Rajendra Kumar was born on 20 July 1929. Rajendra Kumar was born in Sialkot, in the West Punjab province of British India, currently in Pakistan. Who acted in Bollywood films mostly from the 1950s through the 1960s and 1970s. He has also produced and directed movies.

Rajendra Kumar married Shukla and had a son Kumar Gaurav also an actor and two daughters. His son married Namrata Dutt, the daugher of actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis and sister of actor Sanjay Dutt.

Rajendra Kumar began his career by working as an extra in films like 'Mela' in 1948. After a long struggle for seven years, his first major role came with 'Vachan' in 1955, where he played Geeta Bali's brother. Rajendra Kumar made his debut in Jogan in 1950 in which he starred opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis. He was then noticed in the blockbuster hit Mother India in 1957 in which he played Nargis's son.

The 1960s saw Rajendra Kumar rise like no other star had risen, and there was a time when every film starring him was a silver jubilee hit. There were times when he had six or seven films running in their silver jubilee weeks at the same time. It was a success that was unbelievable and Rajendra Kumar was soon known as "Jubilee Kumar".

He had many successful box office hits including Dhool Ka Phool , Mere Mehboob , Sangam , Arzoo , Suraj  and Ganwar . He was considered a golden boy for the movie producers in the sense that he was the actor who could recover the producers' money in a matter of few weeks.

Several of his films bombed at the box office, and he was not getting the offers he used to receive earlier.The sunshine came when he was offered an interesting role in the film Saajan Bina Suhaagan opposite Nutan. The film was a huge blockbuster of 1978. He then switched from leading roles and played many character roles in the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1981 Rajendra introduced his son Kumar Gaurav in the film Love Story which he produced, directed and also appeared in. The film was declared the blockbuster of 1981. But the success was shortlived as Kumar Gaurav's later films were huge disappointments at the box office and his son's career declined as soon as it began. Rajendra also produced and acted with his son in Phool  but this was also a box office failure. Kumar appeared in fewer films after this and his last film appearance was a minor role in Deepa Mehta's critically acclaimed film Earth in 1998.

Rajendra Kumar himself moved over to play character roles and even acted in TV serials. But this was not for want of money. The prudent Punjabi had all along invested his earnings wisely in blue chip shares, a dubbing theatre (named after his daughter Dimple) and had several other interests.

Rajendra Kumar died on July 29, 1999 of cancer only nine days after his 70th birthday and the birthday of his son's brother-in-law Sanjay Dutt. He was known to never have taken medicines in his entire life.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY :

Jogan (1950)
Toofan Aur Deeya (1956)
Aawaz (1956)
Ek Jhalak (1957)
Mother India (1957)
Talaaq (1958)
Khazanchi (1958)
Ghar Sansar (1958)
Devar Bhabhi (1958)
Santan (1959)
Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959)
Do Behnen (1959)
Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959)
Patanga (1960)
Mehndi Rang Lagyo (1960)
Maa Baap (1960)
Kanoon (1960)
Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961)
Sasural (1961)
Pyaar Ka Saagar (1961)
Gharana(1961)
Aas Ka Panchhi (1961)
Mere Mehboob (1963)
Hamrahi (1963)
Gehra Daag (1963)
Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
Amar Rahe Yeh Pyaar (1963)
Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963)
Sangam (1964)
Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)
Zindagi (1964)
Arzoo (1965)
Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968)
Anjaana (1969)
Geet (1970)
Ganwaar (1970)
Mera Naam Joker (1970)
Gora Aur Kala (1972)
Do Jasoos (1975)
Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978)
Love Story (1981)
Clerk (1989)
Phool (1993)
Earth (1998)


PRODUCER :

Love Story (1981)
Naam (1986)
Phool (1993)
The Jungle Book (1994) (Executive producer)

DIRECTOR :

Love Story (1981)

AWARDS AND HONORS :

Rajendra Kumar was honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 1969.

He was also conferred with Justice of Peace honour and served as Honorary Magistrate.

He was awarded the National Honour by late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru simultaneously for “Kanoon” (Hindi) and “Mehandi Rang Lagyo” (Gujarati).

He received a special Shastri National Award and was associated with several charity schemes.