Rajendra
Nath Malhotra (1931 − 13 February 2008) was a comedian actor in
Nepalese, Indian Hindi and Punjabi films.
His
family was from Karimpura locality of Peshawar but settled in
Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He studied in college at Darbar College,
Rewa where Arjun Singh (a Congress politician) and R.P. Agarwal were
his class mates.
Rajendra
Nath's elder brother Prem Nath went to Mumbai and became an actor, so
Rajendra Nath joined him in 1949, they were good friends of Raj
Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor. Rajendra Nath and Prem Nath's sister Krishna
married actor-director, Raj Kapoor. He had also another brother
Narendra Nath who also became actor usually played some villain's
role in the movies.
Film
expert Rajesh Subramanian elucidates that Rajendernath who was least
interested in studies quit college and landed in Bombay to work in
films like his brother. He did some plays at Prithvi theatre like
Pathan and Shakuntala. It was here that he became close to Shammi
Kapoor.
Initially
Rajendra Nath struggled to get roles till Sashadhar Mukherjee offered
him a comedian's role in Dil Deke Dekho, a film directed by Nasir
Hussain, starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Rajendra Nath along
with Asha Parekh were a regular feature in many Nasir Hussain films
like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Teesri
Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyar Ka Mausam. He also played a villain's
role in Hamrahi opposite Shashikala whom he kills. He has done 187
movies. He was one of the most famous comedians. His best role as
comedian was in Mere Sanam and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. He also
played the role of Hero/Second Lead in "Vachan" and "Teen
Bahuraniyan". He played supporting roles in films like Dharkan
by Devendra Goel and Jeevan Mrityu by Rajashree Productions. He
played a buffoon called Popatlal in Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, and
since then the name became synonymous with Rajendra Nath. He used
this name in the TV series Hum Paanch.
He
then did a large number of films, mostly comic roles, such as in An
Evening in Paris and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. One of his most
applauded performances was in Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim though
it was not a full-fledged comedy role. He also contributed for
Nepal's first movie called Maitighar which was shot in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
He
starred in a number of Punjabi films such as Jatt Punjabi. He also
acted in the very famous TV serial Hum Paanch as Mr. Popat Lal.
He
died on 13 February 2008 from a cardiac arrest.
1967 - Baharon Ke Sapne as Pandu
1970 - The Train
1970 - Aan Milo Sajana as Muft Ram Mauji
1972 - Mere Jeevan Saathi
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