Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012) was an Indian freedom fighter and actor. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977), as Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the antagonist in and the 16 films he did with Rajesh Khanna. He has acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career spanning from 1966 to 2005.
Early life Avtar Kishan Hangal was born in Sialkot in the Punjab Province of British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan) into a Kashmiri Pandit family. He spent his childhood and youth in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province where he had performed in theatre for some major roles. His family home was inside Reti Gate as mentioned in his memoirs. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. His mother's name was Ragia Hundoo. He had two sisters. Bishan and Kishan. He was married to Manorma Dar from Agra.
Hangal started his career as a tailor in Peshawar. Along with that he was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle from 1929 to 1947. He joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theatre group in Peshawar in 1936 and continued to act in many plays in undivided India till 1946. Following his father's retirement, the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi. He was jailed in Karachi because he was a communist for two years from 1947 to 1949. After his release, he moved to India and settled in Mumbai. Once in Mumbai, He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings. He later acted in many plays in theatres in India from 1949 to 1965.
Hindi cinema career He started his Hindi film career at the age of 52 with Basu Bhattacharya's Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird, and went on to play as the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the leading men/women in the films in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films such as Sholay, Arjun, Heer Raanjha, Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Aaina (1974), Avtaar, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi and Naram Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor was part of 16 films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero, like Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, , Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai until Sautela Bhai in 1996. His best performances in his later years was in Shararat (2002) his character roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1997) and Lagaan. In movies he has played a very large number of character roles, mostly positive, with rare exceptions where his negative roles became famous, like in Manzil and . He also acted in a NFDC film, DATTAK (The Adopted), directed by Gul Bahar Singh in 2001. Producer Debika Mitra had signed Madan Puri for Inder Sen's role, but a friend advised that A. K. Hangal would be a better choice. The superlative performance went on to become one of the most cherished acts of Hangal.
On 8 February 2011, Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.
Hangal made his last appearance in the television series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon in May 2012, in which he had a cameo. Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon was a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. The episode that featured Hangal aired on 1 June at 22:00 on Colors. In the early 2012, Hangal also gave his voice for the character of King Ugrasen in the animation film Krishna Aur Kans which was released on 3 August 2012. This was final work in his career before his death. His portrayal of Ugrasen was much appreciated by critics.
Awards The government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.
Freedom fighter Hangal participated in the Indian freedom movement when as a student, he joined protests in the North West Frontier Province against the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh. He later moved to Karachi, where he spent three years in prison for protesting against British rule.
Death Hangal was admitted to the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai on 16 August 2012, three days after he fractured his thigh bone from a fall in his bathroom. His son said that he went to the hospital as he had "suffered a back injury and had to undergo a surgery. But that could not take place as later it was found that he has chest and breathing problems." On 26 August, he was put on life support. Dr Vinod Khanna, an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital said: "He is on life support system. One of his lungs is not functioning. He is also having respiratory problems." But, his condition worsened and he died on the same day, at the age of 98. His cremation was held the next afternoon at Pavan Hans crematorium.
In reaction to his death, Shabana Azmi wrote on Twitter: "An era comes to an end. Theatre and film were enriched by him." The Communist Party of India described Hangal as a committed social and political activist who withstood the Shiv Sena onslaught. The BJP's L. K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari also condoled his death.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes1966Teesri KasamRaj Kapoor's elder brother1967ShagirdKedarnath Badri Narayan1968Bambai Raat Ki Bahon MeinSonadas Doleria1969Saat HindustaniDoctorSara AkashMr. ThakurDharti Kahe Pukarke1970Heer RaanjhaCourt Maulvi1971GuddiGuddi's fatherNadaanSeema's fatherAnubhavHariMere ApneCollege Principal1972BawarchiRamnath Sharma (Munna)Jawani DiwaniCollege PrincipalParichayRavi's maternal uncle1973Daag: A Poem of LoveProsecuting Attorney / JudgeChhupa RustamProfessor HarbanslalRocky Mera NaamReeta's FatherAbhimaanSadanandJoshilaLala GulzarilalNamak HaraamBipinlal PandeySweekarDr. VermaHeera PannaDiwan Karan SinghAnamikaShiv PrasadGarm HavaAjmani Sahab1974NirmaanAdvocateAap Ki KasamKamal's FatherDo Nambar Ke AmirDevakinandan SharmaKora KagazPrincipal GuptaDoosri SitaMasterji - Babulal WagleTrimurtiJagannathBidaaiRamsharanUs PaarMohan's fatherIshq Ishq IshqGurujiGarm Hava1975DeewaarChander's FatherAandhiBrinda kakaAnokhaHridaynathSholayImaam Saheb / Rahim ChachaSalaakhenRam Lal1976ZidSankochGurucharanBalika BadhuMasterjiZindagiDoctorTapasyaChandranath SinhaRaeesMera JiwanMedical college deanJeevan JyotiRaja KamlakarChitchorPitamber ChoudhryAaj Ka Ye GharDinanath1977Immaan DharamMasterjiAainaRam ShastriAlaapPandit Jamuna PrasadGuest AppearanceMuktiColonelChala Murari Hero BanneMurari's FatherPaheliMasterjiKalabaazPoojaryAafat1978JogiBadalte RishteyProfessorSatyam Shivam Sundaram: Love SublimeBansiBesharamRamchandraNaukriRanjit's FatherDes PardesPujariTumhare LiyeBhavaniSwarg NarakGeeta's FatherChakravyuhaNandita's Father1979Inspector EagleAnthony PintoJurmanaPandit Prabhakar Chaturvedi / Nandlal's MamajiMeeraSaint RaidasUncreditedKhandaanMasterjiManzilAnokhelalLadke Baap Se BadkePrincipal of St. Andrew's High SchoolZulm Ki PukarRatnadeepAmar DeepRamu kaka1980Kali GhataDeewaanKashishRamesh's fatherThodisi BewafaiiArvind Kumar ChoudharyPhir Wohi RaatVishwanathNeeyatDinanathHumkadamRaghunath GuptaHum PaanchPanditJudaaiNarayan Singh1981KrodhiMasterjiNaram GaramVishnuprasad / MasterjiKalyugBhisham ChandKudratBilli RamBaseraaSharda's fatherKahani Ek Chor KiNai ImaratPyarelalKal Hamara HaiBhaaya1982Saath SaathProfessor ChaudharyShriman ShrimatiVishwanath GuptaBemisalDr. Ramnarayan GoyalGuest AppearanceShoukheeenInder Sen / AndersonDil... Akhir Dil HaiAshok MehtaKhud-DaarRahim ChachaStarMr. VermaSwami DadaSwami Satyanand1983SuzanneAvtaarRashid AhmedNaukar Biwi KaSharma1984SardaarBabaAaj Ka M.L.A. Ram AvtarTripathiSharaabiMeena's Blind FatherAlcoholicMeena's Blind FatherYaadon Ki ZanjeerShambhuNathKamlaKakasaabKahan Tak Aasmaan HaiBandh Honth1985SaahebDoctorPighalta AasmanMasterjiArjunMr. MalvankarBewafaiHarihar NathRam Teri Ganga MailiBrij KishoreSurkhiyaan (The Headlines)Shera's fatherSaagarBaba(in the lighthouse)Meri JungAdvocate Gupta1986Ek Chadar Maili SiHazur SinghWaapsiNew Delhi TimesVikas' father1987Su-RaajJalwaJojo's fatherDacaitBighu chachaSatyamev JayateMr. ShastriSindoorPanditUncreditedJaan Hatheli PeMera Yaar Mera DushmanJaago Hua Savera1988Khoon Bhari MaangRamu kakaAakhri AdaalatRetired Judge Kapoor1989Apne BegaaneIlaakaVidya's fatherAbhimanyuShyam LalMamata Ki Chhaon MeinAcharya1990Police PublicRam Swarup1991FarishtayAbdulDushman DevtaSuraj's Father1992Meera Ka MohanPujariApradhiVishembar NathLaat SaabDinanath / D'Mello1993Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka RajaKhalnayakShaukat BhaiJaagrutiRaghunath1994DilwaleInmate1995Ghar Ka KanoonLive TodayKismatNanaji1996Sautela BhaiBindiya's maternal grandfatherTere Mere SapneDattabhau1998Zor: Never Underestimate the ForceMain Solah Baras KiYeh Aashiqui MeriMr. Joshi1999ThakshakHomeless teacher2001Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in IndiaShambu kakaDattak The AdoptedBabu ji2002ShararatGajanan Desai2003Kahan Ho TumGhanshyamji2004Dil Maange MoreHimselfHari OmOld Man2005Sab Kuch Hai Kuch Bhi NahinNarayan PrasadPaheliJeevrajMr Prime Minister2008Humsey Hai Jahaan2012Krishna Aur KansUgrasenVoice (final film role)
TV series Year Title Role Notes1986DarknessTV mini-seriesMasterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten – The Last ViceroyVallabhbhai Patel1988Jeevan RekhaTV series1993Zabaan SambhalkeCameo in one episode1996ChandrakantaParichandAn old man role1997Betaal PachisiBabaBombay BlueSaraswami GiriEpisode #1.3 1998AahatDeathEpisodes: "Jeevan Mrityu Part I and II"2004–2005Hotel KingstonCameo2012Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek JunoonHimself Special appearance
Works Life and Times of A.K. Hangal (1999) (Autobiography)
References
External links
The genial revolutionary. Rediff.com. Marxist who made it good in movies The Hindu. Some pictures of him at the 'Mid-Day'