Actor AK Hangal, who labored throughout a number of a long time in Hindi cinema, turned a family identify by means of his memorable supporting roles in landmark movies reminiscent of Sholay and Deewaar. Hangal was born in undivided India, jailed in Karachi for his communist views, and ‘banned’ by the Shiv Sena for associating with Pakistani nationals. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by President APJ Abdul Kalam. In the direction of the tip of his life, he suffered financially, with a number of of his previous colleagues stepping as much as lend help. However his funeral was unattended by lots of the main stars that he’d labored with through the years. Hangal died in 2012 on the age of 98; that is his story.
In a 1997 interview with Rediff, Hangal seemed again on his youth. He stated, “After the Partition, I stayed again in Pakistan however I used to be arrested due to communist ideologies. I spent two years in jail. I used to be crushed repeatedly as a result of I’d resist every part from dangerous meals to dangerous civic services. I used to be requested to go away Pakistan and go to India. However how may I depart the place and tradition the place I used to be born? Sooner or later, Muslim seniors from my celebration advised me to go to India and begin celebration work there, as I used to be the one Hindu amongst them. I used to be given 12 hours to go away Pakistan.”
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He added, “I wished to go to New Delhi to my sister however I had no cash. I got here to Mumbai with Rs 20 in my pocket. I used to be 21 years outdated then. I met some mates from Karachi and so they took care of my household and me. Quickly, I bought a job as a tailor and was paid Rs 500 per 30 days. These days in 1949, this was an enormous quantity. I used to have wealthy prospects just like the nawab of Pataudi and Britishers. I needed to look presentable always, so I all the time wore fits to work.”
Actor AK Hangal. (Categorical archive photograph)
It was after this that Hangal’s profession as an actor took off. He appeared in movies reminiscent of Abhimaan, Anubhav, Deewaar, Sholay, Aandhi, Namak Haraam, Aap Ki Kasam, Shagirdh, Mere Apne, Parichay, Daag, Joshila, Heera Panna, Jawani Diwani, Garam Hawa, Bawarchi, Kora Kagaz, Chit Chor, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram. A few of his most memorable remaining roles got here within the movies Lagaan and Paheli. Throughout his profession, he’s stated to have appeared in 300 movies.
In 1993, he was banned by the Shiv Sena for interacting with Pakistani nationals and in search of a visa. “I wished to go to Pakistan and wished to gather some materials for my memoirs. Was {that a} crime?” he advised Rediff, including, “I suffered psychological and financial anguish for one yr.” He didn’t thoughts that the business didn’t get up in help of him throughout this time, saying, “I used to be solely a personality actor. The movie business can select to disregard me. No big funds have been blocked due to my absence. However theatre folks from Kerala despatched me some pretty poems, supporting my stand.”
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Bhushan Award – 2006 to actor A.Okay. Hangal, in New Delhi. (Categorical Archive)
A decade or so later, Hangal discovered himself struggling to make ends meet. His son, the then-75-year-old Vijay Hangal, despatched out a message to the business asking for help. “There have been many individuals from the business, who helped me as he went by means of monetary disaster. Nevertheless, I really feel that he by no means saved cash or invested in mediclaim services and that’s why he went by means of monetary crunch,” he advised Rediff. However the help he was in search of got here by means of. “Individuals who have labored with my father, like Mr Amitabh Bachchan and likewise folks a lot, a lot youthful, like Karan Johar, have helped out financially once they heard of the state we have been in,” he advised CNN-IBN.
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Amitabh wrote about Hangal’s difficulties in a weblog submit. “It has been unhappy and unnerving to be taught at present of the dire situation of certainly one of our most devoted and devoted character artists of the business, Mr A.Okay. Hangal. I got here to know of this by means of the type workplaces of the cyber – the online and the social internet. I’ve now initiated my workplace, sitting a ways, to render instant help and assist. As people, as fraternity, as people, that’s the least we are able to do. It has all the time been disturbing to learn and be taught of such occurrences. I don’t want to point out names right here, for they’re people that have been idolised and revered of their prime, and mentioning their situation now’s an act that would appear most demeaning to them and to their stature.”
AK Hangal and Jaya Bachchan within the movie Anamika. (Categorical archive photograph)
He continued, “Life’s tales have been overloaded with vivid descriptions of unlucky circumstances. Circumstances which have introduced the greats all the way down to their knees. It’s stunning and most undesirable to touch upon it, however a quiet but thought-about motion for his or her good, is what I’d wish to get entangled in. And I do. My prayers and desires for Hangal Saheb.”
Hangal died on August 25, 2012, shortly after celebrating his birthday. His son spoke in regards to the funeral, and stated that he wasn’t upset that the celebrities his father labored with didn’t attend it. “The final day was very troublesome for him. I’m not upset that individuals from Bollywood didn’t come for the funeral — could also be they’ve their very own issues and there’s no level in making tales of all these items. If I try this, I’ll begin feeling small from inside,” he stated.