Himanshu Rai

Himanshu Rai Biography

Himanshu Rai was one of the pioneers of Indian cinema and founder of Bombay Talkies in 1934. Famous actress Devika Rani was his wife. Goddess (1922), The Light of Asia (1925), Siraj (1926), A Throw of Dice (1928) and Karma (1933) are his noted movies. His 10 minute kissing scene with his real wife Devika Rani for the movie Karma in 1933 created a lot of controversies and hot debates during the time when onscreen kissing was regarded as taboo for Indian screen. This 10 minute kissing scene though chopped off from the movie later, still holds the record of the longest kissing scene of any Indian film till now! As an actor, he has also worked in Prapancha Pash (1929)/ A Throw of Dice, Shiraz (1928) and Prem Sanyas (1925). He is the writer of milestone movie of Indian cinema, Achhut Kanya released in 1936. He was the producer of this movie as well. Ashok Kumar and Devika rani played lead roles in this movie.

Himanshu rai was born in 1892 in Cuttack. Rai had a partnership with Sashadhar Mukherjee at Bombay Talkies. His brother-in-law worked as a technician in the studio. As he was suspected of a romantic relationship with his wife Devika Rani and the hero of the movie, he sacked the hero and casted Ashok Kumar instead of him. The movie later became history of Indian cinema and regarded as the best performance of both its leading actors. The movie was none other than Achhut Kanya, a milestone movie of Indian cinema. But Himanshu had an earlier death in 16 May 1940 at the age of only 48. After that there was a struggle for studio control between his widow Devika Rani and Sashadhar Mukherjee that resulted in the silent death of Bombay talkies.

In 1945 Devika Rani married Svetoslav Roerich and moved away from film world. As a producer, a few of his works include - Kangan (1939), Izzat (1937), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Savitri (1937), Achhut Kanya (1936), Janmabhoomi (1936), Jeevan Naya (1936), Jawani Ki Hawa (1935) and Karma (1933).

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Updated: March 26, 2014