Kanhaiyalal

Kanhaiyalal Biography

Kanhaiyalal was a noted character artist associated with Bollywood yesterdays. He is best known for playing grey shaded money lender roles in movies. Mother India and Upkaar are his best works where he played similar kind of money lender roles. He also played the same role in the original version of Mother India – Aurat, released in 1940. Dushman, Bandhan, CID, Dost, Heera, Apna Desh, Anna data, Bharosa, Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke, Hum Paanch, Bhookh (1947), Gunga Jumna, Himalay Ki Godmein, Oonche Log, Hathkadi (1981) etc are other noted roles. He passed away in 14 Aug 1982 aged 72 years. He was active in the film world till his death, playing crooked money lender roles.

Kanhaiya Lal Chaturvedi, better known as Kanhaiya was born in the holy city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in the year 1910. His father was the proprietor of the Sanatan Dharm Natak Samaj in Varanasi. Kanhaiyalal came to Mumbai in search of an opportunity in stage plays. He was quite passion about plays since young. He staged his play Pandrah August in Mumbai and in between he tried his luck in Bollywood which he succeeded. Ek Hi Raasta (1939) as Banke marked his acting debut. Gramophone, Radhika, Behen etc are some of his early roles.

His breakthrough happened through 1940 film Aurat directed by Mehmood Khan, in which he was offered the role of a money lender. The role clicked and later he played similar role numerous times on screen. When Mehmood made the same movie once again in 1957 titled – Mother India, Kanhaiya Lal was given the same role which he excelled. Perhaps he was the only artist of 1940 film Aurat who reprised the same role for Mother India. He got opportunity to work with almost all lead actors of his time, though in small roles.

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Updated: March 20, 2016