Sajjan (15 January 1921 – 17 May 2000) was a Bollywood stage actor and lyricist. He acted in several plays and movies from the 1950s to the 1980s. His best known films are Bees Saal Baad, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, April Fool, Rail Ka Dibba, Johny Mera Naam and Jhumroo.
Early life Sajan was born on January 15, 1921, in Jodhpur into a Pushkarna Brahmin marwadi family. His full name was Sajjan Lal Purohit, but he was known by his first name in the Indian film industry. Sajjan graduated from Jaswant college in Jodhpur. He had a desire to be a lawyer, not an actor.
Career In 1941, he arrived in Calcutta and worked as an apprentice in a laboratory of the East India Company. His initial breakthrough in films was as an extra in films such as Masoom (1941) and Chowringhee (1942). Sajjan left Calcutta during the Second World War and reached Mumbai where he worked as an assistant to the famous director Kidar Sharma. At that time, the great showman Raj Kapoor was also an assistant to Sharma. He also worked as assistant to Gajanan Jagirdar and Vakil Sahib and received Rs.35 as salary.
A poet by heart, Sajjan showed his talent when he wrote dialogues for Meena (1944) and lyrics for Door Chalen (1946) and Dhanyavad (1948). He also acted in small roles in Prithvi Theatre. His acting debut film was Dhanyavad. After that, Bombay Theatre's Muqaddar was released in 1950. The heroine was Nalini Jaywant.
By then, Sajjan was well established in films. In the 1950s and 1960s, he acted as the hero or side-hero in films such as Saiyan, Rail Ka Dibba, Bahana, Sheesha, Malkin, Nirmohi, Kasturi, Mehmaan, Lagan, Girl School, Paridhaan, 00 Dulhe, Ghar-Ghar Mein Diioali, Haha Hihi Hoo Hoo, Poonam Jhanjhar and Halla-Gulla. As a hero, his last films were Kabuliwala and Do Chor, and as an artist he last appeared in the 1986 release Shatru with Rajesh Khanna.
An artist of more than 150 films, Sajjan also worked in TV serials. In Vikram Aur Betaal he played Betaal. His other serial was Lena-Dena.
Filmography Year Film Character/RoleNotes1941MasoomExtra1942Chowringhee 1948 DhanyawadFirst film in a proper role Majboor 1949 Girls' School Bipin Imtihaan 1950 Apni Chhaya Muqaddar Sangram Lala 1951 Hum Log Anand Kashmir Saiyan Rajjoo Toofan 1952 Nazaria Poonam Sarju Sheesha 1953 Malkin Mehmaan Rail Ka Dibba Mohan 1954 Halla Gulla Kasturi Parichay 1955 Bandish Madan Do DulheKundan Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali Kailash Haha Hihi Hoo Hoo Hoor-E-Arab Lagan 1956 Dhake Ki Malmal Parivar 1957 Bade Sarkar Sumer Singh Mr. X Paying Guest Jagat 1958 Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Prakash Chand Hathkadi Talaq Mangal 1959 Chand Gokul's Father Didi Vinod Maharani Padmini Toofani Tirandaz 1960 Bahaana Baraat Shanker Chaudhary Sarhad Madan 1961 Jhumroo Banno Kabuliwala Mini's father Mera Suhaag 1962 Bees Saal Baad Detective Mohan Tripathi 1963 Yeh Dil Kisko Doon Man who disguise Anand Lal 1964 April Fool Monto Daal Me Kala Natwar Shyam Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Men Deepa Ishaara Ramu 1965 Aadhi Raat Ke Baad Ramlal Chand Aur Suraj Kapoor 1966 Dil Diya Dard Liya Mansaram Lal Bangla Shankar Sawan Ki Ghata Bansilal Tasveer Ishrat 1967 Aman Anita Biharilal Farz Damodar Hamare Gam Se Mat Khelo Ram Aur Shyam Police Inspector Rustom Sohrab 1968 Aanchal Ke Phool Shankar Aashirwad Ramdas Ankhen Syed 1969 Sambandh Talash Dice / Albert 1970 Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi Johny Mera Naam Bhupendra Singh Pagla Kahin Ka RamuUncredited Prem Pujari Suman's maternal uncle Sau Saal Beet Gaye Nanhe 1971 Do Boond Pani Hari Singh Dushman Villain's Associate Jaane-Anjaane Hemant's Father Ladki Pasand Hai Chunnilal Patanga Ramu 1972 Bhaavna Buniyaad Do Bachche Dus Haath Lawyer Do Chor Ramsharan Ek Bar Mooskura Do Ek Khilari Bawan Pattey Rekha's father Kamana Parchhaiyan Sandeep Narayan Raja Jani Khairati Yaar Mera Mahantji 1973 Agni Rekha Gopinath Raizada Chhalia Chhupa Rustam Rajendra Jain Jai Hanuman Phagun Samjhauta Jailor Suraj Aur Chanda Mahamantri Yauwan Dr. Shrivastav 1974 Amir Garib Nandlal Chor Machaye Shor Amritlal Compelled Dr. Shah Jab Andhera Hota Hai Dara Kshitij Prem Shastra Sajjan Bhardwaj Resham Ki Dori Vishal Zehreela Insaan Shyam Lal 1975 Faraar Qaid Mr. Verma Salaakhen Ramlal Sandhya Toofan 1976 Charas Jango Dus Numbri Fernandes Uncle Sajjo Rani Sohan Samasya 1977 Aafat Chaalu Mera Naam Balwant Rai Darinda Krishna's Father Darling Darling Dinanath Immaan Dharam Lawyer (in Jenny's Case) Khel Khilari Ka Poojari Mamta Boarding School Principal1978 Chor Ke Ghar Chor Ramlal 1979 Dhongee Dinanath 1980 Dhan Daulat Truck owner Do Aur Do Paanch Om Prakash Sharma Dostana Ramnik Lal Tiwari Qatil Kaun Chaudhary Taxi Chor 1981 Haqdaar Kaalia 2nd Defense Attorney Krodhi Nai Imarat Village Head Prem Geet Hiralal Professor Pyarelal Bhagwan Singh Raksha Kedar 1982 Hathkadi Robert's fatherUncredited Khud-Daar Man in Police StationUncredited Log Kya Kahenge Thakur - Roma's father 1983 Achha Bura Jailor Coolie Salma's Father 1984 Hum Do Hamare Do Love Marriage 1985Aandhi-Toofan Sheila's servant Phir Aayee Barsaat 1986 Maqqaar Shatru 1987Mera Karam Mera Dharam Shambhu 1996 Aatank SimonUncreditedMutthi Bhar Zameen MunshijiFinal film appearance
Television
Year Show Character/role 1985-1988 Vikram Aur Betaal (TV series) Betaal
References
External links
Sajjan's interview