A. K. Hangal

Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012) was an Indian freedom fighter and actor. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977), as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the antagonist in Prem Bandhan and the 16 films he did with Rajesh Khanna. He has acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career spanning from 1966 to 2005.

A. K. Hangal
Hangal in 2011
Born	Avtar Kishan Hangal (1914-02-01)1 February 1914 Sialkot, Punjab, British India
Died	26 August 2012(2012-08-26) (aged 98) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Other names	Padmabhushan Avtar Krishna Hangal
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1929–1947 (freedom fighter), 1936–1965 (theater actor), 1965–2005 (film career), 1980–2012 (television career)
Notable work	Ram Shastri in Aaina Inder Sen in Shaukeen Imaam Saa'b in Sholay Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam Brinda Kaka in Aandhi
Children	1

Early life

Avtar Kishan Hangal was born in Sialkot in the Punjab Province of British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan) into a Kashmiri family. He spent his childhood and youth in Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province, where he had performed in theatre for some major roles.

Hangal's family home was inside Reti Gate as mentioned in his memoirs. Hangal's family were Kashmiri Pandits. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. His mother's name was Ragia Handoo. He had two sisters, Bishan and Kishan. He was married to Manorma Dar from Agra.

Hangal started his career as a tailor in peshawar. Along with that he was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle from 1929 to 1947. He joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theatre group in Peshawar in 1936 and continued to act in many plays in undivided India till 1946. Following his father's retirement, the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi. He was jailed in Karachi because he was a communist for two years from 1947 to 1949. After his release, he moved to India and settled in Mumbai. Once in Mumbai, He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings. He later acted in many plays in theatres in India from 1949 to 1965.

Hindi cinema career

He started his Hindi film career at the age of 52 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 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films such as Chetan Anand's Heer Raanjha, Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi and Naram Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor was part of 16 films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero, like Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Prem Bandhan, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai until Sautela Bhai in 1996. 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, with rare exceptions where his negative roles became famous, like in Manzil and Prem Bandhan. He also acted in a NFDC film, DATTAK (The Adopted), directed by Gul Bahar Singh in 2001. Producer Debika Mitra had signed Madan Puri for Inder Sen's role, but a friend advised that A. K. Hangal would be a better choice. The superlative performance went on to become one of the most cherished acts of Hangal.

On 8 February 2011, Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.

Hangal made his last appearance in the television series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon in May 2012, in which he had a cameo. Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon was a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. The episode that featured Hangal aired on 1 June at 22:00 on Colors. In the early 2012, Hangal also gave his voice for the character of King Ugrasen in the animation film Krishna Aur Kans which was released on 3 August 2012. This was final work in his career before his death. His portrayal of Ugrasen was much appreciated by critics.

Awards

The government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.

Health and financial issues

Hangal, who had 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. As a result, the family had financial difficulties. Though previously Vijay would take up small jobs, but later he suffered from back problems and was unable to work. After 2007, Hangal has been suffering from an illness and could not afford the treatment. At this point, following a media spotlight on 20 January 2011, many film stars and directors promised to help him financially. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also pledged to assist the veteran actor. Before that, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists visited Hangal at his home and offered him medical and financial help. They also provided revitalization of memories of veteran's work and made media report it. Upon asking, Raj Thackeray expressed his concerns towards such actors who are neglected in their old age.

The actor had last shot for Amol Palekar's film, Paheli in 2005. In fact, he had not gone out of his house for the last eight months. "We were surprised to see him get out of home. He would have done it only for acting," said his son Vijay and added, "My father had remained at home for the past few months. The show producer Saurabh Tiwari and senior executives from the channel came to our place to offer him the role. Several filmmakers had approached him in the last few years. But father did not take those up due to health issues."

A. K. Hangal returned to face the studio lights after seven long years. Having reached the sets of a TV Series Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on a wheelchair, the then 97-year-old actor wasn't sure he would be able to handle it physically. But once the cameras started rolling, there was no stopping the actor within.

Freedom fighter

Hangal participated in the Indian freedom movement when as a student, he joined protests in the North West Frontier Province against the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh. He later moved to Karachi, where he spent three years in prison for protesting against British rule.

Death

Hangal was admitted to the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai on 16 August 2012, three days after he fractured his thigh bone from a fall in his bathroom. His son said that he went to the hospital as he had "suffered a back injury and had to undergo a surgery. But that could not take place as later it was found that he has chest and breathing problems." On 26 August, he was put on life support. Dr Vinod Khanna, an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital said: "He is on life support system. One of his lungs is not functioning. He is also having respiratory problems." But, his condition worsened and he died on the same day, at the age of 98. His cremation was held the next afternoon at Pavan Hans crematorium.

In reaction to his death, Shabana Azmi wrote on Twitter: "An era comes to an end. Theatre and film were enriched by him." The Communist Party of India described Hangal as a committed social and political activist who withstood the Shiv Sena onslaught. The BJP's L. K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari also condoled his death.

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1966	Teesri Kasam	Raj Kapoor's elder brother
1967	Shagird	Kedarnath Badri Narayan
1968	Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein	Sonadas Doleria
1969	Saat Hindustani	Doctor
1969	Sara Akash	Mr. Thakur
1969	Dharti Kahe Pukarke
1970	Heer Raanjha	Court Maulvi
1971	Guddi	Guddi's father
1971	Nadaan	Seema's father
1971	Anubhav	Hari
1971	Mere Apne	College Principal
1972	Bawarchi	Ramnath Sharma (Munna)
1972	Jawani Diwani	College Principal
1972	Parichay	Ravi's maternal uncle
1973	Daag: A Poem of Love	Prosecuting Attorney / Judge
1973	Chhupa Rustam	Professor Harbanslal
1973	Rocky Mera Naam	Reeta's Father
1973	Abhimaan	Sadanand
1973	Joshila	Lala Gulzarilal
1973	Namak Haraam	Bipinlal Pandey
1973	Sweekar	Dr. Verma
1973	Heera Panna	Diwan Karan Singh
1973	Anamika	Shiv Prasad
1973	Garm Hava	Ajmani Sahab, A Sindhi trader
1974	Nirmaan	Advocate
1974	Aap Ki Kasam	Kamal's Father
1974	Do Nambar Ke Amir	Devakinandan Sharma
1974	Kora Kagaz	Principal Gupta
1974	Doosri Sita	Masterji - Babulal Wagle
1974	Trimurti	Jagannath
1974	Bidaai	Ramsharan
1974	Us Paar	Mohan's father
1974	Ishq Ishq Ishq	Guruji
1974	Garm Hava
1975	Deewaar	Chander's Father
1975	Aandhi	Brinda kaka
1975	Anokha	Hridaynath
1975	Sholay	Imaam Saheb / Rahim Chacha
1975	Salaakhen	Ram Lal, Seema's father
1976	Zid
1976	Sankoch	Gurucharan
1976	Balika Badhu	Masterji
1976	Zindagi	Doctor
1976	Tapasya	Chandranath Sinha
1976	Raees
1976	Mera Jiwan	Medical college dean
1976	Jeevan Jyoti	Raja Kamlakar
1976	Chitchor	Pitamber Choudhry
1976	Aaj Ka Ye Ghar	Dinanath
1977	Immaan Dharam	Masterji, Shyamlee's Father
1977	Aaina	Ram Shastri
1977	Alaap	Pandit Jamuna Prasad	Guest Appearance
1977	Mukti	Colonel
1977	Chala Murari Hero Banne	Murari's Father
1977	Paheli	Masterji
1977	Kalabaaz	Poojary
1977	Aafat
1978	Jogi
1978	Badalte Rishtey	Professor
1978	Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime	Bansi, Rupa's uncle
1978	Besharam	Ramchandra
1978	Naukri	Ranjit's Father
1978	Des Pardes	Pujari
1978	Tumhare Liye	Bhavani
1978	Swarg Narak	Geeta's Father
1978	Chakravyuha	Nandita's Father
1979	Prem Bandhan
1979	Inspector Eagle	Anthony Pinto
1979	Jurmana	Pandit Prabhakar Chaturvedi / Nandlal's Mamaji
1979	Meera	Saint Raidas
1979	Khandaan	Masterji, Usha's father
1979	Manzil	Anokhelal
1979	Ladke Baap Se Badke	Principal, St. Andrew's High School
1979	Zulm Ki Pukar
1979	Ratnadeep
1979	Amar Deep	Ramu kaka
1980	Kali Ghata	Deewaan
1980	Kashish	Ramesh's father
1980	Thodisi Bewafaii	Arvind Kumar Choudhary
1980	Phir Wohi Raat	Vishwanath
1980	Neeyat	Dinanath
1980	Humkadam	Raghunath Gupta
1980	Hum Paanch	Pandit
1980	Judaai	Narayan Singh, Gauri's father
1981	Krodhi	Masterji, Kumar's father
1981	Naram Garam	Vishnuprasad / Masterji
1981	Kalyug	Bhisham Chand
1981	Kudrat	Billi Ram
1981	Baseraa	Sharda's father
1981	Kahani Ek Chor Ki
1981	Nai Imarat	Pyarelal
1981	Kal Hamara Hai
1981	Bhaaya
1982	Saath Saath	Professor Chaudhary
1982	Shriman Shrimati	Vishwanath Gupta
1982	Bemisal	Dr. Ramnarayan Goyal	Guest Appearance
1982	Shaukeen	Inder Sen / Anderson
1982	Dil... Akhir Dil Hai	Ashok Mehta
1982	Khud-Daar	Rahim Chacha
1982	Star	Mr. Verma
1982	Swami Dada	Swami Satyanand
1983	Suzanne
1983	Avtaar	Rashid Ahmed
1983	Naukar Biwi Ka	Sharma, Sheela's father
1984	Sardaar	Baba
1984	Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar	Tripathi
1984	Sharaabi	Meena's Blind Father
1984	Alcoholic	Meena's Blind Father
1984	Yaadon Ki Zanjeer	ShambhuNath
1984	Kamla	Kakasaab, Sarita's uncle
1984	Kahan Tak Aasmaan Hai
1984	Bandh Honth
1985	Saaheb	Doctor
1985	Pighalta Aasman	Masterji, Anuradha's father
1985	Arjun	Mr. Malvankar
1985	Bewafai	Harihar Nath
1985	Ram Teri Ganga Maili	Brij Kishore
1985	Surkhiyaan (The Headlines)	Shera's father
1985	Saagar	Baba	(in the lighthouse)
1985	Meri Jung	Advocate Gupta
1986	Ek Chadar Maili Si	Hazur Singh, Trilok's father
1986	Waapsi
1986	New Delhi Times	Vikas' father
1987	Su-Raaj
1987	Jalwa	Jojo's father
1987	Dacait	Bighu chacha
1987	Satyamev Jayate	Mr. Shastri
1987	Sindoor	Pandit	Uncredited
1987	Jaan Hatheli Pe
1987	Mera Yaar Mera Dushman
1987	Jaago Hua Savera
1988	Khoon Bhari Maang	Ramu kaka
1988	Aakhri Adaalat	Retired Judge Kapoor
1989	Apne Begaane
1989	Ilaaka	School master, Vidya's father
1989	Abhimanyu	Shyam Lal
1989	Mamata Ki Chhaon Mein	Acharya
1990	Police Public	Ram Swarup
1991	Farishtay	Abdul
1991	Dushman Devta	Suraj's Father
1992	Meera Ka Mohan	Pujari
1992	Apradhi	Vishembar Nath
1992	Laat Saab	Dinanath / D'Mello
1993	Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
1993	Khalnayak	Shaukat Bhai
1993	Jaagruti	Raghunath
1994	Dilwale	Inmate
1995	Ghar Ka Kanoon
1995	Live Today
1995	Kismat	Nanaji
1996	Sautela Bhai	Bindiya's maternal grandfather
1996	Tere Mere Sapne	Dattabhau
1998	Zor: Never Underestimate the Force
1998	Main Solah Baras Ki
1998	Yeh Aashiqui Meri	Mr. Joshi
1999	Thakshak	Homeless teacher
2001	Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India	Shambu kaka
2001	Dattak The Adopted	Babu ji
2002	Shararat	Gajanan Desai
2003	Kahan Ho Tum	Ghanshyamji, Jai's grandfather
2004	Hari Om	Old Man
2004	Dil Maange More	Himself
2005	Sab Kuch Hai Kuch Bhi Nahin	Narayan Prasad
2005	Paheli	Jeevraj
2005	Mr Prime Minister
2008	Humsey Hai Jahaan
2012	Krishna Aur Kans	Ugrasen	Voice, (final film role)

TV series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	Darkness		TV mini-series
1986	Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten – The Last Viceroy	Vallabhbhai Patel	TV mini-series
1988	Jeevan Rekha		TV series
1993	Zabaan Sambhalke	Cameo in one episode
1996	Chandrakanta	Parichand	An old man role
1997	Betaal Pachisi	Baba
1997	Bombay Blue	Saraswami Giri	Episode #1.3
1998	Aahat	Death	Episodes: "Jeevan Mrityu Part I and II"
2004–2005	Hotel Kingston		Cameo
2012	Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon	Himself	Special appearance

Works

• Life and Times of A.K. Hangal (1999) (Autobiography)

External links

• A.K. Hangal at IMDb
• The genial revolutionary. Rediff.com.
• Marxist who made it good in movies The Hindu.
• Some pictures of him at the 'Mid-Day'
• "Sannata in Bollywood: AK Hangal dead". The Times of India.