Motilal

Motilal Biography

Motilal Rajvansh, popularly known as Motilal is credited with being among Hindi cinema’s first natural actor actors. He was a successful actor of Bollywood who has won Filmfare awards twice in supporting roles – Devdas (1955) and Parakh (1960).

Motilal came from a distinguished family from Delhi. He was born on 1910, December 4. His father was a renowned educationist, who died when Motilal was one year old. Yet his uncle gave him good education and he completed school education from English medium school, Simla. Later he shifted to Delhi from where he completed his school and college education. After completing education his intension was to join Navy. But due to illness he couldn’t attend the test.

One day, he went to see a film shoot at Sagar Studios where director K. P. Ghosh was shooting. K.P.Ghosh noticed this gentleman and offered him hero’s role in Shaher Ka Jadoo (1934) at the Sagar Film Company. Thus he became a part of the industry. He did numerous movies during 30s and 40’s and a few of them include - Dr. Madhurika (1935), Kulvadhu (1937), Jagirdar (1937), Hum Tum Aur Woh (1938), Taqdeer (1943), Armaan (1942), Kaliyan (1944), Paigham and Jagthe raho. His most famous role of a gentleman crook was S S Vasan’s adaptation of R K Narayan’s book Mr Sampat (1952). His role of ‘Chunni Babu’ in Bimal Roy’s Devdas (1955) needs special mention – the movie for which he won first Filmfare award in supporting role.

It’s believed that he had a relationship with actress Shobhana Samarth (Nutan’s mother) after she separated from her husband. He played Nutan’s father’s role in Hamari Beti, the debut movie of Nutan and as her guardian in super hit Anari. He had a very intimate relationship with actress Nadira too. Motilal entered direction field with Nadira as leading heroine. The movie was Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965). Unfortunately Motilal died before its release and movie flopped at box office too. But the movie won National award later. Though he kept a high profile life, his last days were pathetic and he left the world penniless.

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Updated: September 19, 2013