Editing Sanjeev Kumar (section)

==Career ==
{{main article|Sanjeev Kumar filmography}}
Kumar started his acting career as a stage actor, starting with [[Indian People's Theatre Association|IPTA]] in [[Bombay]] and later joining the Indian National Theatre.<ref name=tri>{{cite web | title = He was an actor for all seasons | publisher = The Sunday Tribune | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000813/spectrum/main3.htm | date = 13 August 2000 | access-date = 2013-08-12 | archive-date = 3 March 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303211856/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000813/spectrum/main3.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> Even as a stage actor, he had a penchant for playing older roles; at age 22, he played an old man in an adaptation of [[Arthur Miller's]] ''[[All My Sons]]''. In the following year, in the play ''[[Damru]]'' directed by [[A.K. Hangal]], he again played the role of a 60-year-old with six children.<ref name=ht12 />

He made his film debut with a small role in ''[[Hum Hindustani]]'' in 1960.<ref name=Kale>{{Cite web |title=Fans remember legendary actor Sanjeev Kumar on his 82nd birth anniversary |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/fans-remember-legendary-actor-sanjeev-kumar-on-his-82nd-birth-anniversary |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004032239/https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/fans-remember-legendary-actor-sanjeev-kumar-on-his-82nd-birth-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref> His first film as a protagonist was in [[Nishan (1965 film)|Nishan]] (1965). In 1968, he acted alongside the famous actor of that time, [[Dilip Kumar]], in [[Sunghursh|Sangharsh]]. He also starred opposite [[Shammi Kapoor]] and [[Sadhana]] in the superhit film [[Sachaai]] (1969).

He starred in the 1966 [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] film ''[[Kalapi (film)|Kalapi]]'', which was based on the poet [[Kalapi]]'s life, with him playing the title role, [[Padmarani]] playing the role of his wife, [[Rama]], and [[Aruna Irani]] as the love interest. The film was directed by [[Manhar Raskapur]].<ref name="GokulsingDissanayake2013">{{cite book|author1=K. Moti Gokulsing|author2=[[Wimal Dissanayake]]|title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djUFmlFbzFkC&pg=PA94|access-date=21 April 2017|date=17 April 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77284-9|pages=94|archive-date=12 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412145349/https://books.google.com/books?id=djUFmlFbzFkC&pg=PA94|url-status=live}}</ref> Later [[Aruna Irani]] was paired opposite [[Sanjeev]] in another [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] film, ''Mare Javun Pele Par'' (1968).

In 1970, the movie ''[[Khilona (1970 film)|Khilona]]'', which was the remake of [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] film ''Mare Javun Pele Paar'' (1968), brought Kumar national recognition. In 1972, he played in an Indo-Iranian film, ''[[Subah-O-Shaam]]''. This was when the director [[Gulzar]] first spotted him. Later he cast Sanjiv Kumar in the roles of older men in 4 films ''[[Parichay (film)|Parichay]]'' (1972), ''[[Koshish]]'' (1973), ''[[Aandhi]]'' (1975) and ''[[Mausam (1975 film)|Mausam]]'' (1975). [[Gulzar]] cast Sanjiv Kumar in role of young man in the films ''[[Angoor (1982 film)|Angoor]]'' (1981) and ''[[Namkeen]]'' (1982). [[Kumar]] won the [[BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi)]] for his exemplary portrayal of a deaf and mute person in ''[[Koshish]]'', in which the female lead was played by [[Jaya Bhaduri]], who acted as his deaf and mute wife and was herself nominated for Best Actor award by [[Filmfare]] for the same role. He went on to star in the box office hits ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), ''[[Manchali]]'' (1973) and ''[[Aap Ki Kasam]]'' (1974). In 1973, he made a guest appearance during a song in a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movie, ''[[Bharatha Vilas]]'' (1973). He performed in nine movies directed by [[Gulzar]]. [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] directed him in ''[[Arjun Pandit (1976 film)|Arjun Pandit]]'', for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award.

He did three films opposite famous [[Tamils|Tamil]] actress [[L. Vijayalakshmi]], including ''Husn Aur Ishq'' and ''Badal'' which became hits. Their first film was ''[[Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1966 film)|Alibaba Aur 40 Chor]]'' which was unsuccessful. His ''[[Raja Aur Runk]]'', released in 1968, was a great success. He did ''[[Kangan (1971 film)|Kangan]]'', ''[[Rivaaj]]'', ''[[Zindagi (1976 film)|Zindagi]]'', ''[[Be-Reham]]'', ''[[Archana (film)|Archana]]'' and ''[[Do Ladkiyan]]'' opposite [[Mala Sinha]]. He did ''[[Priya (1970 film)|Priya]]'', ''[[Anubhav (1971 film)|Anubhav]]'', ''Gustaaki Maaf'', ''[[Bachpan]]'' and ''[[Khud-Daar]]'' with [[Tanuja]]. He was paired with [[Raakhee]] in ''[[Angaare]]'', ''[[Paras (1971 film)|Paras]]'', ''[[Trishna (1978 film)|Trishna]]'', ''[[Shriman Shrimati]]'' and ''[[Hamare Tumhare]]''. His hits with [[Leena Chandavarkar]] included ''Apne Rang Hazar'', ''[[Manchali]]'' and ''[[Anhonee (1973 film)|Anhonee]]''. He was paired regularly with [[Sulakshana Pandit]] in films such as ''[[Uljhan]]'' and ''[[Waqt Ki Deewar]]'' and with [[Moushmi Chatterjee|Moushumi Chatterjee]] in ''Itni Si Baat'' and ''Daasi''.

The producers and directors of the South wanted to remake their [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] films in [[Hindi]] with either [[Kumar]] or [[Rajesh Khanna]] in lead. It was these [[Hindi]] film remakes that elevated him to a great actor. ''[[Khilona (1970 film)|Khilona]]'' and its [[Tamil language|Tamil]] version ''[[Engirundho Vandhaal]]'' were made simultaneously. ''[[Navarathri]]'' was remade as ''[[Naya Din Nai Raat]]''. [[Kumar]] reprised the role played by [[Thengai Srinivasan]] in ''[[Yehi Hai Zindagi]]'' which was a remake of ''[[Kaliyuga Kannan]]''. He starred as the lead ''[[Shaandaar (1974 film)|Shaandaar]]'' (1974) which was a remake of ''[[Kasturi Nivasa]]'' with [[Kannada]] actor [[Dr. Rajkumar]] in the lead. [[Kumar]] enacted the role played by [[AVM Rajan]] in ''Anadhai Aanandhan'', in its [[Hindi]] version ''[[Chanda Aur Bijli]]''. ''[[Gnana Oli]]'' was remade as ''[[Devata (1978 film)|Devata]]'' in 1978 with [[Kumar]] reprising the role originally played by [[Sivaji Ganesan]]. He also acted in ''[[Swarg Narak]]'' (1978) the remake of ''[[Swargam Narakam]].'' He played the role which [[N.T. Rama Rao]] did originally in ''Devina Chesina Manushulu'', in its [[Hindi]] version [[Takkar (1980 film)|Takkar]] in 1980. ''[[Tayaramma Bangarayya]]'' was remade as ''Shriman Shrimati'' in 1982, ''Raman Ethanai Ramanadi'' was remade as ''Raam Kitne Tere Naam'' in 1985. Kumar reprised the role played by R.Muthuraman in ''Alukuoru Aasai'' in its Hindi remake ''Itni Si Baat'' in 1981.  Sivaji Ganesan gave Kumar a role in his own home production ''Gauri'' (1968), which was a remake of ''Shanti'' (1965). The role played by S.S. Rajendran in ''Shanti'' was re-enacted by Kumar in ''Gauri''.

Northern Indian producers and directors cast Sanjeev Kumar primarily in supporting roles in films like [[Khud-Daar]], [[Sawaal (film)|Sawaal]], [[Zabardast]], [[Hero (1983 film)|Hero]], and [[Silsila]]. Sanjeev Kumar's excellent comic timing entertained audiences in films such as ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'', ''Biwi O Biwi'' (1981),<ref>[http://www.webmallindia.com/buy-dvd-online-movie-biwi-o-biwi-p-105.html Buy BIWI O BIWI DVD online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017034022/http://www.webmallindia.com/buy-dvd-online-movie-biwi-o-biwi-p-105.html |date=17 October 2014 }}. Webmallindia.com. Retrieved on 2018-11-08.</ref> ''[[Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978 film)|Pati, Patni Aur Woh]]'', ''[[Angoor (1982 film)|Angoor]]'' (1982) and ''[[Hero (1983 film)|Hero]]'' (1983).

His performances in films such as {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Charitraheen]]}}, ''Grihapravesh'', ''Chehre Pe Chehra'', [[Suraag]], ''Sawaal'' and ''Yaadgaar'' were appreciated by critics. Kumar always demonstrated a willingness to take on unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. His role as Mirza Sajjad Ali,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Chess Players: And Other Screenplays |author=Satyajit Ray |editor=Andrew Robinson |publisher=Faber |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-5711-4074-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/chessplayersothe00saty |url-access=registration }}</ref> a chess-obsessed Lucknowi (citizen of [[Lucknow]]), in [[Satyajit Ray]]'s classic ''[[Shatranj Ke Khilari]]'' (1977) exemplified that aspect. Perhaps his best-remembered roles were in the blockbuster films ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975) and ''[[Trishul (film)|Trishul]]'' (1978). His portrayal of the character [[Thakur (Indian title)|Thakur]], from ''[[Sholay]]'' was one of his stellar performances. In ''[[Naya Din Nayi Raat]]'' (1974), Sanjeev Kumar reprised nine-roles. This film enhanced his status and reputation as a serious player in [[Bollywood]]. He stood his ground against leading superstars such as [[Rajesh Khanna]] in ''Aap Ki Kasam''; [[Amitabh Bachchan]] and [[Shashi Kapoor]] in the [[Yash Chopra]] multi-star cast film ''[[Trishul (film)|Trishul]]'' (1978) and Dilip Kumar in ''Sangharsh'' and ''Vidhaata'' (1982).

He has done many regional films in different languages including [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] and his mother tongue [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]. In 1980, he starred in the [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] movie ''Fauji Chacha''. He has made guest appearances in two Tamil films, ''Bharata Vilas'' and ''Uyarndhavargal'' (a remake of ''Koshish'').