A. K. Hangal
| A. K. Hangal | |
|---|---|
 A. K. Hangal Bio | |
| Born | Avtar Kishan Hangal 1 February 1917 Sialkot, Punjab, (British India/ Pre-Partition India/ West Pakistan/ Present-day Pakistan) |
| Other names | Padmabhushan Avtar Krishna Hangal |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–2005 |
| Notable work(s) | Inder Sen in Shaukeen Rahim Chacha in Sholay Ram Shastri in Aaina Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam |
| Children | Vijay Hangal |
Early life
Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, he spent his childhood in Peshawar, where he had performed in theatre for some major roles. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. However, his primary occupation for the early part of his life was that of a tailor. He was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle. Following his father's retirement, the family moved from Peshawar toKarachi. He moved to Bombay after the Partition of India in 1949 after 3 years in prison in Pakistan. He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings.
[edit]Hindi Cinema Career
He started his Hindi film career at the very late age of 50 with Basu Bhattacharya's Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird, and went on to play as the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the leading men/women in the films in the 70's 80's 90's or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films like Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981),Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi, Naram Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor, always was part of the most of the films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero like Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar and Bewafai. His best performances in his later years was in Shararat (2002) his character roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1997) and Lagaan. In movies he has played a very large number of character roles, mostly positive. He has acted in 225 films so far.
On 8 February 2011,actor A.K. Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.
Awards
The Government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.
Old age problem
Hangal, who has more than 200 films to his credit in a career that spanned nearly five decades, due to his old age post 2007 found it difficult to meet his medical expenses. His son Vijay, a retired cameraman and former Bollywood photographer, himself is 75 and has not had a full-time job since 2001.With just a gap of 20 years between Vijay and Hangal it was difficult for them to manage their day to day expenses. Earlier, Vijay would take up small jobs but now, he can't do that either because of a back problem. Post 2007 A.K.Hangal has been suffering from a disease and has run into financial troubles in garnering money for treatment (he and his son have to spend 15000 rupees a month on medicines). So income stopped coming into the house from all quarters. When this plight of the veteran 95-year-actor was highlighted by the media and newspapers on 20 January 2011, many filmstars and directors promised to help the 95-year-actor financially. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan pledged to give him Rs 50,000.
Jaya Bachchan, who worked with Hangal in 7 films including Guddi, Anamika, Bawarchi, Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Doosri Sita, Jawani Diwani, Parichay and Sholay, on getting to know about his condition, said: "Please tell Hangal saab that his daughter was not aware of his condition and I am really sorry about it. My office will be taking care of all his hospital expenses.
Mithun Chakraborty, founder and president of the Cine Artistes Welfare Trust a body had set up by the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA ) and he said he has already asked the association to release funds for the senior actor. On 21 January 2011, Dharmesh Tiwari, the president of CINTAA concurred and said the association has helped Hangal in the past and will continue to do so and that they sending a cheque of RS 50,000. On 21 January 2011 Salman Khancontacted Tiwari on Thursday to pledge his support. Director Samar Khan used then a popular social networking site to spread the word, and by 22 January 2011 evening friends and fans had pledged about Rs 1 lakh. Tiwari said, "If the government can allot some land, we can use it as Hangal saab has suggested to build an old age home for artistes. Mumbai, which is the birthplace of Bollywood, is not paying any heed to us."
Then Ranjan Thakur, the personal secretary to I&B minister Ambika Soni said, "The minister has spoken to Ramesh Sippy and the Film Federation and has asked them to keep us updated on the funds collected for A K Hangal. We are looking at the possibility of a long-term health insurance program for retired actors. Now as per the reports of Times of India dated 24th Jan 2011, he has been offered some help from some from Bollywood fraternity for his medical expenses.On 4th of March, 2011, it was reported that Amitabh promised to take care of his medical expenses and Aamir Khan promised in one of the press conferences, that now, when he has known about it he would go see him and would help him in every way.
Family
He has a son, and after the death of his wife, he lives alone in his flat in Santa Cruz, Mumbai. His son Vijay Hangal is a retired Bollywood photographer and cameraman who lives in flat adjacent to Hangal.Vijay's wife died before 2000 and does not have any children.
Selected Filmography
Films
TV Series
| Year | Series | Character/Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Bombay Blue | Saraswami Giri | TV mini-series, Episode #1.3 (1997) as Saraswami Giri |
| 1988 | Jeevan Rekha | TV series | |
| 1986 | Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten - The Last Viceroy | Patel | TV mini-series |
| 1986 | Darkness | TV mini-series | |
| 1996 | Chandrakanta | Parichand | An old man role |
| 2004-2005 | Hotel Kingston-star one | Cameo in one episode | helped hotel kingston financially from being bankrupt |
| 1993-1994 | Zabaan Sambhalke | Cameo in one episode |
Works
- Life and Times of A.K. Hangal (1999) (autobiography)
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