Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012),
popularly known as A. K. Hangal, was an Indian freedom fighter
from 1929–1947 and also stage actor from 1936–1965 and later
became a character actor in Hindi language films from
1966–2005. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina
(1977), as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak
Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the
antagonist in Prem Bandhan and the 16 films he did with Rajesh
Khanna. He has acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career
spanning from 1966 to 2005.
Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, he spent his childhood and youth
in Peshawar, where he had performed in theatre for some major
roles.His family home was inside Reti Gate as mentioned in his
memoirs. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. His
mother's name was Ragia Hundoo. He had two sisters. Bishan and
Kishan. He was married to Manorma Dar from Agra. However, his
primary occupation for the early part of his life was that of a
tailor. He was an active participant in the Indian freedom
struggle from 1929–1947. He joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a
theatre group in Peshawar in 1936 and continued to act in many plays
in undivided India till 1946. Following his father's retirement,
the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi. He moved to Bombay after
the Partition of India in 1949 after 3 years in prison in Pakistan.
He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni
and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings. He was jailed
because he was a communist in Karachi for two years from 1947–1949
and after his release came to India and settled in Mumbai. He
later acted in many plays in theatres in India from 1949–1965.
He started his Hindi film career at the age of 50 with Basu
Bhattacharya's Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird, and went on to play
as the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the
leading men/women in the films in the 70's 80's 90's or sometimes the
quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the
films like Chetan Anand's Heer Raanjha (1970),Namak Haraam, Shaukeen
(1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora
Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi, Naram
Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor
was part of 16 films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero like Aap Ki
Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Prem Bandhan, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi
Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai till Sautela Bhai in
1996. His best performances in his later years was in Shararat
(2002) his character roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1997) and Lagaan.In
movies he has played a very large number of character roles, mostly
positive, with rare exceptions where his negative roles became famous
like in Manzil and Prem Bandhan . According to film expert Rajesh
Subramanian, the producer Debika Mitra had signed Madan Puri for
Inder Sen's role but a friend advised that A K Hangal would be a
better choice. The superlative performance went on to become one of
the most cherished acts of Hangal.
On 8 February 2011, Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for
fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.
Hangal made his last appearance in the television series Madhubala –
Ek Ishq Ek Junoon in May 2012, in which he had a cameo. Madhubala
– Ek Ishq Ek Junoon was a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema.
The episode that featured Hangal aired on 1 June at 22:00 on
Colors. In the early 2012, Hangal also gave his voice for the
character of King Ugrasen in the animation film Krishna Aur Kans
which was released on 3 August 2012. This was final work in his
career before his death. His expressions for character of Ugrasen
was much appreciated by critics.
Awards :
The government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his
contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.
Hangal, who had more than 200 films to his credit in a career that
spanned nearly five decades, due to his old age post 2007 found it
difficult to meet his medical expenses. His son Vijay, a retired
cameraman and former Bollywood photographer, himself is 75 and has
not had a full-time job since 2001. As a result, the family had
financial difficulties. Though previously Vijay would take up small
jobs but later he suffered from back problems and was unable to work.
After 2007, Hangal has been suffering from an illness and
could not afford the treatment. At this point, following a media
spotlight on 20 January 2011, many filmstars and directors
promised to help him financially. Maharashtra Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chavan also pledged to assisst the vetran actor.
The actor had last shot for Amol Palekar's film, Paheli in 2005. In
fact, he had not gone out of his house for the last eight months. "We
were surprised to see him get out of home. He would have done it only
for acting," said his son Vijay and added, "My father had
remained at home for the past few months. The show producer Saurabh
Tiwari and senior executives from the channel came to our place to
offer him the role. Several filmmakers had approached him in the last
few years. But father did not take those up due to health issues."
A K Hangal returned to face the studio lights after seven long years.
Having reached the sets of a TV Series Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
on a wheelchair, the then 97-year-old actor wasn't sure he would be
able to handle it physically. But once the cameras started rolling,
there was no stopping the actor within.
Hangal participated in the Indian freedom movement when as a student,
he joined protests in the North West Frontier Province against the
massacre at Jallianwala Bagh. He later moved to Karachi, where he
spent three years in prison for protesting against British rule.
He is also related to India's first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawahar Lal
Nehru. Panditji's wife, Kamla Nehru, was first cousin of A.K.Hangal's
mother.
Hangal, a lifetime member of the Communist Party of India, was
critical of what he called the role played by political parties such
as Shiv Sena, particularly during the Bombay riots.
Hangal was admitted to the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai
on 16 August 2012, three days after he fractured his
thigh bone from a fall in his bathroom. His son said that he went to
the hospital as he had "suffered a back injury and had to
undergo a surgery. But that could not take place as later it was
found that he has chest and breathing problems." On 26 August,
he was put on life support. Dr Vinod Khanna, an orthopaedic surgeon
at the hospital said: "He is on life support system. One of his
lungs is not functioning. He is also having respiratory problems."
But, his condition worsened and he died on the same day, at the age
of 98. His cremation was held the next afternoon at Pavan Hans
crematorium.
In reaction to his death, Shabana Azmi wrote on Twitter: "An era
comes to an end. Theatre and film were enriched by him." The
Communist Party of India described Hangal as a committed social and
political activist who withstood the Shiv Sena onslaught. The
BJP's L. K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari also condoled his death.
A.K. Hangal's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :
- 1996 Sautela Bhai - as Bindiya's maternal grandfather
- 1985 Bewafai - as Harihar Nath
- 1984 Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar - as Tripathi
- 1983 Avtaar - as Rashid Ahmed
- 1981 Kudrat - as Billi Ram
- 1980 Thodisi Bewafaii - as Arvind Kumar Choudhary
- 1980 Phir Wohi Raat - as Vishwanath
- 1979 Prem Bandhan
- 1979 Amar Deep - as Ramu kaka
- 1978 Naukri - as Ranjit's Father
- 1977 Aaina - as Ram Shastri
- 1974 Aap Ki Kasam - as Kamal's Father
- 1973 Namak Haraam - as Bipinlal Pandey
- 1973 Daag: A Poem of Love - as Prosecuting Attorney/Judge
- 1972 Bawarchi - as Ramnath Sharma (Munna)
- 1971 Guddi - as Guddi's father.(Rajesh Khanna's special appearance)
