Dinshaw Bilimoria

Dinshaw Billimoria (1904 in Kirkee – 1942) was an Indian actor and director who worked in Hindi films. Referred to as the John Barrymore of Indian cinema, Billimoria established himself as one of the leading actors of the 1920s throughout the 1930s and was known for his roles in romance, mythological and fantasy movies.

Life Dinshaw Billimoria made his debut in 1925 in N. D. Sarpotdar's mythological-historical film Chhatrapati Sambhaji. In 1927, he moved to the film company Imperial Films Company and partnered with Sulochana in Mohan Bhavnani's Wildcat of Bombay (1927) and R. S. Choudhury's Anarkali (1928), which were his first big successes.

At the end of the silent film era from 1927 to 1929 and in the early talkies in India from 1933 to 1939, Billimoria and Sulochana formed a popular romantic lead, which delighted a broad audience, especially in romantic dramas by R. S. Choudhury. Billimoria was considered the highest paid silent movie star in India. After 1932, they shot talkies remakes of several of the silent film hits, among them Anarkali (1935) and Bambai Ki Billi/Wildcat of Bombay (1936).

He appeared in several films for the film company between 1929 and 1932 for Ranjit Movietone under the directors Chandulal Shah, Nanubhai Vakil and Nandlal Jaswantlal.

Billimoria probably directed two films in 1940 and 1942; but Azadi-e-Watan (1940) may be a dubbed version of a US import.

His brother was the actor Eddie Billimoria.

Filmography Silent films 1925: Chhatrapati Sambhaji 1926: Dha Cha Ma 1926: Tai Teleen 1926: Umaji Naik 1927: Wildcat of Bombay 1927: Daya Ni Devi 1927: Vilasi Kanta 1928: Qatil Kathiyani 1928: Anarkali 1928: Madhuri 1928: Rajrang 1929: Khwab-e-Hasti 1929: Mewad Nu Moti 1929: Heer Ranjha 1929: Punjab Mail 1929: Rajputani 1929: Hawai Swar 1930: Pahadi Kanya 1930: Rasili Radha 1930: Diwani Dilbar 1931: Baghdad Nu Bulbul 1931: Mojili Mashuq 1931: Noor-e-Alam 1931: Premi JoganSound films 1931: Devi Devayani 1932: Sati Madalasa 1933: Daku Ki Ladki 1933: Saubhagya Sundari 1933: Sulochana 1934: Gul Sanobar 1934: Indira MA 1934: Khwab-e-Hasti 1934: Piya Pyare 1934: Devaki 1935: Anarkali 1935: Do Ghadi Ki Mauj 1935: Pujarini 1936: Bambai Ki Billi 1936: Jungle Queen 1936: Shaan-e-Hind 1937: Jagat Kesari 1937: New Searchlight 1937: Wah Ri Duniya 1939: Prem Ki Jyot 1942: Jawani Ki PukarDirected 1940: Azadi-e-Watan 1942: Jawani Ki Pukar

Literature The entry of Dinshaw Billimoria in Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen: Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema, S. 66