Anwar Hussain

Anwar Hussain Biography

Anwar Hussain was a popular character artist and film producer associated with Bollywood. He was most active in the era of 1960s. Not many know that many of the leading female stars of Bollywood were his close relatives. He was the son of singer-turned director Jaddanbai, one of the earliest female stars. Thus he was the maternal half-brother to noted actress Nargis Dutt and Akhtar Hussain. Thus actress Zahida Hussain is his niece and actor Sanjay Dutt, his nephew. Now it’s the fourth generation into the Bollywood, with Zahida’s son Nilesh Sahay debut Bollywood with the film, Angels in 2011.

Anwar Hussain was born in the year 1928 to noted actress Jaddanbai, the first lady filmmaker of Bollywood. He had two siblings – Fatima Rashid (actress Nargis) and Akhtar Hussain. Noted actress Zahida Hussain of ‘Gambler & Prem Pujari’ fame is the daughter of Akhtar Hussain. Thus Anwar is the uncle to Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt as well as Zahida Hussain, and also Brother-in-law of Sunil Dutt. He was a popular character actor of Bollywood since 1940s to 1970s. Entered film industry in the 1940s he also gave a break to his step sister, Nargis who later went on to become a star of Bollywood. Acting bug bit him as his mother was a famous film celebrity then. Anwar acted in about 80 Bollywood films.

Anwar has acted in a few movies with his nephew Sanjay Dutt - Gunga Jumna (1962) and Rocky (1981). Sanjay Dutt played a child artist in Ganga Jamuna. Rocky was one of the last releases of Anwar. He passed away on the New Year day of 1988. Guide (1965), Mera Saaya (1966), Gunga Jumna (1961), Shaheed (1965) and Victoria No. 203 are his best known works as an actor.

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Updated: March 06, 2016