Forgotten Faces – Part 3 featuring Kamal Kapoor

With a career spanning more four decades; Kamal Kapoor was one of golden era’s most seasoned character artists.

Kamal Kapoor

Kamal Kapoor

Born on the 22nd of Feb 1920 ; Kamal was educated in the DAV college Lahore before he moved to India in 1944 to work with his cousin Prithviraj Kapoor.Kamal made his debut with the 1947 film “Dak Bangla” (also spelt as “Dak Bungalow”) produced by Indian National Pictures Ltd.The film was directed by M Sadiq and the star cast included Suraiya, Wasti, Gope, M Ismail and Rampyari. The film’s music was composed by Naresh Bhattacharya.

Kamal Kapoor in his debut film Dak Bangla

Kamal Kapoor in his debut film Dak Bangla

The very next year in 1948 , Raj Kapoor produced and directed his first film “Aag” under the newly formed RK banner.Kamal played the role of Advocate Khanna ; Raj Kapoor’s father in the film. Though Kamal Kapoor did a few films in the fifties , his best work was seen in the two decades that followed.He featured in hit films like “Shaheed”,”Jab Jab Phool Khile”,”Sachaa Jhutha”,”Pakeezah”,”Seeta Aur Geeta”,”Chor Machaye Shor”,”Deewar” and ”Don”.

Kamal Kapoor in Raja Aur Runk

Kamal Kapoor in Raja Aur Runk

Even in the eighties he was part of several hits like “Nastik”,”Mard” and “Meri Jung”. Although Kamal Kapoor played  a variety of character roles like those of a father, judge, lawyer, gangster, Police commissioner etc; the most remembered character he played onscreen was that of Narang in the superhit “Don”.

Kamal Kapoor acted in over 600 films in 3 different languages – Hindi, Punjabi and Gujrati. He passed away on the 2nd of August 2010.

(Special thanks to Lushoo Kapoor(http://kamalkapoorfamily.blogspot.in/) for the content )

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