Bollywood has seen many rags-to-riches stories, and they are not just the ones shown on the big screen, but also of actors who built their empire from nothing. Today’s story is also about one such Bollywood legendary star, who, before claiming his throne in the industry, faced his fair share of highs and lows. Read on to know more about this artist.
THIS actor came from Pakistan to Mumbai
This veteran star was born in the early the late 1920s, in West Punjab, which is now in Pakistan. According to Reader’s Digest, the actor was only 5 years old when he lost his father, a civilian in the army. However, his mother was a strong-willed and headstrong woman who, after the demise of her husband, took the entire responsibility of the family, farm, and kids.Further, during partition, in 1947, the said actor and his family came to India, and it wasn’t an easy journey.“It was horrible,” said the actor, recalling the tough time. He added, “At a refugee camp in Ambala, I saw people mourning over a dead body while only a few metres away, a marriage ceremony was taking place.” They were allotted a piece of land in Mandoli, near Ambala, as compensation for their property lost. Back then, this soon-to-become superstar was 18 and wanted to go to college. In 1949, with only two pairs of clothes and Rs 25, he moved to Bombay.
When he worked as a bus conductor and then transitioned into a Radio jockey
After reaching Bombay, he got admission in Jai Hind College. He needed money for his survival in the big city and to support his family. Thus, he worked as a conductor with Bombay Electric Supply and Transport and earned Rs 100 a month. “I lived in a room with six others. It was so small that most nights I slept out on the pavement,” he mentioned.Things changed for him after graduation, when he started working as a radio jockey. He interviewed many film celebrities as a radio presenter and was appreciated for his craft. Believe it or not, he met the love of his life during his radio jockey days, but back then, he didn’t know that the heroine he was interviewing would one day become his life partner. Also, he was recognised by director Ramesh Saiga at the same time. And that is how he got his debut film ‘Railway Platform’ (1955).
Who is THIS actor?
This actor is none other than the late legendary star Sunil Dutt. With films like ‘Mother India’ (1957), ‘Sadhna’ (1958), ‘Gumrah’ (1963), ‘Padosan’ (1968), and more, he established himself as one of the most loved and talented stars in the industry. There was a time when he faced downfall again, went bankrupt, but he never lost his love and zeal for life and craft. He built himself again, proving that his spark has not faded. Before leaving the mortal world for a heavenly abode in 2005, Sunil Dutt, in 2003, was last seen sharing the screen space with his son Sanjay Dutt in ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
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