Sajjan

Sajjan (15 January 1921 – 17 May 2000) was a Bollywood stage actor and lyricist. He acted in several plays and movies from the 1950s to the 1980s. His best known films are Bees Saal Baad, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, April Fool, Rail Ka Dibba, Johny Mera Naam and Jhumroo.

Early life Sajan was born on January 15, 1921, in Jodhpur into a Pushkarna Brahmin marwadi family. His full name was Sajjan Lal Purohit, but he was known by his first name in the Indian film industry. Sajjan graduated from Jaswant college in Jodhpur. He had a desire to be a lawyer, not an actor.

Career In 1941, he arrived in Calcutta and worked as an apprentice in a laboratory of the East India Company. His initial breakthrough in films was as an extra in films such as Masoom (1941) and Chowringhee (1942). Sajjan left Calcutta during the Second World War and reached Mumbai where he worked as an assistant to the famous director Kidar Sharma. At that time, the great showman Raj Kapoor was also an assistant to Sharma. He also worked as assistant to Gajanan Jagirdar and Vakil Sahib and received Rs.35 as salary.

A poet by heart, Sajjan showed his talent when he wrote dialogues for Meena (1944) and lyrics for Door Chalen (1946) and Dhanyavad (1948). He also acted in small roles in Prithvi Theatre. His acting debut film was Dhanyavad. After that, Bombay Theatre's Muqaddar was released in 1950. The heroine was Nalini Jaywant.

By then, Sajjan was well established in films. In the 1950s and 1960s, he acted as the hero or side-hero in films such as Saiyan, Rail Ka Dibba, Bahana, Sheesha, Malkin, Nirmohi, Kasturi, Mehmaan, Lagan, Girl School, Paridhaan, 00 Dulhe, Ghar-Ghar Mein Diioali, Haa-Haa-Hee-Hee-Hoo-Hoo, Poonam Jhanjhar and Halla-Gulla. As a hero, his last films were Kabuliwala and Do Chor, and as an artist he last appeared in the 1986 release Shatru with Rajesh Khanna.

An artist of more than 150 films, Sajjan also worked in TV serials. In Vikram Aur Betaal he played Betaal. His other serial was Lena-Dena.

Filmography Year Film Character/Role 1948 Majboor 1948 Dhanyawad 1949 Imtihaan 1949 Girls' School Bipin 1950 Sangram Lala 1950 Muqaddar 1950 Apni Chhaya 1951 Toofan 1951 Saiyan Rajjoo 1951 Kashmir 1951 Hum Log Anand 1952 Nazaria 1952 Sheesha 1952 Poonam Sarju 1953 Rail Ka Dibba Mohan 1953 Mehmaan 1953 Malkin 1954 Parichay 1954 Kasturi 1954 Halla Gulla 1955 Lagan 1955 Hoor-E-Arab 1955 Ha Ha Hee Hee Ho Ho 1955 Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali Kailash 1955 Do Dulhe 1955 Bandish Drama Director 1956 Parivar 1956 Dhake Ki Malmal 1957 Mr. X 1957 Paying Guest Jagat - Ramesh's Friend 1957 Bade Sarkar Sumer Singh 1958 Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Prakashchand 1958 Talaaq Mangal 1958 Hathkadi 1959 Toofani Tirandaz 1959 Maharani Padmini 1959 Chand Gokul's Father 1959 Didi Vinod 1960 Sarhad Madan 1960 Baraat Shanker Chaudhary 1960 Bahaana 1961 Kabuliwala Mini's father 1961 Mera Suhaag 1961 Jhumroo Banno 1962 Bees Saal Baad Detective Mohan Tripathi 1963 Yeh Dil Kisko Doon Man who disguise Anand Lal 1964 Daal Me Kala Natwar Shyam 1964 Ishaara Ramu 1964 Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Men Deepa 1964 April Fool Monto 1965 Chand Aur Suraj Kapoor - Manager 1965 Adhi Raat Ke Baad Ramlal 1966 Tasveer Ishrat 1966 Sawan Ki Ghata Bansilal 1966 Lal Bangla Inspector Shankar 1966 Dil Diya Dard Liya Mansaram 1967 Ram Aur Shyam Police Inspector 1967 Rustom Sohrab 1967 Hamare Gam Se Mat Khelo 1967 Farz Damodar 1967 Anita Biharilal 1967 Aman 1968 Ankhen Syed 1968 Aashirwad Ramdas 1968 Aanchal Ke Phool Shankar 1969 'Sambandh' 1969 Talash Dice / Albert (Rita's Father) 1970 Sau Saal Beet Gaye Nanhe 1970 Prem Pujari Suman's maternal uncle 1970 Johny Mera Naam Rai Saab Bhupendra Singh 1970 Pagla Kahin Ka Inmate - Ramu Dada (uncredited) 1970 Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi 1971 Jaane-Anjaane Hemant's Father 1971 Patanga Ramu 1971 Ladki Pasand Hai Raisaheb Chunnilal 1971 Dushman Villain's Associate 1971 Do Boond Pani Hari Singh 1972 Kamana 1972 Bhaavna 1972 Yaar Mera Mahantji 1972 Raja Jani Khairati 1972 Parchhaiyan Sandeep Narayan 1972 Ek Khilari Bawan Pattey Rekha.s Father 1972 Ek Bar Mooskura Do 1972 Do Chor Ramsharan 1972 Do Bachche Dus Haath Vakil Saab 1972 Buniyaad 1973 Jai Hanuman 1973 Chhupa Rustam Rajendra Jain 1973 Yauwan Dr. Shrivastav 1973 Suraj Aur Chanda Mahamantri 1973 Samjhauta Jailor 1973 Phagun 1973 Chhalia 1973 Agni Rekha Gopinath Raizada 1974 Kshitij 1974 Chor Machaye Shor Amritlal 1974 Jab Andhera Hota Hai Dara 1974 Amir Garib Seth Nandlal 1974 Resham Ki Dori Vishal 1974 Compelled Doctor Shah 1974 Zehreela Insaan Shyam Lal 1974 Prem Shastra Sajjan Bhardwaj 1975 Sandhya 1975 Samasya 1975 Qaid Mr. Verma 1975 Faraar 1975 Toofan 1975 Salaakhen Ramlal 1976 Dus Numbri Fernandes Uncle 1976 Charas (1976 film) Jango 1976 Sajjo Rani Sohan 1977 Mamta Boarding School Principal 1977 Immaan Dharam Lawyer (in Jenny's Case) 1977 Khel Khilari Ka Poojari 1977 Darinda Krishna's Father 1977 Darling Darling Rai Bahadur Dinanath 1977 Chaalu Mera Naam Balwant Rai 1977 Aafat 1978 Chor Ke Ghar Chor Ramlal 1979 Dhongee Dinanath 1980 Dhan Daulat Truck owner 1980 Do Aur Do Paanch Principal Om Prakash Sharma 1980 Dostana Ramnik Lal Tiwari 1980 Taxi Chor 1980 Qatil Kaun Chaudhary 1981 Krodhi 1981 Haqdaar 1981 Prem Geet Hiralal 1981 Kaalia 2nd Defense Attorney 1981 Raksha Kedar 1981 Professor Pyarelal Bhagwan Singh 1981 Nai Imarat Village Head 1982* Haathkadi (1982 film) Robert's father (uncredited) 1982 Khud-Daar Man in Police Station (uncredited) 1982 Log Kya Kahenge Thakur - Roma's father 1983 Achha Bura Jailor 1983 Coolie Salma's Father 1984 Hum Do Hamare Do (as Sajan) 1984 Love Marriage 1985Aandhi-Toofan Sheela's, servant 1985 Phir Aayee Barsat 1986 Maqaar 1986 Shatru 1987Mera Karam Mera Dharam Shambhu 1996Muthi Bhar Zameen Munshiji 1996 Aatank Saimon (uncredited)

Television

Year Show Character/role 1985-1988 Vikram Aur Betaal (TV series) Betaal