Balraj Sahni

Balraj Sahni Biography

Balraj Sahni was a very talented actor of Bollywood who portrayed numerous significant character artist roles.  He has done a few critically well acclaimed movies as leading hero and movies like Waqt, Cabuli waalah, Garam hawah and Do bheega zameen are truly the masterpieces of this great actor of Bollywood. His son Parikshit Sahni is also an actor of Bollywood. Balraj Sahni was a gifted writer too, who wrote both in English and Punjabi.

Balraj Sahni was born in Rawalpindi of British India as the elder brother of noted poet Bhisham Sahni. He completed his Masters degree in English Literature from Lahore and returned to his home business. He held a Bachelor's degree in Hindi too. In the late 1930’s, Balraj Sahni along with his wife left Rawalpindi and joined Rabindranath Tagore’s Viswabharathi in Bengal as English teacher. He worked with Mahatma Gandhi too, for a year and later went to England to join the BBC-London's Hindi service as a radio announcer with Gandhiji’s blessings. He returned back in 1943.

As he was interested in acting, he used to perform in stage shows and dramas. His acting career kicked off with the plays of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). Sahni entered movies with Insaaf in 1946 followed by Dharthi ke laal and Door chalein. But it was in 1953 classic movie of Bimal Roy – Do bheega Zameen, through which his talent got appreciation that he really deserved. This movie’s name is always mentioned among the top 10 movies ever released in Bollywood. He was paired opposite Nirupa Roy and the cinema handled the subject of problems faced by a low class peasant.

He played hero opposite his first wife Damayanthi in the movie – Gudiya. Later he married his first cousin, Santosh Chandhok who is a famous author and television writer. His most memorable role is always regarded as Garam Hawa and he died on day later the dubbing of the movie. Though his name is always counted among the most versatile actors of Bollywood he has never received an award. His most memorable song is ‘E mere zuhara jabi’ – an ever green number. His other memorable films are Humlog, Hulchul, Bhagyawaan, Aulat, Akash, Lajwanti, Sone ki chidiya, Dharthi, Paraya dhan, Jallian Wala Bagh, Hindusthan ki kasam, Chotti Bahein, Ghar sansar, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, Shadi, Anpad, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare, Humraaz, Neelkamal, Duniya, talaash, Mere Humsafar, Ghar ghar ki kahani and Naukari.

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Updated: July 24, 2013