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WHILE HIS NAME conjures up instant memories of 'Baiju Bawra' (1952), liis greatest hit, it is for ihe innumerable rornantic roles thai Bharat Bhushan will always be fondly remembered by film fans and historians alike. In fact, with the glamori/alion of Hindi films in the last decade, such characters have virtually vanished from the movies, although nc^from real life. Which makes the Bharat Bhushan persona an integral pail of film lore and legend. Bharat started his lilm career in 1941 with Kcdar Sharma's 'Chitralekha', bin as a lead actor, he finally stuck gold wilh Vijay Bhatt's 'Baiju Bawra'. As Baiju, the young singer who avenges his father's death by surmounting the glorious Tansen, Bharat Bhushan won millions of hearts with his bravura performance.
Wilh 'Baiju Bawra', Bharat Bhushan's journey to fame had begun.Just a year after the film's release, Bharat did a film with none other than the legendary Bimal Roy, 'Maa', wilh Leela Chitnis playing his eo-star. Thereafter, the actor worked with some of the most significant actresses of thai era — Meena Kumari ('Dana Pani'), Nirupa Roy ("AuralTenYehiKahani')),Shyama(T)hoop Chhaou'), Geeta Bali ('Ravi'), Bina Rai ('Meenar') and Nutan ('Shabab'). The fad thai in some of the films, the heroine had a belter role than him did not make any difference to Bharal Bhushan.
lli.s next big thing was obviously 'Basaul Bahar' (1956) with Niinmi. A musical again, the actor gol rave reviews for his commenÂdable performance in the film. Soon, there was 'Gateway Of India' wilh Madhubala, as il lo reassert his dominance. Wilh Madhubala, the actor did iwo more memorable films, 'Phagun' and 'Barsaat Ki Raat', the lalter which went on lo become a major success. I lis pairing wilh Nirupa Roy was also very soughl-af'ter, specially when it came to mythologicals. Some of their besl-known works include 'Shuk Rambha' (1953), 'Samrat Chandragupta' (1958), 'Kavi Kalidas' (1959) and 'Rani Rupmati'(1959).
By the late-60s, Bharat Bhushaii, with his declining fame, began lo accept character roles, even though he still had a few years left in him as a leading hero.
Around thai time, he was cheated of all his wealth by people close to him and the actor literally had to begin his snuggle all over again. A man who, at one time, was one of Hindi cinema's greatest stars, had lo work in C-grade films to make two ends meet. A classic example of the highs and lows of this industry.
During bis peak, Bharat Bhushaii owned a massive bungalow in the posh locality of Juhu, Bombay. The place was always full of people and celebrations took place every single evening. The actor had a greal liking for classical music and he would invite none other than the father of the late Nusrat Faleh Ali Khan for his private mehlils. Thai was when he was righi on top. In his concluding years, Bharat Bhushan went through a really bad time. In one ol his lasi films, 'Tere Payal Mere Geel', he had been relegated lo the status of a junior artiste, being paid a measly sum on a pcr-day basis. Today, few remember Bharat Bhushan. He diedas he lived, unsung even by the film industry to which he contribuled his enlire life. Bharal Bhushan did not deserve the treatment the industry meted out to him. Bui that in no way denies him his glory, his merit and his status as one of the all-lime greats. |
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