Dhumal

Anant Balwant Dhumal (29 March 1914 – 13 February 1987), popularly known as Dhumal, was an actor in Bollywood films known for playing character roles. He acted in many movies and was active from the mid 1940s till the late 1980s. He started his acting career from Marathi theatre, which paved way for Marathi cinema and later he moved to Hindi cinema, where he mostly played comedy roles and later in his career, character roles. He worked in notable films such as Howrah Bridge, Bombai Ka Babu (1960), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Gumnaam (1965), Do Badan (1966), Love in Tokyo (1966) and Benaam (1974).

Career His career in acting began when he joined a drama company, where he served drinks and washed utensils. There would be occasions when artistes playing minor roles failed to turn up; this would give the spot boys an opportunity to fill in for them. This was how Dhumal landed up with bit roles in plays.

During this period, he met P. K. Atre and Nanasaheb Phatak, both big names in the drama world. Soon, he started getting recognised and bigger roles came his way. Although he eventually became famous as a comedian in films, he was more well known as a villain. He played major roles in famous plays such as Lagna Chi Bedi and Ghara Baher.

From the stage, he shifted his focus to the silver screen. He worked in big movies such as Woh Kaun Thi, Ankhen, Gumnaam, Arzoo and Sasural. His first movie was a Marathi film called Pedgaonche Shahane (1952) in which he played the role of a South Indian.

He paired with fellow comedians Mehmood and Shobha Khote in numerous Hindi films, such as Sasural (1961).

Selected filmography

Year Title Role 1948 Jeevacha SakhaPeera Dhaigude 1953 Chacha ChowdhuryChachaji 1954 JagritiMan in audience 1956 ParivarDhoomal 1956 New DelhiKumar Swami 1956 Ek SholaPedro 1956 Suvarna SundariBabu1956Pasant Aahe MulgiVasu 1957 Ek Gaon Ki Kahani Bansi 1957 Apradhi Kaun?Deaf & Dumb servant 1957 Night ClubDhoomal 1958 Sone Ki ChidiyaFilm Producer 1958 PoliceKela Master 1958 Phagun Mattu 1958 Khota PaisaMunim Satyanarayan 1958 Howrah BridgeUncle Joe 1958 DetectiveChaudhary 1958 Ujala Bholu 1959 Main Nashe Men HoonMunshi Totaram (as Dhoomal) 1959 Chhoti Bahen Sukhiya 1960 Jagachya PathivarVasu 1960 Girl Friend 1960 Ek Phool Char KaanteUncle – Religious 1960 Bombai Ka BabuMamu 1960 Shola Aur ShabnamMunshiji 1961 Sasural Dharamdas 1961 Mem-DidiSethji 1961 Boy FriendSampat 1962 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam Bansi 1962 RungoliBalabadradas 1962 Ek Musafir Ek Hasina Ultaram 1962 Bijli Chamke Jamna Paar 1962 Anpadh Kalu 1962 Aaj Aur Kal Dhanaksingh's Secretary 1963 Pyar Ka Bandhan Lala 1963 Holiday in Bombay Hanuman Prasad 1963 HamrahiHukumchand 1963 Akela 1963 Zindagi Chameli's dad 1964 Ziddi Ramdas 1964 Woh Kaun Thi? Madhav 1964 Kashmir Ki Kali Bholaram 1964 Awara Badal Babloo 1964 Gumnaam Mister Dharamdas 1965 Rishte Naate Diwanji 1965 Mere Sanam Bankhe 1965 Chand Aur Suraj Nand Gopal 1965 Bahu Beti Nemak Das 1965 Arzoo Munshi Ashadaulal (as Dhoomal) 1965 Love in Tokyo Sheela's dad 1966 Preet Na Jane Reet Rosie's father 1966 Mera Saaya Bankeji 1966 Do Badan Mohan's dad 1966 Devar Ram Bharose / R.B. Bosay 1966 Woh Koi Aur HogaPran Nath 1967 Chandan Ka Palna Gopi 1967 Anita Roshandhan 1967 Teen Bahuraniyan Hariprasad – Radha's Father 1968 Suhaag Raat Parwana 1968 Saraswatichandra Passenger in bull cart (Savior) 1968 Payal Ki Jhankar Vaidraj 1968 Mera Naam Johar 007 / Charan Das 1968 Brahmachari Kirtandas (Taxi Driver) 1968 Ankhen Studio Owner 1968 Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati Maharaj (Jungle King) 1969 Tumse Achha Kaun Hai Sheila's Father 1969 Sachaai Hostel Warden 1969 Pyasi Sham D'Souza 1969 Pyar Hi Pyar Jattadhari 1969 Prarthana 1969 Balak Dharamraj 1969 Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? Stewart 1970 Tum Haseen Main Jawan Seth Ganpat Rao 1970 Samaj Ko Badal Dalo 1970 Albela 1971 Jaane-Anjaane Dhondu 1971 Preetam Gauri's Father 1971 Hungama Banaspati Prasad 1971 Woh Din Yaad Karo 1971 Naya Zamana Dharamdas, the landlord 1971 Jawan Mohabbat Chhote Lal 1971 Haar Jeet 1972 Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche 1972 Do Chor Tikamdas 1972 Baazigar 1972 Jugnu Sheela's Father 1973 Benaam Police Constable Havaldar 1974 Sanyasi Dinu – House Servant 1975 Aaram Haram Aahe Jagge 1976 Bhanwar Chaudhary Phuliaram 1976 Udhar Ka Sindur Sunderprasad's dad 1976 Kabeela Lalaji 1976 Ha Khel Sawalyancha Diwanji 1976 Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein 1977 Saheb Bahadur Charandas 1977 Naav Motha Lakshan Khota 1977 Dream Girl Manager of the shop 1977 Chalta Purza Constable Balchander 1978 Devata 1978 Karmayogi Kakaram 1978 Besharam Mukhiya 1978 Anjaam Totaram 1978 Maan Apmaan Makhan's maternal uncle 1979 Khandaan To-be groom's uncle 1979 Janta Hawaldar 1979 Aaitya Bilavar Nagoba Sindhu Madhav Shastri 1979 Geet Gaata Chal 1980 Sheetla Mata Munim Ram Bharose 1981 Daasi Mangala's maternal aunt 1981 Sannata Shankar Kaka 1981 Jail Yatra Constable at the beach 1981 Dil Hi Dil Mein Ramdhan (Mr. Verma's servant) 1982 Bade Dil Wala Banwarilal 1983 Bindiya Chamkegi Daulatram 1984 Maati Maangey Khoon Sharda's dad 1984 Duniya Pascal 1984 Bijli Sethu – Parvati's brother 1986 Pyar Ka Mandir Patient

Death Dhumal died on 13 February 1987 due to a massive heart attack.