Bharat Bhushan

Bharatbhushan Gupta, better known as Bharat Bhushan (14 June 1920 – 27 January 1992) was an Indian actor in Hindi language films, scriptwriter and producer. He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Career 1941–1962: Early career, rise to prominence and stardom

Bharat Bhushan began his career in 1941 with a small role in Kidar Sharma's superhit film Chitralekha. Despite this, his career didn't take off as his films apart from another Kidar Sharma's directional Suhaag Raat (1948) did not perform well commercially.

In 1952, he appeared and played the lead in Vijay Bhatt's musical romantic drama film Baiju Bawra. The film emerged a huge blockbuster at the box office and made Bhushan a bankable star. Its music by Naushad and songs by Mohammed Rafi, such as "Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mein Jamana Ka Dhara", "O Duniya Ke Rakhwale Sunn Dard Bhare Mere Naaley" and "Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj" were also very successful and won Naushad the inaugural Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. The same year with two more successes, Maa and Anand Math, Bhushan further solidified his stardom. In 1953, he delivered another blockbuster and second highest earner of the year with Ladki, co-starring Vyjayanthimala, Kishore Kumar and Anjali Devi.

Personal life Bharat Bhushan was born as Bharat Raibahadur Motilal Gupta on 14 June 1920 in a Vaishya (Baniya) family at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.

His father, Raibahadur Motilal, was the government pleader of Meerut and Supreme Court Judge, Allahabad. He had one older brother. His mother died when he was two years old. The brothers left for Aligarh to stay with their grandfather after their mother's death. He did his studies and earned a graduate degree from Dharam Samaj College, Aligarh. His elder brother was film producer and high court judge, Rameshchandra Gupta, who owned the Ideal Studio at Lucknow. After studies, he took to acting against his father's wishes. He first went to Kolkata to join cinema and later established himself in Bombay.

He married into a prominent family in Meerut, Zamindar Raibahadur Budha Prakash's daughter Sarla. They had two daughters, Anuradha (who had polio-associated complications) and Aparajita. Bhushan's wife Sarla died of labour complications on 12 November 1954 at 10 p.m. after delivering their second child. His film Meenar (1954) was dedicated to her where the above information regarding the date and time of her death was mentioned. In 1967, he married actress Ratna, his co-star from Barsaat Ki Raat. Ratna was a prominent actress who played the sister or friend of the heroine in many films. Among her notable TV appearances was the serial Trishna as mother of the four young girls. It was an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. In an interview, his daughter Aparajita had said that after the sudden demise of her husband, she turned to acting. Aparajita has done more than 50 films and TV serials. She played the role of Mandodari in Ramanand Sagar's famous serial Ramayan.

Bhushan owned a bungalow in Bandra suburb of Bombay. This was the famous Aashirwad bungalow, which he sold to Rajendra Kumar, who in turn sold it to Rajesh Khanna. This bungalow, was thus home to 3 famous film stars. Bhushan was an avid reader and boasted of a fine collection of books, which he had to sell off like his cars and bungalows in bad times, after he turned co-producer at the instance of his brother. Only two of his films were successes and unfortunately, the rest flopped.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1941 Chitralekha 1942 Bhakta Kabir 1943 Bhaichara 1945 Sawan 1948 Suhaag Raat Beli 1949 Rangila Rajasthan Udhaar Thes Shyam 1950 Aankhen Bhai Bahen Janmashtami Kisi Ki Yaad Ram Darshan 1951 Hamari Shaan Saagar 1952 Baiju Bawra Baiju Maa Bhanu Anand Math Mahendra 1953 Paheli Shaadi Dana Pani Farmaish Ladki Raja Shuk Rambha Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Vishvambhar Mishra / Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Actor 1954 Shabaab Meenar Pooja Deepak Kavi Dhoop Chhaon Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani Mirza Ghalib Mirza Ghalib Nomination, Filmfare Award for Best Actor 1955 Amanat Pradeep 1956 Basant Bahar Gopal Also co-wrote the script 1957 Sakshi Gopal Mera Saalam Champakali Gateway of India Prakash Rani Rupmati Baz Bahadur 1958 Samrat Chandragupt Chandragupta Maurya Phagun Bijandra "Bijan" Sohni Mahiwal 1959 Kal Hamara Hai Bharat Kavi Kalidas Sawan 1960 Chand Mere Aaja Ghunghat Dr. Gopal Angulimaal Ahinsak (Angulimaal) Barsaat Ki Raat Amaan Hyderabadi / Mirza Lakhnauwi Also co-wrote the script 1962 Gyara Hazar Ladkian Puran Sangeet Samrat Tansen Sangeet Shiromani / Sangeet Samrat Tansen "Tanu" 1964 Jahan Ara Mirza Yusuf Changezi Chandi Ki Deewar Dooj Ka Chand Gopu Also producer, co-wrote the script Vidyapati Vidyapati 1965 Naya Kanoon Deepak 1967 Taqdeer 1969 Pyar Ka Mausam Gopal Vishwas Ramnath "Ram" Kapoor 1972 Gomti Ke Kinare Bharat 1973 Kahani Kismat Ki Doctor 1975 Ranga Khush Dilip Singh 1977 Solah Shukrawar Bhola Bhagat Hira Aur Patthar Tulsiram Khoon Pasina Kaka Jai Dwarkadheesh 1978 Nawab Sahib Salma's father Ganga Sagar Pratap Singh (Padma's father) 1980 Unees-Bees 1981 Khara Khota Yaarana Komal's father Commander Umrao Jaan Khan Saheb (music master) 1983 Adi Shankaracharya Kaippilly Shivaguru Nambudiri (Adi Shankara's father) Nastik Temple priest Justice Chaudhury Jagannath Hero Ramu (Jaikishen's father) Ek Baar Chale Aao Narayan Das 1984 Zakhmi Sher Judge Sharaabi Masterji Shravan Kumar Farishta 1985 Phaansi Ke Baad Mera Saathi Gopal Rehguzar Landlord Direct-to-video film 1986 Mera Dharam Baba Kala Dhanda Goray Log Maharaj Ghar Sansar Rahim Chacha Paise Ke Peechhey Mahendra Malhotra 1987 Himmat Aur Mehanat Customer in hotel Special appearance Ramayan Goswami Tulsidas TV series 1988 Pyaar Ka Mandir Satish's father Sone Pe Suhaaga Kashinath Maalamaal Shri Mangatram's manager Jai Karoli Maa 1989 Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon Chandni Doctor Ilaaka Man with suitcase Gharana Radha's father Toofan Priest in the Hanuman temple Jaadugar Gyaneshwar 1990 Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri John Majboor Judge Sheshnaag Bhola & Champa's father Baaghi Asha's father 1991 Pyar Ka Devta Doctor Karz Chukana Hai College principal RaiszaadaJudge Irada Prem Qaidi Suryanath Swarg Yahan Narak Yahan School principal Sau Crore Kamlesh's father Cameo 1992 Humshakal Judge Posthumous release 1993 Aakhri Chetawani Posthumous release

Accolades Year Award Category Film Result 1955Filmfare AwardsBest Actor Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 1956 Mirza Ghalib