Golden Era of Bollywood: JAGDEEP-Soorma Bhopali of Sholay

Thursday 29 March 2018

JAGDEEP-Soorma Bhopali of Sholay

Jagdeep the comedian of Golden Era started his film career as a child artist extra in B. R. Chopra's Afsana, then went on to do films as a child artist in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin, K. A. Abbas's Munna, Guru Dutt's Aar Paar, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin and AVM's Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke. After Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, he received various accolades and high praise for his roles. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru has gifted his personal staff to Jagdeep for his stellar performance in Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke.

Still from Do Beegha Zameen

He was launched as a leading man by AVM in the films Bhabhi, Barkha and Bindaya, and went on to do a few more films as a leading man.Later on he established himself as a comedian.His role of Soorma Bhopali of Sholay will always be in the mind of cinema lovers.
He was born on 29 March 1939 in M P.,At the age of 6 his mother brought him to Bombay where his cousin brother was already settled.He had a very poor childhood and couldn't complete his schooling.He started selling soap and combs for living. even sold kites,One day an unknown person offered him work as an extra for BR Chopra's Afsana for which he was offered Rs 6 per day.After that he played the role of young Kishore Kumar in Dhobi Doctor.This role was appreciated by Bimal Roy who took him for his next Classic film Do Beegha Zameen.After that he was offered a children's film, Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, for which the then prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, honoured him and the other artistes.
That year proved to be a milestone in Jagdeep's young life. All the films nominated for the best children's film category -- Raj Kapoor's Ab Dilli Door Nahin, K A Abbas' Munna and AVM's Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke -- had a common factor, Jagdeep.

Jagdeep in Bhabhi

He was launched as a leading man by AVM in the films Bhabhi, Barkha and Bindaya, and went on to do a few more films as a leading man.He played hero in five films, opposite heroines like Nanda (Bhabhi), Azra, Amita and Naaz. He established himself as a comedian since the movie Brahmachari.
He appeared in more than 400 films. He is especially known for his comic roles. He played Soorma Bhopali in Sholay (1975), Machchar in Purana Mandir (1984), Salman Khan's dad in Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
He is also known for his appearances in many horror movies, especially in projects of the Ramsay Brothers. He appeared in famous hits like Purana Mandir.
Some hit songs are picturised on him like "Paas baitho tabiyat bahal jayegi" from Punarmilan, "In pyar ki rahon mein" from the same film, "Chal ud ja re Panchhi" and "Chali Chali re Patang", from the superhit movie Bhabhi, where he is paired opposite Nanda, and "Aa Gaye Yaaro Jeene Ke Din" from Phir Wohi Raat.