Jimmie Rodgers bought by his brother Anoop Kumar.[5]
S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's Munimji (1954), Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Paying Guest (1957), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967), Prem Pujari (1970), and Tere Mere Sapne (1971). He also composed music for Kishore Kumar's home production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958). Some of their initial films included the songs "Maana Janaab Ne Pukara Nahin" from Paying Guest, "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), "Ai Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa" from Funtoosh, and "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si" and "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958).[6] Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar performed duets composed by S. D. Burman including "Chhod Do Aanchal" from Paying Guest (1957), "Ankhon Mein Kya Ji" from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" and "Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) and "Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab" from Teen Deviyan (1965).
C. Ramchandra was another music director who recognized Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer.[4] Their collaborations include "Eena Meena Deeka" from Aasha (1957). Kishore Kumar's work includes "Nakhrewaali" from New Delhi (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, "C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi" and "Hum To Mohabbat Karega" from Dilli Ka Thug (1958) by Ravi, and "Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein" from Ganga Ki Lahren (1964) by Chitragupta.
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Kishore Kumar produced, directed, and acted in Jhumroo (1961). He wrote the lyrics for the title song, "Main Hoon Jhumroo," and composed music for all the songs in the film. Later, he produced and directed Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964). He wrote the script and composed music for the film. Its based on the relationship between a father (Kishore Kumar) and his deaf and mute son (played by his real-life son, Amit Kumar). He made another two films called Door Ka Rahi (1971) and Door Waadiyon Mein Kahin (1980).
In the 1960s, as an actor, Kishore Kumar built up a notoriety for coming late for the shootings, or bunking them altogether.[7] His films flopped frequently, and he landed in income tax trouble.[3] As a singer, his work in this period includes "Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai" from Manmauji (1961), "Gaata Rahe Mera Dil" from Guide (1965), and "Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara" from Jewel Thief (1967).
In the late 1960s, Rahul Dev Burman worked together on the soundtrack of the film Padosan (1968), in which Kishore Kumar sang the songs "Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein" and "Kehna Hai." Padosan was a comedy film starring Kishore Kumar as a dramatist-musician, Mehmood as a Carnatic music and dance teacher, and Sunil Dutt as a simpleton named Bhola. Kishore Kumar's character in was inspired by the personality of his uncle, Dhananjay Bannerjee (a classical singer).[2] The highlight of the film was a musical, comical duel between Kishore Kumar-Sunil Dutt and Mehmood: "Ek Chatur Nar Karke Singaar."
In 1969, Shakti Samanta produced and directed the film Aradhana, for which the music was composed by S.D. Burman. It is said that after recording two songs for the film, the popular playback singer Mohammed Rafi went to Hajj, where he heard that professional singing is against Islam. Confused, he took a break from singing and went to London to be with his son.[citation needed] Shakti Samanta suggested that Kishore Kumar sing rest of the songs. When the film was released, the songs "Mere Sapno Ki Rani" and "Roop Tera Mastana" established Kishore Kumar as a leading playback singer in Bollywood.[8] Kishore Kumar won his first Filmfare award for the song "Roop Tera Mastana".

1970s and 1980s

In 1970s and 1980s Kishore Kumar sang for Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Rakesh Roshan, Dilip Kumar, Pran, Vinod Mehra, Chunky Pandey, Kumar Gaurav, Govinda and Jackie Shroff.
S. D. Burman and Kishore Kumar continued to work together, including "Phoolon Ke Rang Se" and "Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye" from Prem Pujari (1969), "Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re," "Khilte Hain Gul Yahan" and "O Meri Sharmilee" from Sharmilee (1971), "Meet na mila" from Abhimaan (1973), "Pyaar Ke Is Khel Mein" from Jugnu, "Phoolon Ke Dere Hain" from Zameer (1974). In 1975, S. D. Burman composed his last song for Kishore Kumar. S. D. Burman went into a coma for the second time, soon after Kishore recorded the song "Badi Sooni Sooni Hai" for the film Mili.[4] He sang memorable songs with deep soft voice such as "Yeh Jeevan hai", "Zindagi Ka Safar", "Chingari Koi Bhadke", "Kuch to log kahenge", "Jeevan Ke Din", "Chookar Mere Mann Ko", " Aanewala pal janewala Hai", "Koi hota Jisko Apna ". The amazing depth in his voice spelling the philosophy mesmerized listeners. Although not trained classically, he sang "Mere naina Saawan Bhado " a semi-classical song and in the soft romantic version of the song "Hume tumse pyar Kitna " he out-shined the classical version of "Parveen Sultana ". Though he was patronized initially by of one of the greatest composers of India "Sachin Deb Burman", in the Seventies and Eighties he was the lead singer for almost every composer. He is very popular and a craze amongst the youth of the 21st century as well. He was awarded the "Lata Mangeshkar Award" by the Madhya pradesh government and immediately a new award "Kishore Kumar Award" was initiated by the Madhya Pradesh government to honour him. The committee which conferred him the award was chaired by noted classical singer "Kumar Gandharva" and had noted journalist "Pritish Nandi " as a member.
In spite of his tremendous success "Aradhana" onwards, he remained respectful towards Rafi his whole life. When fans started comparing the two singers for their talent, he felt bad and he visited Rafi and told him that he considered him as a great singer and could never attempt to sing his songs. That was the humble Kishore!
Kishore has won the filmfare award for best male playback singer a record eight number of times.
R. D. Burman frequently used Kishore Kumar as the male singer and recorded several songs with him in the 1970s. Some Kishore Kumar-R. D. Burman songs include "O Maajhi Re" from Khushboo, "Yeh Shaam Mastaani" and "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" from Kati Patang (1971), "Chingari Koi Bhadke" and "Kuchh To Log Kahenge" from Amar Prem (1972), "Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi" from Buddha Mil Gaya (1971), "Musafir Hoon Yaaron" from Parichay (1972), "Diye Jalte Hain" from Namak Haraam (1973), "Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si" from Anamika (1973), "Zindagi Ke Safar Mein" from Aap Ki Kasam (1974), "Agar Tum Na Hote" and "Humein Tum Se Pyaar Kitna" from Kudrat, "Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon" from Mehbooba, and "Chingari Koi Bhadke (Amar Prem)" and "Jab Bhi Koi Kangana" from Shaukeen (1986).
R. D. Burman recorded several duets pairing Kishore Kumar with Asha Bhosle and with Lata Mangeshkar. Some of these duets include "Panna Ki Tamanna" from Heera Panna (1973), "Neend Chura Ke Raaton Mein" from the film Shareef Budmaash, "Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai" from Sanjay Dutt's debut film Rocky (1981), "Sagar Kinare" from Sagar in [1985], "Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuchh" from Ghar, "Jaane Ja Dhoondta" and "Nahi Nahi" from Jawani Diwani, "Kharoshoo" from Harjai (1982).
Apart from the Burmans, Kishore Kumar worked with other music directors as well. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal (L-P) composed many songs sung by him. Some of their songs include "Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi" from Mr. X In Bombay, "Mere Naseeb Mein Aye Dost" from Do Raaste, "Yeh Jeevan Hai" from Piya Ka Ghar, "Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai" from Daag: A Poem of Love, "Nahi Mai Nahi Dekh Sakta" from Majboor, "Mere diwanepan ki bhi" from Mehboob Ki Mehndi, "Naach Meri Bulbul" from Roti, "Chal Chal Mere Haathi" from Haathi Mere Saathi, "Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai" from Dost, "Ruk Jaana Nahi" from Imtihaan, "Ek Ritu Aaye" from Gautam Govinda, "My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves" from Amar Akbar Anthony, "Bahut Khoobsurat Jawan Ek Ladki" from Dostana and "Om Shanti Om" as well as "Paisa Yeh Paisa" from Karz. Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed several Kishore-Lata duets, including "Achchha To Hum Chalte Hain" from Aan Milo Sajna, "Gore Rang Pe Na Itna" from Roti, "Main Solah Baras Ki" from Karz, and "Din Mahine Saal" from Avtaar, "Tu Kitne Baras Ki" from Karz. L-P also got Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi to sing duets for the films Dostana, Ram Balram and Deedaar-E-Yaar. L-P composed a duet with Kishore Kumar and Alisha Chinoy, "I love you (Kaate Nahin Katate Yeh Din Yeh Raat)" from Mr. India in (1987). Salil Chowdhury recorded songs like "Koi Hota Jisko Apna" from Mere Apne and "Gujar Gaye Din Din" from Annadata. Ravindra Jain recorded "Ghungroo Ki Tarah" and the duet "Le Jaayenge Le Jaayenge" from Chor Machaye Shor and the duet "Tota Maina Ki Kahani" from Fakira. Khaiyyaam recorded beautiful duets with Lata Mangeshkar such as "Hazar Rahein" from Thodisi Bewafaii, Aankhon Mein Humne Aapke Sapne Sajaye Hain, Chandani Raat Mein Ek Bar. Hridaynath Mangeshkar recorded Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main from Mashaal. Kalyanji Anandji recorded several songs with Kishore Kumar including Zindagi Ka Safar and Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein, from Safar, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas from Black Mail, Apne Jeevan Ki Uljhan from Uljhan, Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz from Kora Kagaz, O Saathi Re from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Khaike Paan Banaraswala from Don, Neele Neele Ambar Par from Kalakar and Pal Bhar Ke Liye from Johny Mera Naam.
Other composers including Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakraborty, Jaidev, Chitragupta (composer), Usha Khanna, Sohnik Omi, Prem Dhawan, Vanraj Bhatia and Bappi Lahiri also worked with Kishore Kumar. Rajesh Roshan's film Julie featured songs sung by Kishore Kumar, Bhool Gaya Saab Kuchh (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) and Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise. Their other songs include Yaadon Mein Woh from Swami, Chhookar Mere Man Ko Kiya Toone Kya Ishaara from Yaarana, Tune Abhi Dekha Nahin from Do Aur Do Paanch and Kahan Tak Ye Man Ko Andhere Chhalenge as well as Kahiye, Suniye (duet with Asha Bhosle) from Baton Baton Mein. Bappi Lahiri also recorded many songs with Kishore Kumar, including Pag Ghunghroo Bandh from Namak Halaal (1982), Manzilen Apni Jagah Hai from Sharaabi (1984) and Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet from Chalte Chalte (1976), Saason Se Nahi Kadmose Nahi from Mohabbat in (1987) and duets with (Lata Mangeshkar)) like Taa thaiya from Himmatwala in (1984), Albela Mausam from Tohfa in (1985) and another duet Pyar Ka Tohfa from the same film.
During the Indian Emergency (1975–1977), Sanjay Gandhi asked Kishore Kumar to sing for an Indian National Congress rally in Mumbai, but he refused.[9] As a result, Information and broadcasting minister Vidya Charan Shukla (1975–1977) put an unofficial ban on playing Kishore Kumar songs on the All India Radio and Doordarshan from 4 May 1976 till the end of the Emergency.[10][11]

Later years

Kishore Kumar produced and directed some movies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi (1978), Zindagi (1981) and Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin (1980): His last appearance as an actor.
With patronage from R. D. Burman and Rajesh Roshan, Kishore Kumar's son Amit Kumar became a Bollywood singer in the 1980s. Kishore Kumar also continued singing for several actors. He also did some stage shows, apparently to earn money to pay his income tax arrears.[7] Kishore Kumar stopped singing for Amitabh Bachchan in the mid-1980s, after Bachchan did not do a guest appearance in a film Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein which was produced by Kishore Kumar but called a truce with Amitabh by singing for him in Toofan.[12] He also temporarily stopped singing for Mithun Chakraborty, after Yogeeta Bali divorced him and married Chakraborty.[13] However, later Kumar sang for him in many films like Disco Dancer, Muddat, and Pyaar Ka Mandir.
In the mid-1980s, Kishore Kumar sang for Anil Kapoor in Kapoor's debut film as a leading man, Woh Saat Din and also recorded Mr. India. He sang a duet with Alka Yagnik, "Tumse Badhkar Duniya Mein Na Dekha" for Kaamchor in (1982). He also recorded some songs for the film Saagar with R. D. Burman. By this time, he had decided to retire and was planning to go back to his birthplace, Khandwa.[7]
On 13 October 1987, his brother Ashok Kumar's 76th birthday, he died of a heart attack in Mumbai at 4:45 pm. His body was taken to Khandwa for cremation. He had recorded his last song a day before he died. The song was Guru Guru, a duet with Asha Bhosle, for the film Waqt Ki Aawaz (1988) composed by Bappi Lahiri for Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi.
Kishore Kumar's song Pal Bhar Ke Liye from the film Johny Mera Naam (1970) was used in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore."[14] His songs have been featured in several films, including Such a Long Journey (1998) and Side Streets (1998).[15] Sony TV organised the television singing contest K For Kishore to search for a singer like Kishore Kumar.

Personal life

Kishore Kumar married four times. His first wife was Bengali singer and actress Ruma Guha Thakurta aka Ruma Ghosh. Their marriage lasted from 1950 to 1958.
Kishore's second wife was actress Madhubala, who had worked with him on many films including his home production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) and Jhumroo (1961). When Kishore Kumar proposed to her, Madhubala was sick and was planning to go to London for treatment. At this time, she didn't know that she had a ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart), and her father wanted her to wait and consult the London doctors first. Furthermore, at the time he was married to Ruma. After his divorce, because Kishore Kumar was Bengali Hindu (Brahmin) and Madhubala Muslim, they had a civil wedding ceremony in 1960. His parents refused to attend. The couple also had a Hindu ceremony to please Kumar's parents, but Madhubala was never truly accepted as his wife. Within a month of her wedding she moved back to her bungalow in Bandra because of tension in the Kishore Kumar household. They remained married but under great strain for the remainder of Madhubala's life. The doctors in London told Madhubala that she would not live for long. The marriage lasted for nine years, and ended with Madhubala's death on 23 February 1969.
Kishore Kumar's third marriage was to Yogeeta Bali, and lasted from 1976 to 4 August 1978. Kishore was married to Leena Chandavarkar from 1980 until his death. Kishore Kumar sired two sons, Amit Kumar (playback singer) with Ruma, and Sumit Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar.
Kumar is said to have been paranoid about not being paid.[2] During recordings, he would sing only after his secretary confirmed that the producer had made the payment.[16] Once, when he discovered that his dues hadn't been fully paid, he landed up for shooting with make-up on only one side of his face. When the director questioned him, he replied "Aadha paisa to aadha make-up." (Half make-up for half payment).[2] On the sets of Bhai Bhai, Kishore Kumar refused to act because the director M V Raman owed him five thousand rupees. Ashok Kumar persuaded him to do the scene. But, when the shooting started, he walked across the floor and, each time he walked a few places, he said, Paanch Hazzar Rupaiya (five thousand rupees) and did a somersault. After he reached the end of the floor, he went out of the studio, jumped into his car, and ordered his driver Abdul to drive away.[17] On another occasion, when producer R. C. Talwar did not pay his dues in spite of repeated reminders, Kishore turned up at Talwar's residence one morning and started shouting "Hey Talwar, de de mere aath hazaar" ("Hey Talwar, give me my eight thousand"). He did this every morning until Talwar paid him.[16]
The film Anand (1971) was originally supposed to star Kishore Kumar and Mehmood Ali in the lead.[18] Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the director of the film, was asked to meet Kishore Kumar to discuss the project. However, when he went to Kishore Kumar's house, he was driven away by the gatekeeper due to a misunderstanding. Kishore Kumar (himself a Bengali) hadn't been paid for a stage show organized by another Bengali man, and had instructed his gatekeeper to drive away this "Bengali", if he ever visited the house. When Hrishikesh Mukherjee (also a Bengali) went to Kishore Kumar's house, the gatekeeper drove him away, mistaking him for the "Bengali" that Kishore Kumar had asked him to drive away. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well, and new actors (Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan) were signed up for the film.[18]
In spite of his "no money, no work" principle, sometimes Kishore Kumar recorded for free even when the producers were willing to pay. Such films include those produced by Rajesh Khanna and Danny Denzongpa.[19] On one occasion, Kishore Kumar helped actor-turned-producer Bipin Gupta, by giving him Rs.20,000 for the film Dal Mein Kala (1964). When actor Arun Kumar Mukherjee died, Kishore Kumar regularly sent money to his family in Bhagalpur.[17] Mukherjee was one of the first persons to appreciate Kishore's singing talent.[17]
Many journalists and writers have written about Kishore Kumar's seemingly eccentric behavior.[20][21] Kishore Kumar had put a "Beware of Kishore" sign at the door of his Warden Road flat, where he stayed for some time while his bungalow was being done up. Once, producer-director H. S. Rawail, who owed him some money, visited his flat to pay the dues. Kishore Kumar took the money, and when Rawail offered to shake hands with him, he reportedly put Rawail's hand in his mouth, bit it, and asked "Didn’t you see the sign?". Rawail laughed off the incident and left quickly.[17] Kishore Kumar was a loner, and in an interview with Pritish Nandy (1985), he said that he had no friends – he preferred talking to his trees instead.[22] Once, when a reporter made a comment about how lonely he must be, Kishore Kumar took her to his garden. He then named some of the trees in his garden, and introduced them to the reporter as his closest friends.[17]
According to another reported incident, once Kishore Kumar was to record a song for producer-director G. P. Sippy. As Sippy approached his bungalow, he saw Kishore going out in his car. Sippy pleaded him to stop his car, but Kishore only increased the speed of his car. Sippy chased him to Madh Island, where Kishore Kumar finally stopped his car near the ruined Madh Fort. When Sippy questioned his strange behavior, Kishore Kumar refused to recognize or talk to him and threatened to call police. Sippy had to return. Next morning, Kishore Kumar reported for the recording. An angry Sippy questioned him about his behavior on the previous day. However, Kishore Kumar insisted that Sippy must have seen a dream, and claimed that he was in Khandwa on the previous day.[23]
Once, a producer went to court to get a decree that Kishore Kumar must follow the director's orders. As a consequence, Kishore Kumar obeyed the director to the letter. He refused to alight from his car until the director ordered him to do so. Once, after a car scene in Mumbai, he drove on till Khandala because the director forgot to say "Cut".[17] In the 1960s, a financier named Kalidas Batvabbal, patently disgusted with Kishore Kumar's alleged lack of cooperation during the shooting of Half Ticket, gave him away to the income tax authorities. Kishore had to face a raid at his house. Later, Kishore invited Batvabbal home, tricked him by asking him to enter a cupboard for a "chat" and locked him inside. He unlocked Batvabbal after two hours and told him "Don’t ever come to my house again."[17]

Filmography

List of songs

Awards

Filmfare Awards
Winner:
Year Song Film Music director Lyricist
1969 "Roop Tera Mastaana" Aradhana Sachin Dev Burman Anand Bakshi
1975 "Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera" Amanush Shyamal Mitra Indeevar
1978 "Khaike Pan Banaras Wala" Don Kalyanji Anandji Anjaan
1980 "Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekheen" Thodisi Bewafaii Khayyam Gulzar
1982 "Pag Ghungroo Baandh Ke Meera Nachi" Namak Halaal Bappi Lahiri Anjaan
1983 "Hamen Aur Jeene Ki" Agar Tum Na Hote Rahul Dev Burman Gulshan Bawra
1984 "Manzilen apni jagah" Sharaabi Bappi Lahiri Anjaan
1985 "Saagar Kinaare" Saagar Rahul Dev Burman Javed Akhtar
Nominated:
Year Song Film Music Director Lyricist
1971 "Zindagi Ek Safar" Andaz Shankar Jaikishan Hasrat Jaipuri
1971 "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" Kati Patang Rahul Dev Burman Anand Bakshi
1972 "Chingari Koi Bhadke" Amar Prem Rahul Dev Burman Anand Bakshi
1973 "Mere Dil Mein Aaj" Daag: A Poem of Love Laxmikant-Pyarelal Sahir Ludhianvi
1974 "Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai" Dost Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi
1974 "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz" Kora Kagaz Kalyanji Anandji M.G.Hashmat
1975 "Main Pyaasa Tum" Faraar Kalyanji Anandji Rajendra Krishan
1975 "O Manjhi Re" Khushboo Rahul Dev Burman Gulzar
1977 "Aap Ke Anurodh" Anurodh Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi
1978 "O Saathi Re" Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Kalyanji Anandji Anjaan
1978 "Hum Bewafa Harghiz" Shalimar Rahul Dev Burman Anand Bakshi
1979 "Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi" Kaala Patthar Rajesh Roshan Sahir Ludhianvi
1980 "Om Shanthi Om" Karz Laxmikant-Pyarelal Anand Bakshi
1981 "Hameh Tumse Pyar" Kudrat Rahul Dev Burman Majrooh Sultanpuri
1981 "Chhookar Mere Mann Ko" Yaraana Rajesh Roshan Anjaan
1983 "Shayad Meri Shaadi" Souten Usha Khanna Sawan Kumar
1984 "De De Pyar De" Sharaabi Bappi Lahiri Anjaan
1984 "Inteha Ho Gayi" Sharaabi Bappi Lahiri Anjaan
1984 "Log Kehete Hai Main" Sharaabi Bappi Lahiri Anjaan
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
Winner:

In Popular Culture

  • An official biopic on his life and times is being made by director Anurag Basu, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as the legendary singer. [28]

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Kabir Bedi

Kabir Bedi (Punjabi: ਕਬੀਰ ਬੇਦੀ) is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story. He is best known in Europe for playing the pirate Sandokan in the highly popular TV mini series and for his role as the villainous Gobinda in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. He is very popular in Italy and is fluent in Italian.
Kabir Bedi is based in India and lives in Mumbai.
http://speakupindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Kabir-Bedi.jpg

Biography

Early life

Bedi was one of three children born into a family that had devoted itself to India's fight for independence from British colonial rule. His father, Baba Pyare Lal Bedi, a Punjabi Sikh, was an author and philosopher. His mother, Freda Bedi was a British woman born in Derby, England, who became famous as the first Western woman to take ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. Kabir Bedi did his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, and graduation from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

Personal life

Bedi married four times and had three children, Pooja, Siddharth (deceased) and Adam. He was married to Protima Bedi, an Odissi dancer. Their daughter Pooja Bedi is a magazine/newspaper columnist[dated info]. Their son, Siddharth, who went to Carnegie Mellon University in the USA, had a long history of schizophrenia and committed suicide in 1997 at the age of 26.[1]
As his marriage with Protima began to break down he famously started a relationship with Parveen Babi. They never married. He later married British-born fashion designer Susan Humphreys. Their son Adam Bedi is an international model who recently made his Bollywood debut with the thriller, Hello? Kaun Hai!.[2] This marriage ended in divorce.
In the late 1990s, Bedi married TV and radio presenter Nikki Bedi. They had no children and divorced in 2005. Since then, he has been in a relationship with British born Parveen Dusanj .[3][4]

Kabir Bedi is a firm supporter of the freedom struggle in Burma, and has become an official ambassador of the Burma Campaign UK.[5]

Career

Kabir Bedi began his career in Indian theatre and then moved on to Hindi films. Bedi is the only international actor from India to have originated from Bollywood, worked in Hollywood, and become a big star in Europe.

Stage acting

As a stage actor, Kabir has performed Shakespeare’s Othello as well as portrayed a mad historical Indian king, Tughlaq; and a self-destructive alcoholic in The Vultures. In London he also starred in The Far Pavilions, the West End musical adaptation of M. M. Kaye’s novel, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In 2011 Kabir played Emperor Shah Jahan, in 'Taj' a play written by John Murrell, a celebrated Canadian playwright for the Luminato Festival in Toronto.

Film career

In the James Bond film Octopussy, he played the villain's aide Gobinda who battled Roger Moore from start to finish. He remains the only Bollywood actor to appear in a James Bond movie.
Kabir has acted in over 60 Indian Bollywood films. In the historical epic Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, Kabir starred as the Emperor Shah Jahan. Other starring Bollywood roles include Raj Khosla’s Kacche Dhaage, Rakesh Roshan's Khoon Bhari Maang and Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na.
Currently, Kabir is shooting with Hrithik Roshan (Kites), Govinda (Showman), and Akshay Kumar (Blue).[6] He is also starring in Deepa Mehta's next film, Kamagata Maru with Amitabh Bachchan and John Abraham. He is presently doing a pivotal role in a Tamil film titled 'Aravaan', directed by Vasanthabalan, who is critically acclaimed for his earlier films Angaadi Theru and Veyil.
Kabir played pivotal roles in Columbia Pictures' The Beast of War, a film on the Russian war in Afghanistan, directed by Kevin Reynolds, as well as the acclaimed Italian film Andata Ritorno, by Marco Ponti, winner of the prestigious David di Donatello Award.

Television career

Kabir’s has had extensive roles on American television - primetime and daytime, series and miniseries - including Hallmark’s African epic Forbidden Territory, and Ken Follett’s On Wings of Eagles and also Red Eagle. He played Friar Sands in The Lost Empire, for NBC. Kabir also played roles on Dynasty, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Hunter, Knight Rider and Highlander: The Series amongst others.
In Europe, his greatest success was Sandokan, the saga of a romantic Asian pirate during British colonial times; an Italian-German-French TV series which broke viewership records across Europe.[citation needed]. Kabir also recently starred in a prime-time Italian television series, Un Medico In Famiglia, on RAI TV, the country's biggest broadcaster.
For over a year, Kabir starred in The Bold and the Beautiful, the second most-watched television show in the world, seen by over a billion people in 149 countries.
He recently had his own cinematic talk show on Indian TV, Director's Cut, a 13-part special series interviewing the country's leading directors.
Kabir Bedi after receiving his knighthood.

Radio career

In 2007 has starred in "Chat", a radio show aired by RAI Radio2, in the role of Sandokan. In 2012 did a series of Radio One programmes titled, 'Women of Gold' and 'Men of Steel' in honour of industry champions in India.

Writing

Kabir Bedi is a regular contributor to Indian publications including the Times of India and Tehelka on political and social issues affecting the country. He is also seen debating such topics on Indian national television.[7]

Awards and achievements

Since 1982 Kabir has been a voting member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who are responsible for presenting the Oscar awards. He is also a voting member of the Screen Actors Guild.
He has also won numerous film, advertising and popularity awards across Europe and India.[8]
By decree of the President of the Italian Republic of 2 June 2010, Kabir Bedi was officially knighted. He received the highest ranking civilian honour of the Italian Republic and was bestowed the title of "Cavaliere" (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.[9]

Filmography

Films

Girl from India/Man from Africa (1982)

Television