The Jumping Jack of Bollywood, Jeetendra, turns 75 today on 7th April 2017. The legendary actor, who has done nearly 200 films as the main lead, a feat matched by just a handful of his peers since the inception of Hindi cinema, is one of the highly respected legends of not just his era but even the present times.
As the actor, who was born Ravi Kapoor in the holy city of Amritsar, Punjab celebrates the milestone year in his life, we look at some of the most memorable films of his illustrious career.
1) NAVRANG (1959)
Jeetendra's parents' business dealt with imitation jewellery and while supplying jewellery to V. Shantaram, he was cast as Sandhya's character's double in the 1959 movie Navrang.
The film noted for its dance sequences with lead actress Sandhya and music by C. Ramchandra, while playback singer Mahendra Kapoor made his singing debut with the song Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi.
2) GEET GAYA PATTHARARON NE (1964)
Jeetendra got his first major break of his life with V. Shantaram's Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne (1964). Starring V. Shantaram's daughter Rajshree in the lead role, the film marked debut to both of the leads. The film is about an impoverished sculptor who marries his inspiration but is then betrayed by her.
3) FARZ (1967)
Gopli, Agent 116 of India's Secret Service, is called in to investigate the death of another agent whom had some incriminating photographic evidence revealing the inner workings of a foreign terrorist leader and his strike team and Gopli sets out to find the evidence before the terrorist does.
4) AULAD (1968)
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Aulad is a 1968 Bollywood, drama film produced & directed by Kundan Kumar on Kundan Films banner. Starring Jeetendra, Babita in the lead roles and music composed by Chitragupta Shrivastava.
Mamta lives a poor lifestyle with her husband, Dinu, and two sons, Mohan, and Sohan. When Ram Lal, the wealthy Zamindar, Kanta Prasad Gupta's Munim, comes to them to take Sohan to Mrs. Sharda Gupta for ten days, they reluctantly permit him to do so. After 10 days, Gupta himself approaches them and begs them to let his wife keep Sohan for life. They tearfully agree. Then Mohan gets into trouble, and Dinu scolds him, only to find out that Mohan has run away from home. A search proves futile, and the couple continue to live a childless life. Now 17 years later, Mamta is seriously ill, and asks Dinu to bring Sohan back. Dinu goes to the Zamindar's house where he meets a young man who identifies himself as the real son, Suraj, and informs him that Sohan has been asked to leave. A devastated Dinu loses his memory and roams listlessly on the streets of Calcutta, unable to remember anything. The question is will Dinu and Mamta be united with their sons during their respective lifetime, and what has become of Mohan, and who exactly is Suraj?
5) HUMJOLI (1970)
Humjoli is a 1970 Bollywood drama film, produced by Prasan Kapoor on Tirupati Pictures banner and directed by T. R. Ramanna. The film stars Jeetendra, Leena Chandavarkar in the lead roles and music is composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Village-based Gopalnath (Pran) had always dreamed of becoming rich. On a visit to Bombay city, his dreams are fulfilled when he agrees to marry plain-looking Roopa, the sole heiress of a wealthy man (Nazir Hussain). Unknown to Roopa, Gopalnath loves fellow-villager, Shyama (Shashikala). After the passing away of Roopa's dad, Roopa gives birth to a baby girl, Ranibala. Gopalnath arranges to have Roopa killed; marries Shyama; and let Ranibala live in a hostel. Years later, his past comes to haunt him in the shape and form of Shyama's relatives, and Ranibala's suitor, Manmohan, who will not leave any stone unturned to blackmail Gopalnath for the rest of his life.
6) CARAVAN (1971)
Caravan is a 1971 Bollywood thriller film produced by Tahir Hussain under Nasir Hussain Films & T.V. Films banner, directed by Nasir Hussain. The film stars Jeetendra, Asha Parekh in lead roles and music composed by R.D. Burman. It also has Aruna Irani, Helen and Madan Puri. Three more Hussain fixtures were involved in the songs; lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and music composer R.D. Burman and Mohammad Rafi. The film recorded as Super Hit at box office.
Sunita is a young woman who ends up married to the wrong man, Rajan. Thinking that he has conspired with his girlfriend, Monica to murder her, she runs away to find an old friend of her father's in Bangalore who may be able to help. Having no money, the only way she can get there is to join a traveling caravan. The crew of the caravan is Mohan, Mohan's sidekick Johnny, and Mohan's younger brother Monto. Along the way, the caravan crosses paths with a group of gypsies that includes some causal young men. Sunita soon falls in love with Mohan but Nisha is attracted to Mohan and this puts Sunita in danger again to make matters worse Rajan has conducted a manhunt to find Sunita either by hook or by crook.
7) PARICHAY (1972)
Parichay is a 1972 Indian film produced by V. K. Sobti on Tirupathi Pictures banner, directed by Gulzar. The film is based on a Bengali novel, Rangeen Uttarain by Raj Kumar Maitra. Pran heads the cast with Jaya Bhaduri, Jeetendra, Asrani, Sanjeev Kumar and Geeta Siddharth, and also A K Hangal, Leela Mishra and also a special appearance by Vinod Khanna. Pran, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Jeetendra have been critically acclaimed for their performances.
In desperate need of a job, unemployed Ravi (Jeetendra) goes to his maternal uncle (A.K. Hangal) and aunt (Leela Mishra) in their village for a few days. His uncle decides that he can be a suitable teacher for five obstinate and spoiled grand-children of the wealthy Rai Saheb (Pran). Ravi accepts this offer, and goes to work as a tutor with them. He soon realizes that it is not upto him to keep his employment there, but rather to the children themselves, who have never tolerated any tutor beyond a few days.
8) JAISE KO TAISA (1973)
Jaise Ko Taisa is a 1973 Bollywood drama film, produced by M. Saravanan, M. Balasubramaniam on AVM Productions banner, directed by Murugan Kumaran. Starring Jeetendra, Reena Roy in the lead roles, Sridevi as a child artist and music composed by R. D. Burman. The film is a remake of Telugu Movie Bullema Bullodu (1972) which itself was a remake of 1970 Kannada movie Bhale Jodi. The film recorded as Super Hit at box office.
Look alike twins are separated at birth. One grows up as a farmer in tough surroundings, and hardwork; while the other grows up with a wealthy family. The one with the wealthy family is abused, beaten, drugged, and tormented in order to keep him subdued and controlled by the rest of the family and certain employees, so that they can continue to live an easy life, at his cost. Things change dramatically, when the twins are switched, with the hardworking one ending up with the wealthy family, and the other ending up with his mother, and a hard life. This movies contains the emotional and popular song: "Kaunsi hai woh cheez jo yahan nahin milti, sub kuch mil jata hai, lekin hahn, Maa nahin milti..(You can get everything in this world, the only thing you cannot get or replace is: Mother).
9) BIDAAI (1974)
Bidaai is a 1974 Bollywood drama film produced & directed by L. V. Prasad on Prasad Productions Pvt Ltd banner. Starring Jeetendra, Leena Chandavarkar in lead roles and music is composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film is a remake of Telugu Movie Talla Pellama (1974), Starring N.T.Rama Rao, Chandrakala in pivotal roles. Durga Khote, who played the widowed mother of Jeetendra and Satyen Kapoo, won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
After his business partner embezzles money and leaves him penniless, Parvati's husband passes away, leaving behind two sons, Prabhakar and Sudhakar, & a dumb daughter, Gauri, virtually on the verge of destitution, When Prabhakar grows up, he marries Pooja and moves out. Years pass by, Sudhakar has grown up, has managed to complete schooling, gets a job out of town and re-locates. He is summoned home when his sister kills himself as she is not permitted to marry Murli, who also kills himself. Then Sudhakar gets married to wealthy Padma and brings her home. Padma wants to be pampered and does not like playing second fiddle even to Parvati, which leads to disagreements in the household. Padma's pregnancy does not resolve any of the problems, and as a result the couple leave an ailing Parvati on her own and re-locate to Padma's palatial house in the city. Weeks turn into months, months turn into years, Parvati is all by herself - with the question remaining who will bid adieu (Bidaai) to her?
10) KHUSHBOO (1975)
Khushboo is a 1975 Hindi drama film produced by Prasan Kapoor on Tirupati Pictures banner and directed by Gulzar, who had a prolific year, with two more releases in the same year, Mausam and Aandhi. It was based on the Bengali novel "Panditmashai" by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, which was earlier filmed in Bengali in 1951 by Naresh Mitra. The film stars Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Asrani, Farida Jalal, Sarika and Sharmila Tagore. The film's music composed by R. D. Burman, with lyrics of Gulzar. Haunting song "O Majhi Re" sung by Kishore Kumar, was famous both for lyrics and melody. A couple of other songs like 'do naino mein aansoo bhare hain' and 'bechara dil kya kare' were also very popular. It was praised as a beautiful film with good acting by Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Asrani, and Jeetendra.
Kusum and Brindavan are two small children living in a small village in India. Both love each other, and decide to marry when they grow up. Kusum has his name tattooed on her arm. But fate has other plans - both are separated. Kusum thinks that Brindavan has betrayed her, and she burns her arm to eradicate the tattoo. Years later, Kusum has grown up and is looking after a wealthy woman in her village. The wealthy woman falls sick, and her son brings in a doctor to treat her. Kusum's hopes for meeting her beloved surface, when she finds out that the doctor's (Jeetendra) name is Brindavan.
11) SANTAN (1976)
Suntan is a Bollywood film starring Jeetendra, Rekha, Ashok Kumar and Nirupa Roy. It was released in 1976.
Dinanath (Ashok Kumar) is a labourer, who has determined to educate his son Kishore (Satyendra Kapoor) and make him a doctor and marry Kishore with his friend's Shanu (Indrani Mukherjee) as promised to his friend on the death-bed. Kishore promises to marry Shanu and makes her pregnant. But unfortunately, he has other plans of making quick money. Kishore marries Lata (Bindu) who is very rich and leaves his parents to utter neglect. Soon Shanu gives birth to a girl, while Geeta gives birth to a boy, Ravi (Jeetendra). Dinanath becomes blind his wife Tulsi (Nirupa Roy) works as a housemaid in her son's house only without giving her identity. Ravi grows up in her hands, develops lot of affection on Dinanath, Tulsi and Parvati. After 20 years Tulsi reveals the truth on her death bed, Kishore does not attend to her funeral, because of his status in the society and Dinanath also dies in car accident. Now Ravi decides to teach his parents a lesson for ill-treating his grandparents with the help of Advocate Baldev Raj (Utpal Dutt) and his daughter Sarita (Rekha).
12) NAGIN (1976)
Nagin is a 1976 Hindi horror fantasy thriller film produced and directed by Rajkumar Kohli on Shankar Movies banner. It features a huge ensemble cast including Reena Roy, Sunil Dutt, Jeetendra, Feroz Khan, Sanjay Khan, Vinod Mehra, Rekha, Yogeeta Bali, Mumtaz in the lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film recorded as Blockbuster at Box Office India. Following the success of the film the lead actress Reena Roy received widespread attention and popularity.
A female serpent watches helplessly as her mate is shot and killed by a man and five friends. She watches as they attempt in vain to search for her mate's body. After they leave, she looks into the still eyes of her mate, and sees his killers, six men, and swears to avenge his death by killing them one by one. She kills one of the six men the very next day, and yet another the next day. Then when she is ready to kill the third man, she finds out that he is wearing an amulet that protects him from all snakes. She decides to wait and bid her time, She knows she has time on her side, and she can use her powers to change to any human form, for she can be anybody she wants - wife, seductress, mistress, damsel in distress - all of which spell out to one thing - death for the remaining four - at any cost.
13) KINARA (1977)
Kinara is a 1977 Indian Hindi romantic drama film produced & directed by Gulzar on Meghana Movies banner. Starring Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Dharmendra in pivotal roles and music composed by R D Burman. Kinara was well received by the masses as well as the critics.
14) APNAPAN (1977)
Apnapan is a 1977 Indian Bollywood drama film produced & directed by J. Om Prakash on FILMYUG Pvt Ltd banner. Starring Reena Roy, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Sulakshana Pandit in lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film recorded as Hit at box office. Reena Roy played selfish gold-digger that abandons her husband and child, won her numerous accolades and a filmfare award for best supporting actress. However, she rejected the award on the basis that she is the heroine of the film, not the supporting actress.
Delhi-based Anil Mehra decides to re-locate to Bombay. He is unsure of the location of his workplace, and takes the assistance of Radhika Sharma. She does assist him to find the location. They continue to meet, and are attracted to each other. Anil proposes marriage, and Radhika accepts. Then she finds out that Anil is not a bachelor, he even has a child from a previous marriage, which ended in a divorce.
15) EK HI RASTA (1977)
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Ek Hi Raasta is a 1977 Bollywood, drama film produced & directed by Mohan Segal on Uma Cine Films Pvt Ltd banner. Starring Jeetendra, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Vinod Mehra in the lead roles and music composed by Rajesh Roshan.
Atin works as sales manager for an automobile company in Bombay where he falls in love with girl Veena, daughter of a multimillionaire Mr.Chowdary.
16) JAANI DUSHMAN (1979)
Jaani Dushman is a 1979 Indian Bollywood horror fantasy thriller film produced and directed by Rajkumar Kohli on Shankar Movies banner. It features a huge ensemble cast including Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Mehra, Reena Roy, Rekha, Neetu Singh in lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The film recorded as Super Hit at box office.
17) THE BURNING TRAIN (1980)
The Burning Train is a Bollywood action thriller film released in 1980 produced by B. R. Chopra on B. R. Films banner, directed by Ravi Chopra. The film featuring a huge all-star cast Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna, Parveen Babi, Jeetendra, Neetu Singh, Vinod Mehra, Danny Denzongpa in pivotal roles and music composed by R. D. Burman. The plot revolves around a train named Super Express that catches fire on its inaugural run from New Delhi to Mumbai.
The Burning Train had a 100% opening but collections fell so strong that it is till date considered to be one of the biggest disasters in Indian Cinema. Yet, the film is considered as a classic because of its star cast and melodious music.
18) MERI AWAZ SUNO (1981)
Meri Aawaz Suno is Bollywood Action thriller film produced by G. Hanumantha Rao by Padmalaya Studios, presented by Krishna & directed by S. V. Rajendra Singh. Starring Jeetendra, Hema Malini in lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film was a remake of Kannada Movie Antha (1981).
Sushil Kumar lives a middle-class lifestyle in Riksapur in the District of Bhagalpur, located in a country called Mundustan, along with his widowed mom, Kamini, an unmarried sister, Shobha, and his pregnant wife, Sunita. Shobha falls in love with a wealthy man named Kumar, introduces him to her family, gets their approval and gets married. Shortly thereafter she disappears, and the Kumar family realize that Shobha has been abducted by her husband, who belongs to a gang of of women-kidnappers. Sushil is determined to find her whereabouts, gets a job with the Police as a Sub-Inspector, does his work honestly and diligently and is publicly honored. Thereafter he is assigned by CBI Officer Sangram Singh to a secret mission to locate and apprehend smugglers, thieves, and women abductors, which can only be done after he dons the guise of jailed gangster Kanwar Lal, his look-alike. Sushil accepts this assignment in the hopes of being re-united with his sister - not knowing that he is putting not only his very own life but also the lives of Sunita and Kamini in serious danger.
19) JUSTICE CHAUDHARY (1983)
An honest and upright lawyer becomes a judge; marries his disabled daughter to a crook, and is blackmailed to compromise his judicial judgements.
Justice Chaudhry is a Bollywood Action film produced by G.A. Seshagiri Rao by Padmalaya Studios banner, presented by Krishna & directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Jeetendra, Sridevi, Hema Malini, Moushumi Chatterjee, Debashree Roy, Shakti Kapoor in lead roles and music composed by Bappi Lahiri. The film is remake of Telugu blockbuster Movie Justice Chowdary (1982), starring N. T. Rama Rao, Sridevi in pivotal roles.
20) MAWAALI (1983)
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Mawaali (English: Guardian) is a 1983 Bollywood produced by G. Hanumantha Rao by Padmalaya Studios, presented by Krishna & directed by K. Bapaiah. Starring Jeetendra, Jayapradha, Sridevi in the lead roles and music composed by Bappi Lahiri. The film is a remake of Telugu movie Chuttalunnaru Jagratha (1980), starring Krishna, Sridevi later as Tamil Pokkiri Raja (1982), Rajnikanth, Sridevi in pivotal roles. Sridevi has replicated her role in two versions.
Nisha Verma lives with her wealthy father, Goyal; her aunt, Laila; Laila's husband, Ajit; and her cousin, Ranjit. Laila would like her to get married to Ranjit so that the wealth and the estate gets to remain in the family. But Asha has fallen in love with a young man named Ramesh. When she introduces Ramesh to her dad, he does not approve of him, and warns Nisha not to see him again. A few days later, Nisha hears her father scream in the middle of the night, and rushes over to his room, bumps into Ramesh who was on his way out. She finds out that her father has been killed, the police are summoned, and Ramesh is arrested. At the trial in court, Ramesh pleads his innocence, but Nisha's testimony convicts him, with the sentence being the death penalty. The question remains, did Ramesh really kill Goyal, if not, then who committed this crime, and what exactly was Ramesh doing in Verma's house in the middle of the night?
21) HIMMATWALA (1983)
A poor and wronged woman's son returns from the big city to avenge his father, a honest school teacher.
Himmatwala is a 1983 Bollywood comedy drama film produced by G. Hanumantha Rao by Padmalaya Studios, presented by Krishna & directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Jeetendra, Sridevi in the lead roles and music composed by Bappi Lahri. The film is a remake of Telugu movie Ooriki Monagadu (1981), starring Krishna and Jaya Prada in lead roles. The film recorded as Industry Hit at box office, grossing 12,00,00,000. Himmatwala is one of the biggest blockbusters of the 1980s.
22) TOHFA (1984)
Tohfa is a 1984 Bollywood drama film produced by D. Rama Naidu on Suresh Productions banner, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada, Sridevi in the lead roles and music composed by Bappi Lahari. The film is a remake of Telugu movie Devata (1982). The film became a hit and took the top spot at the box office in 1984.
Tohfa, a heroine-centered story about two sisters and their love triangle with the hero, was a direct remake of K. Raghavendra Rao's earlier hit Telugu film Devata (1982), with Jayaprada and Sridevi playing the same roles. The story was similar to earlier films: 1959 Tamil film Kalyana Parisu directed by C. V. Sridhar, who also directed its Hindi remake, Nazrana (1961) starring Raj Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala and the 1960 Telugu version Pelli Kanuka. At the 32nd Filmfare Awards, Tohfa received three nominations: Shakti Kapoor for Best Comic Actor, Bappi Lahiri for Best Music and Indeevar received Best Lyrics nomination for "Tohfa Tere Pyaar Ka.". This was especially significant for Jaya Prada who featured in all the top 3 box office hits of 1984 along with Sharabi and Maqsad.
23) MAANG BHARO SAJNA (1984)
Maang Bharo Sajana is a 1980 Bollywood, drama film produced by A. Purnachandra Rao on Lakshmi Productions banner, directed by Tatineni Rama Rao. Starring Jeetendra, Rekha, Moushumi Chatterjee in the lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The film is remake of Telugu Movie Karthika Deepam (1979).
Chandru lives in a palatial house with his dad, Ram Kumar; mom Sita; elder brother Shyam and his wife. Chandru is in love with Geeta Sinha, the only daughter of wealthy Dr. Sinha, and would like to marry her. Geeta, too is in love with Chandru and introduces him to her dad. Dr. Sinha has no objections, the young couple are then formally engaged and a wedding date is set. The wedding preparations take place in both the households, and soon the big day arrives. Before the marriage could be formalized, Dr. Sinha asks Ram that he has heard that Chandru is not the son of Sita but of a prostitute named Radha. This shocks everyone present, and it looks like Ram has a lot of explaining to do in order to get his son married or else live with this stigma for the rest of his life.
24) SANJOG (1985)
Sanjog is 1985 Hindi-language, drama film produced by P. Mallikharjuna Rao on Bharati International banner, directed by K. Vishwanath. Starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada in the lead roles and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Jaya Prada earned a Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress, the only nomination for the film despite huge appreciation.
Bombay-bred Narain goes to a village, where he meets and falls in love with a village belle, Yashodra. She also is attracted to him, and both get married. After their marriage, both go to live with Narain's parents, brother, and sister-in-law, Lalita, and her son, Sonu. Yashodra gets close to Sonu, and starts to spend all her time with him. This raises some concerns with Lalita, which results in some acrimony. Tragically, Sonu passes away, leaving Yashodra devastated and depressed. She gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl, but cannot get Sonu out of her mind. Her depression gives way to insanity, as she keeps on seeing Sonu in every child, and as a result she is institutionalized. Narain has taken to alcohol in a big way and drowns his sorrows and frustrations day and night in a drunken stupor. As a result, his daughter is adopted by Lalita and his brother, without knowing who her real parents are. Years pass by, her daughter, Asha, has grown up and is herself a mother of a baby boy, and settled in the U.S.. Asha arrives in India for a visit and the entire family assembles to visit Yashodra. They find her holding a piece of log, covered in a blanket, singing to it as if it where Sonu. It is here that Asha finds out who her real parents are, and it is here that she will be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
25) MAJAAL (1987)
Majaal is a 1987 Indian Bollywood film produced by Srikanth Nahata on Vijayalakshmi Pictures banner and directed by K. Bapaiah. Starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada, Sridevi in pivotal roles and music composed by Bappi Lahari. The film is remake of Telugu Movie Sravana Sandhya (1986), Starring Sobhan Babu, Vijayashanti, Suhasini in lead roles.
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