Randhir (actor)

Randhir was an Indian character actor in Hindi and Punjabi films who was active from the 1940s to the 1980s. He appeared in over 172 films.

Originally he played side heroes or friend of the hero. On a few occasions he even played the hero. One of his most famous hero's friend roles was in Dil Deke Dekho (1959). This was in the 1940s-1950s period.

The 1960s was a period of transition. Due to age and displacement from hero's friend roles by comedians, Randhir began to experiment with character roles. He had done such roles in the 1950s and 1940s as well. In the mid-1960s he frequently played Maharajas in costume films.

Randhir began adopting the moneylender 'lala' role around the end of the 1960s. His role in Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1967) maybe one of his earliest in this form but it was a rough exhibition of what was to come. He firmly put himself into the role with Do Raaste (1969). Afterwords he would be cast almost exclusively as a Lala or a similar merchant. His role in Zanjeer (1973) is an example of this typecasting.

Little information is available about his life. The 1982 release Khud-Dhar credits Randhir as 'late' hinting he died before its release. The release preceding its release was in 1980. prior to working in films he worked with all india radio.He was an ardent sports person and played football for a team called simla youngs while in school in simla.

External links

• Randhir at the Internet Movie Database