A. K. Hangal

A. K. Hangal
File:A K Hangal at 14th Hira Manik Awards.jpg A. K. Hangal in 2011
Born	Avtar Kishan Hangal (1914-02-01)1 February 1914 Sialkot, Punjab, British India
Died	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Cause of death	Respiratory disease
Other names	Padmabhushan Avtar Krishna Hangal
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1929–1947 (freedom fighter), 1936–1965 (theater actor), 1965–2005 (film career), 1980–2012 (television career)
Notable work	Ram Shastri in Aaina Inder Sen in Shaukeen Imaam Saa'b in Sholay Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam Brinda Kaka in Aandhi
Children	Vijay (Retired Bollywood photographer)

Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012), popularly known as A. K. Hangal, was an Indian freedom fighter from 1929–1947 and also stage actor from 1936–1965 and later became a character actor in Hindi language films from 1966–2005. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977), as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the antagonist in Prem Bandhan 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

Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, he spent his childhood and youth in Peshawar, 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. However, his primary occupation for the early part of his life was that of a tailor. He was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle from 1929–1947. 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 moved to Bombay after the Partition of India in 1949 after 3 years in prison in Pakistan. He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings. He was jailed because he was a communist in Karachi for two years from 1947–1949 and after his release came to India and settled in Mumbai. He later acted in many plays in theatres in India from 1949–1965.

Hindi cinema career

He started his Hindi film career at the age of 50 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 70's 80's 90's or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films like Chetan Anand's Heer Raanjha (1970),Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi, 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, Prem Bandhan, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai till 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 negetive roles became famous like in Manzil and Prem Bandhan . According to film expert Rajesh Subramanian, the 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 expressions for character 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.

Old age problem

Hangal, who had more than 200 films to his credit in a career that spanned nearly five decades, due to his old age post 2007 found it difficult to meet his medical expenses. His son Vijay, a retired cameraman and former Bollywood photographer, himself is 75 and has not had a full-time job since 2001. As a result, the family had financial difficulties. Though previously Vijay would take up small jobs but later in like he suffered from back problems and was unable to work. After 2007, Hangal has been suffering from an illness and could not afford the treatment. At this point, following a media spotlight on 20 January 2011, many filmstars and directors promised to help him financially. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also pledged to give him Rs 50,000.

Jaya Bachchan, who worked with Hangal in 9 films including Guddi, Anamika, Bawarchi, Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Doosri Sita, Jawani Diwani, Parichay and Sholay, on getting to know about his condition, said: "Please tell Hangal saab that his daughter was not aware of his condition and I am really sorry about it. My office will be taking care of all his hospital expenses."

Mithun Chakraborty from the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) asked the association to release funds for the senior actor. On 21 January 2011, Dharmesh Tiwari, the president of CINTAA concurred and said the association has helped Hangal in the past and will continue to do so and that they sending a cheque of RS 50,000. On 21 January 2011 Salman Khan contacted Tiwari on Thursday to pledge his support. Director Samar Khan used then a popular social networking site to spread the word, and by 22 January 2011 evening friends and fans had pledged about Rs 1 lakh. Tiwari said, "If the government can allot some land, we can use it as Hangal saab has suggested to build an old age home for artistes. Mumbai, which is the birthplace of Bollywood, is not paying any heed to us."

Then Ranjan Thakur, the personal secretary to I&B minister Ambika Soni said, "The minister has spoken to Ramesh Sippy and the Film Federation and has asked them to keep us updated on the funds collected for A K Hangal. We are looking at the possibility of a long-term health insurance program for retired actors. Now as per the reports of Times of India dated 24 Jan 2011, he has been offered some help from some from Bollywood fraternity for his medical expenses. On 4 March 2011, it was reported that Amitabh promised to take care of his medical expenses and Aamir Khan promised in one of the press conferences, that now, when he has known about it he would go see him and would help him in every way.

The actor had last shot for Amol Palekar's film, Paheli in 2005. In fact, he had not gone out of his house for the last eight months. "We were surprised to see him get out of home. He would have done it only for acting," said his son Vijay and added, "My father had remained at home for the past few months. The show producer Saurabh Tiwari and senior executives from the channel came to our place to offer him the role. Several filmmakers had approached him in the last few years. But father did not take those up due to health issues."

A K Hangal returned to face the studio lights after seven long years. Having reached the sets of a TV Series Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on a wheelchair, the then 97-year-old actor wasn't sure he would be able to handle it physically. But once the cameras started rolling, there was no stopping the actor within.

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 BaghHe was 5years old ?. He later moved to Karachi, where he spent three years in prison for protesting against British rule. He is also related to India's first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. Panditji's wife, Kamla Nehru, was first cousin of A.K.Hangal's mother.

Political disputes

Hangal, a lifetime member of the Communist Party of India, was critical of what he called the role played by political parties such as Shiv Sena, particularly during the Bombay riots.

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." His cremation was due to be held the same 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.

Selected filmography

Films

Year	Film	Character/Role
2008	Humsey Hai Jahaan
2005	Sab Kuch Hai Kuch Bhi Nahin	Narayan Prasad
2005	Paheli	Jeevraj
2005	Mr Prime Minister
2004	Hari Om	Old Man
2004	Dil Maange More	Himself
2003	Kahan Ho Tum	Ghanshyamji, Jai's grandfather
2002	Shararat	Gajanan Desai
2001	The Adopted
2001	Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India	Shambu kaka
1999	Thakshak	Homeless teacher
1998	Zor: Never Underestimate the Force
1998	Yeh Aashiqui Meri	Mr. Joshi
1998	Main Solah Baras Ki
1996	Tere Mere Sapne	Dattabhau
1996	Sautela Bhai	Bindiya's maternal grandfather
1995	Live Today
1995	Kismat	Nanaji
1994	Dilwale	Inmate
1993	Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
1993	Khalnayak	Shaukat Bhai
1993	Jaagruti	Raghunath
1992	Meera Ka Mohan
1992	Laat Saab	Dinanath/D'Mello
1992	Apradhi	Vishembar Nath
1991	Farishtay	Abdul
1991	Dushman Devta	Suraj's Father
1990	Police Public	Ram Swarup
1989	Ilaaka	School master, Vidya's father
1989	Abhimanyu	Shyam Lal
1988	Khoon Bhari Maang	Ramu kaka
1988	Aakhri Adaalat	Retired Judge Kapoor
1987	Satyamev Jayate	Mr. Shastri
1987	Mera Yaar Mera Dushman
1987	Jalwa	Jojo's father
1987	Jaago Hua Savera
1987	Jaan Hatheli Pe
1987	Dacait	Bighu chacha
1986	New Delhi Times	Vikas' father
1986	Ek Chadar Maili Si	Hazur Singh, Trilok's father
1985	Surkhiyaan (The Headlines)	Shera's father
1985	Saaheb	Doctor
1985	Saagar	Baba (in the lighthouse)
1985	Ram Teri Ganga Maili	Brij Kishore
1985	Pighalta Aasman	Masterji, Anuradha's father
1985	Meri Jung	Advocate Gupta
1985	Bewafai	Harihar Nath
1985	Arjun	Mr. Malvankar
1984	Sharaabi	Meena's Blind Father
1984	Kamla	Kakasaab, Sarita's uncle
1984	Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar	Tripathi
1983	Naukar Biwi Ka	Sharma, Sheela's father
1983	Avtaar	Rashid Ahmed
1982	Swami Dada
1982	Star	Mr. Verma
1982	Shriman Shrimati	Vishwanath Gupta
1982	Shaukeen	Inder Sen/Anderson
1982	Saath Saath	Professor Chaudhary
1982	Khud-Daar	Rahim Chacha
1982	Dil... Akhir Dil Hai	Ashok Mehta
1982	Bemisal	Dr. Ramnarayan Goyal, Guest Appearance
1981	Naram Garam	Vishnuprasad/Masterji
1981	Kudrat	Billi Ram
1981	Krodhi	Masterji, Kumar's father
1981	Kal Hamara Hai
1981	Kalyug	Bhisham Chand
1981	Bhaaya
1981	Baseraa	Sharda's father
1980	Thodisi Bewafaii	Arvind Kumar Choudhary
1980	Phir Wohi Raat	Vishwanath
1980	Neeyat
1980	Kali Ghata	Deewaan
1980	Judaai	Narayan Singh, Gauri's father
1980	Hum Paanch	Pandit
1980	Humkadam	Raghunath Gupta
1979	Ratnadeep
1979	Prem Bandhan
1979	Meera	Saint Raidas
1979	Manzil	Anokhelal
1979	Ladke Baap Se Badke	Principal, St. Andrew's High School
1979	Khandaan	Masterji, Usha's father
1979	Jurmana	Pandit Prabhakar Chaturvedi, Nandlal's Mamaji
1979	Amar Deep	Ramu kaka
1978	Tumhare Liye	Bhavani
1978	Swarg Narak	Geeta's Father
1978	Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime	Bansi, Rupa's uncle
1978	Naukri	Ranjit's Father
1978	Des Pardes	Pujari
1978	Besharam	Ramchandra
1978	Badalte Rishtey	Professor
1977	Paheli	Masterji
1977	Mukti	Colonel
1977	Kalabaaz	Poojary
1977	Immaan Dharam	Masterji, Shyamlee's Father
1977	Alaap	Pandit Jamuna Prasad, Guest Appearance
1977	Aaina	Ram Shastri
1977	Aafat
1976	Zindagi	Doctor
1976	Zid
1976	Tapasya	Chandranath Sinha
1976	Raees
1976	Jeevan Jyoti	Raja Kamlakar
1976	Chitchor	Pitamber Choudhry
1976	Balika Badhu	Masterji
1976	Aaj Ka Ye Ghar	Dinanath
1975	Sholay	Imaam Saheb/Rahim Chacha
1975	Salaakhen	Ram Lal, Seema's father
1975	Deewaar	Chander's Father
1975	Anokha	Hridaynath
1975	Aandhi	Brinda kaka
1974	Us-Paar	Mohan's father
1974	Trimurti	Jagannath
1974	Kora Kagaz	Principal Gupta
1974	Ishq Ishq Ishq	Guruji
1974	Do Nambar Ke Amir
1974	Doosri Sita
1974	Bidaai	Ramsharan
1974	Aap Ki Kasam	Kamal's Father
1973	Namak Haraam	Bipinlal Pandey
1973	Joshila	Lala Gulzarilal
1973	Heera Panna	Diwan Karan Singh
1973	Garm Hava	Ajmani Sahab, A Sindhi trader
1973	Daag: A Poem of Love	Prosecuting Attorney/Judge
1973	Chhupa Rustam	Professor Harbanslal
1973	Anamika	Shiv Prasad
1973	Abhimaan	Sadanand
1972	Parichay	Ravi's maternal uncle
1972	Jawani Diwani	College Principal
1972	Bawarchi	Ramnath Sharma (Munna)
1951	Nadaan	Seema's father
1971	Mere Apne	College Principal
1971	Guddi	Guddi's father
1971	Anubhav	Hari
1970	Heer Raanjha	Court Maulvi
1969	Sara Akash	Mr. Thakur
1969	Saat Hindustani	Doctor
1969	Dharti Kahe Pukarke
1967	Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein
1967	Shagird	Kedarnath Badri Narayan
1966	Teesri Kasam

TV series

Year	Series	Character/Role	Notes
1997	Bombay Blue	Saraswami Giri	TV mini-series, Episode #1.3 (1997) as Saraswami Giri
1988	Jeevan Rekha		TV series
1986	Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten – The Last Viceroy	Vallabhbhai Patel	TV mini-series
1986	Darkness		TV mini-series
1996	Chandrakanta	Parichand	An old man role
2004–2005	Hotel Kingston-star one	Cameo in two episodes	First comes for an overnight stay in the hotel and then helped hotel kingston financially from being bankrupt
1993–1994	Zabaan Sambhalke	Cameo in one episode
2012	Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon	A.K Hangal (Special appearance)

Works

• Life and Times of A.K. Hangal (1999) (autobiography)

References

30. Obit by Avijit Ghosh in The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sannata-in-Bollywood-AK-Hangal-dead/articleshow/15791992.cms

External links

• A.K. Hangal at the Internet Movie Database
• The genial revolutionary. Rediff.com.
• Marxist who made it good in movies The Hindu.
• Some pictures of him at the 'Mid_Day'