Kanhaiyalal

Actor

Indian Banaras, United Province, British India (now Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

Quick Info

ProfessionActor
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth15/12/1910
Age71 years (died on 14, Aug, 1982)
BirthplaceBanaras, United Province, British India (now Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Date of Death14/08/1982

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Bio/Wiki

Career
Debut
Film (Actor)Sagar Ka Sher (1937)
Last FilmHaathkadi (1982)
Famous forPlaying the role of Sukhilala in the film 'Mother India' (1957)
Total Films105-122

Relationships & More

Marital Status (at the time of death)Married
Spouse DetailsFirst wife: Name not known; Second wife: Jambansi Chaturvedi

Family

FatherPandit Bhairodutt Choube (proprietor of the Sanatan Dharm Ramleela Mandali in Varanasi)
Siblings
  • Sankata Prasad Chaturvedi (actor)
  • Kunwar
SpouseJambansi Chaturvedi
Children
  • 3
  • 4
  • Hemaa Singh (daughter, documentary producer)
  • 3 other children

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi was an Indian actor known for his role as Sukhilala in the film ‘Mother India’ (1957).
2. Since childhood, he dreamt of a film career, convincing his father to join a theater group despite initial disapproval.
3. At 16, he began writing for plays and taking minor acting roles.
4. After his father’s death, he and his brother could not manage the family drama company and had to close it.
5. Moving to Bombay, he started with theatrical productions before entering films as an extra artist.
6. Initially wanting to write and direct, he became an actor, debuting in ‘Sagar Ka Sher’ (1937).
7. In ‘Sadhana’ (1938), he played the protagonist's grandfather at 28 and contributed to the film's dialogues and songs.
8. As Banke in 'Ek Hi Raasta' (1939), he portrayed his first villain role.
9. After ‘Ek Hi Raasta,’ he left Bombay but returned to assist in ‘Sanskar’ (1940) without success.
10. His breakthrough came with ‘Aurat’ (1940) as Sukhilala, eventually reprised in 'Mother India'.
11. While filming 'Aurat,' he sustained injuries but continued without makeup as Sukhilala.
12. In ‘Bahen’ (1941), his role as Moti was expanded due to his impressive performance.
13. Throughout his 45-year career, he appeared in over 150 films, including 'Devdas,' 'Upkar,' and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram.'
14. Kanhaiyalal often portrayed elderly characters in his films.
15. Apart from acting and writing, he had a passion for music.
16. He was fond of paan and always carried a paan box, enjoying it more than regular food.
17. In 2021, his daughter Hemaa Singh produced a documentary titled ‘Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal’ showcasing his life.
18. In an interview, Hemaa Singh advocated for her father to receive the ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award.’
19. Throughout his 45-year career, he appeared in over 105 films, including 'Devdas', 'Upkar', and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'.
20. In 2022, a documentary titled ‘Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal’ was released by his daughter Hemaa Singh, highlighting his life and film career.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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