Veteran actor Nazir Hussain starred in nearly 500 movies in Hindi cinema. He was also the pioneer of Bhojpuri cinema. In his films, the late actor often portrayed roles such as father, grandfather, uncle, and maternal uncle. However, despite his significant contributions to the film industry, he did not receive the recognition he deserved. On his 102nd birthday anniversary, here is a look at his career.
The actor collaborated with several big stars including Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Govinda. Actresses such as Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Asha Parekh, Mumtaz, Hema Malini and Rekha gained fame for portraying his on-screen daughters. In the movie Aap Ki Parchhai, Nazir Hussain portrayed Dharmendra’s father-in-law. He also played a similar role in Ashok Kumar’s film Parineeta. Additionally, he acted as Rajesh Khanna’s father-in-law and Hema Malini’s father in the 1974 film Prem Nagar.
Between 1950 and 1970, Nazir acted in lots of movies. He was in many hit films like Jeevan Jyoti, Musafir, Anuradha, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Naya Daur, Kati Patang, and Kashmir Ki Kali. Apart from acting, he was also good at writing scripts and dialogues. He also produced and directed films.
Nazir Hussain was born on May 15, 1922, in Usia village, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Shahbazad Khan, worked as a guard in the Indian Railways. Before taking acting as a career, it’s reported that Nazir Hussain worked as a fireman in the railways. Later, he joined the British Army, and when the Second World War began, he was sent to the battlefield.
For a period, Nazir Hussain was stationed in Malaysia and Singapore. When conditions deteriorated, he was captured as a prisoner of war and held in a Malaysian jail. However, he was later released and sent back to India. Following this, he joined the theatre. Subsequently, Nazir Hussain met director Bimal Roy in Kolkata and worked as his assistant. It was Bimal Roy who introduced him to the world of cinema.
Later, Nazir Hussain and Bimal Roy teamed up for a film called Pehla Aadmi. This movie was about Azad Hind Fauj and was released in 1950. It quickly gained popularity. After that, Nazir Hussain appeared in nearly every film made by Bimal Roy.
Nazir Hussain is known as the pioneer of Bhojpuri cinema. He introduced Bhojpuri films to the audience through his directing skills. He discussed the potential of the Bhojpuri film industry with India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad. Nazir made his directorial debut in Bhojpuri cinema with the movie Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, which came out in 1963. He also produced and directed another Bhojpuri film called Hamar Sansar. Nazir Hussain gained more recognition with the success of the Bhojpuri film Balam Pardesiya in the late 1970s.
The actor passed away on October 16, 1987.
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