Rajendra Kumar was born on 20 July 1929 and was an Indian movie actor, who acted in umpteen numbers of successful Hindi movies. He was one of the most successful actors during the period of 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s, where his son Kumar Gaurav appeared as the lead. Rajendra Kumar was born in Sialkot, in the West Punjab province of British India, which is presently in Pakistan. He married Shukla and had a son Kumar Gaurav and two daughters. Kumar Gaurav married Namrata Dutt, the daughter of actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis and sister of Sanjay Dutt.

Film career of Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar started his film career in the 1950 film Jogan. In this film, he starred opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis. He came into limelight with the success of the blockbuster hit Mother India in 1957. Rajendra had acted in the movie with Sanjay`s father and mother Sunil Dutt and Nargis where both Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar played the role of Nargis` son. His first chief success as a romantic protagonist was in Vijay Bhatt`s musical super hit Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), opposite Ameeta.

The 1960s Rajendra Kumar had risen to a point, where hardly any star of that era could rise, except the first Superstar Rajesh Khanna. It was noticed and often mentioned by the media that every film starring him was a silver jubilee hit. There were several weeks when he was starring in six or seven films running in their silver jubilee weeks at the same time. The success of this actor was incredible and eventually, Rajendra Kumar was titled as "Jubilee Kumar".

Rajendra Kumar had many successful box office hits including films like Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Sangam (1964), Mere Mehboob (1963), Suraj (1966), Arzoo (1965) and Ganwaar (1970). He received Filmfare Nominations as Best Actor for Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Arzoo (1965), and as Best Supporting Actor for the film Sangam (1964). However, the mid-1970s did not turn out to be profitable for Rajendra Kumar. Several of his films flopped at the box office, and he was not getting the offers as earlier. It was the darkest point in his career as he mentioned in an interview. However, after a while, he was offered an interesting role in the film Saajan Bina Suhaagan, co starring Nutan. The film was a huge hit of 1978. He then switched from leading roles and started to play character roles in the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1981 Rajendra introduced his son Kumar Gaurav in the film Love Story. He himself is the producer, director of this film and also acted in it. The film was a blockbuster hit of 1981. Rajendra produced many more films starring his son, which did not do well. In 1986 he produced `Naam`, casting his son and his son`s brother-in-law Sanjay Dutt in leading roles. This film was a box office success, however his last attempt to revive his son`s career was with the 1993 film Phool, where he once again acted with his son, unfortunately this film too was a box office failure. Rajendra appeared in few films after this and his last film appearance was a minor role in Deepa Mehta`s film Earth in 1998. He died of cancer on July 12, 1999; only 8 days before his 70th birthday.

Awards and Honours of Rajendra Kumar
In 1969, Rajendra Kumar was honoured with the Padma Shri Award. He was also offered with the Justice of Peace honour and served as Honorary Magistrate. The National Honour by late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru simultaneously for "Kanoon" (Hindi) and "Mehandi Rang Lagyo" (Gujarati) were awarded to Rajendra Kumar. He received a special Shastri National Award that was associated with several charity shows.

Filmography of Rajendra Kumar

Rajendra Kumar as an Actor

Year	Film	Year	Film
1950	Jogan	1968	Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Saathi
1956	Toofan Aur Deeya , Aawaz	1969	Dharti, Anjaana
1957	Ek Jhalak, Mother India	1970	Geet, Ganwaar, Mera Naam Joker
1958	Talaaq, Khazanchi, Ghar Sansar, Devar Bhabhi	1972	Gora Aur Kala
1959	Santan, Goonj Uthi Shehnai, Do Behnen, Dhool Ka Phool, Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan	1973	Aap Aye Bahaar Ayee
1960	Patang, Mehndi Rang Lagyo, Maa Baap, Kanoon	1975	Do Jasoos
1961	Zindagi Aur Khwab, Sasural, Pyaar Ka Saagar, Gharana, Aas Ka Panchhi	1978	Saajan Bina Suhagan
1963	Mere Mehboob, Hamrahi, Gehra Daag, Dil Ek Mandir, Amar Rahe Yeh Pyaar, Akeli Mat Jaiyo	1981	Love Story
1964	Sangam, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Zindagi	1989	Clerk
1965	Arzoo	1993	Phool
1966	Aman	1998	Earth

Rajendra Kumar as a Producer

Year	Film	Year	Film
1981	Love Story	1993	Phool
1986	Naam	1994	The Jungle Book(Executive producer)

Rajendra Kumar as a Director

Year	Film
1981	Love Story