Rajendra Nath Malhotra (8 June 1931 − 13 February 2008) was an Indian actor and comedian in Hindi and Punjabi language films.
Early life and family
Rajendra Nath was born on 8 June 1931 in
Tikamgarh, which is now in
Madhya Pradesh.
His family was from the Karimpura locality of
Peshawar but settled in
Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He studied at Darbar College, Rewa, where Arjun Singh (a Congress politician) and R.P. Agarwal were his classmates.
Rajendra's elder brother Prem Nath went to Mumbai and became an actor, so Rajendra joined him in 1949. They were good friends of Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Rajendra and Prem's sister Krishna married actor-director Raj Kapoor.[ Farewell Rajendra Nath : Laughter has left the building passionforcinema, 13 February 2008.] He had also another brother Narendra Nath who also became an actor who usually played some villain's role in the movies.
Rajendra, who was little interested in studies, quit college and landed in Bombay to work in films like his brother. He did some plays at Prithvi Theatre like Pathan and Shakuntala. It was here that he became close to Shammi Kapoor.
Career
Initially Rajendra struggled to get roles till Sashadhar Mukherjee offered him a comedian's role in
Dil Deke Dekho, a film directed by
Nasir Hussain, starring
Shammi Kapoor and
Asha Parekh. Rajendra Nath along with Asha Parekh were a regular feature in many Nasir Hussain films like
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon,
Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai,
Baharon Ke Sapne and
Pyar Ka Mausam. He also played a villain's role in
Hamrahi opposite Shashikala whose character he kills. He has done 187 movies. He was one of the most famous comedians. His best role as comedian was in
Mere Sanam and
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. He also played the role of Hero/Second Lead in "Vachan" and "
Teen Bahuraniyan". He played supporting roles in films like
Dharkan by Devendra Goel and
Jeevan Mrityu by Rajshri Productions. He played a buffoon called Popatlal in
Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, and since then the name became synonymous with Rajendra Nath. He used this name in the famous TV series
Hum Paanch.
He then did many films, mostly in comic roles, such as in An Evening in Paris and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. One of his most applauded performances was in Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim though it was not a full-fledged comedy role.
He also contributed to Nepal's first movie Maitighar which was shot in Kathmandu, Nepal.
He starred in a number of Punjabi films such as Jatt Punjabi and "Do Posti".
He died on 13 February 2008 from cardiac arrest.
Filmography
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| 1959 | |
| 1961 | |
| 1963 | Tere Ghar Ke Samne | Ranjit (Ronnie) |
| Mujhe Jeene Do | Dhara Khan |
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| 1964 | Shankar |
| Kapil |
| 1965 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1966 | |
| 1967 | Shubodh Mukherjee |
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| Chhoti Si Mulaqat | Sam Kapoor |
| 1968 | |
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| 1969 | |
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| 1970 | |
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| 1971 | |
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| 1972 | |
| 1973 | |
| 1974 | |
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| 1975 | |
| 1976 | |
| Punjabi film |
| 1978 | |
| 1979 | |
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| 1980 | |
| 1980 | |
| 1981 | |
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| 1982 | |
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| 1983 | |
| 1984 | |
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| 1985 | |
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| TV Series |
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| 1991 | |
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| 1992 | |
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| 1994 | |
| Guest Role |
| 1995 | Rajendranath, host in Cookery program seen on Television |
| 1995 | Sauda | Real estate agent Deendayal aka Deenu | |
| 1995-2006 | TV series |
External links
