Bharatbhushan Gupta, better known as Bharat Bhushan (14 June 1920 – 27 January 1992) was an Indian actor in Hindi language films, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the same name.[1] He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Bharat Bhushan
Born
Bharatbhushan Gupta

(1920-06-14)14 June 1920
Died27 January 1992(1992-01-27) (aged 71)
NationalityIndian
OccupationActor
Years active1941–1992
Known forBaiju Bawra
ChildrenAnuradha Bhushan
Aparajita Bhushan
AwardsFilmfare Best Actor Award (1955)
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Career

He made his debut with the Kidar Sharma hit Chitralekha (1941).[2] However, he struggled for over a decade to make a mark in Hindi movies till Baiju Bawra (1952), which gave him instant stardom and legendary status along with Mohammad Rafi, Meena Kumari and Naushad Ali. Though a very talented actor and a prominent star of the 1950s and 1960s in Hindi language films, he often took on roles of tragic musicians in the movies. Films in which he starred as lead actor include Basant Bahar. His pairing with Madhubala proved to be very popular as they worked together in successful films like Gateway of India (1957), Phagun (1958) and Barsaat Ki Raat (1960).[3]

"He portrays historical and mythological characters the best in Hindi movies," states contemporary actor-producer Chandrashekar. He wrote scripts and stories for Barsat Ki Raat, Nayi Umar Ki Nayi Fasal, Basant Bahar, Dooj Ka Chand, etc. He was the producer of Dooj Ka Chand. His brother R. Chandra made many films such as Bebus, Minar, and Basant Bahar.

He was the recipient of the second Filmfare best actor award for the film Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1954. Most of the great songs of major singers of that period such as Rafi, Manna Dey, Talat, and Mukesh were pictured on him. He was one of the few actors who had a good sense of music, so most music-based movies were made with him in lead roles in the 1950s and 1960s.

He acted in Hindi language movies until the 1990s. He is still loved and revered by the Indians for the great movies and great songs that he gave in spite of personal tragedies and stiff competition from his contemporaries. He is considered to be one of the greatest stars and legends of Hindi cinema.

Personal life

Bharat Bhushan was born as Bharat Raibahadur Motilal Gupta on 14 June 1920 in a Vaishya (Baniya) family at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.

His father, Raibahadur Motilal, was the government pleader of Meerut and Supreme Court Judge, Allahabad. He had one older brother. His mother died when he was two years old. The brothers left for Aligarh to stay with their grandfather after their mother's death. He did his studies and earned a graduate degree from Dharam Samaj College, Aligarh. His elder brother was film producer and high court judge, Rameshchandra Gupta,[4] who owned the Ideal Studio at Lucknow. After studies, he took to acting against his father's wishes. He first went to Calcutta to join cinema and later established himself in Bombay.

He married into a prominent family in Meerut, Zamindar Raibahadur Budha Prakash's daughter Sarla. They had two daughters, Anuradha ( who had polio-associated complications) and Aparajita. Bhushan's wife Sarla died of labour complications after delivering their second child in the early 1960s, soon after the release of film Barsaat Ki Raat. In 1967, he married actress Ratna, his co-star from Barsaat Ki Raat . Ratna was a prominent actress who played the sister or friend of the heroine in many films. Among her notable TV appearances was the serial Trishna as mother of the four young girls. It was an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

In an interview, his daughter Aparajita had said that after the sudden demise of her husband, she turned to acting. Aparajita has done more than 50 films and TV serials. She played the role of Mandodari in Ramanand Sagar's famous serial Ramayan.

Bhushan owned a bungalow in Bandra suburb of Bombay. This was the famous Aashirwad bungalow, which he sold to Rajendra Kumar, who in turn sold it to Rajesh Khanna.[5] This bungalow, was thus home to 3 famous film stars. Bhushan was an avid reader and boasted of a fine collection of books, which he had to sell off like his cars and bungalows in bad times, after he turned co-producer at the instance of his brother. Only a few of his films were successes and unfortunately, the rest flopped.[4] He died after he escaped his financial crisis, on 27 January 1992.[6]

Filmography

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1941 Chitralekha
1942 Bhakta Kabir
1943 Bhaichara
1945 Sawan
1948 Suhaag Raat Beli
1949 Rangila Rajasthan
Udhaar
Thes Shyam
1950 Aankhen
Bhai Bahen
Janmashtami
Kisi Ki Yaad
Ram Darshan
1951 Hamari Shaan
Saagar
1952 Baiju Bawra Baiju
Maa Bhanu
Anand Math Mahendra
1953 Paheli Shaadi
Dana Pani
Farmaish
Ladki Raja
Shuk Rambha
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Vishvambhar Mishra / Chaitanya MahaprabhuWinner, Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1954 Shabaab
Meenar
Pooja Deepak
Kavi
Dhoop Chhaon
Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani
Mirza Ghalib Mirza GhalibNomination, Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1955 Amanat Pradeep
1956 Basant Bahar GopalAlso co-wrote the script
1957 Sakshi Gopal
Mera Saalam
Champakali
Gateway of India Prakash
Rani Rupmati Baz Bahadur
1958 Samrat Chandragupt Chandragupta Maurya
Phagun Bijandra "Bijan"
Sohni Mahiwal
1959 Kal Hamara Hai Bharat
Kavi Kalidas
Sawan
1960 Chand Mere Aaja
Ghunghat Dr. Gopal
Angulimaal Ahinsak (Angulimaal)
Barsaat Ki Raat Amaan Hyderabadi / Mirza LakhnauwiAlso co-wrote the script
1962 Gyara Hazar Ladkian Puran
Sangeet Samrat Tansen Sangeet Shiromani / Sangeet Samrat Tansen "Tanu"
1964 Jahan Ara Mirza Yusuf Changezi
Chandi Ki Deewar
Dooj Ka Chand GopuAlso producer, co-wrote the script
Vidyapati Vidyapati
1965 Naya Kanoon Deepak
1967 Taqdeer
1969 Pyar Ka Mausam Gopal
Vishwas Ramnath "Ram" Kapoor
1972 Gomti Ke Kinare Bharat
1973 Kahani Kismat Ki Doctor
1975 Ranga Khush Dilip Singh
1977 Solah Shukrawar Bhola Bhagat
Hira Aur Patthar Tulsiram
Khoon Pasina Kaka
Jai Dwarkadheesh
1978 Nawab Sahib Salma's father
Ganga Sagar Pratap Singh (Padma's father)
1980 Unees-Bees
1981 Khara Khota
Yaarana Komal's father
Commander
Umrao Jaan Khan Saheb (music master)
1983 Adi Shankaracharya Kaippilly Shivaguru Nambudiri (Adi Shankara's father)
Nastik Temple priest
Justice Chaudhury Jagannath
Hero Ramu (Jaikishen's father)
Ek Baar Chale Aao Narayan Das
1984 Zakhmi Sher Judge
Sharaabi Masterji
Shravan Kumar
Farishta
1985 Phaansi Ke Baad
Mera Saathi Gopal
Rehguzar LandlordDirect-to-video film
1986 Mera Dharam Baba
Kala Dhanda Goray Log Maharaj
Ghar Sansar Rahim Chacha
Paise Ke Peechhey Mahendra Malhotra
1987 Himmat Aur Mehanat Customer in hotelSpecial appearance
Ramayan Goswami TulsidasTV series
1988 Pyaar Ka Mandir Satish's father
Sone Pe Suhaaga Kashinath
Maalamaal Shri Mangatram's manager
Jai Karoli Maa
1989 Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon
Chandni Doctor
Ilaaka Man with suitcase
Gharana Radha's father
Toofan Priest in the Hanuman temple
Jaadugar Gyaneshwar
1990 Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri John
Majboor Judge
Sheshnaag Bhola & Champa's father
Baaghi Asha's father
1991 Pyar Ka Devta Doctor
Karz Chukana Hai College principal
Irada
Prem Qaidi Suryanath
Swarg Yahan Narak Yahan School principal
Sau Crore Kamlesh's fatherCameo
1992 Humshakal JudgePosthumous release
1993 Aakhri Chetawani Posthumous release
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Accolades

More information Year, Award ...
Year Award Category Film Result
1955 Filmfare Awards Best Actor Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Won
1956 Mirza Ghalib Nominated
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References

Sources

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