New Delhi: A new book, titled ‘Sanjeev Kumar: The Actor We All Loved’, is a refreshing and nostalgic chronicle of one of Indian cinema’s greatest actors — Sanjeev Kumar.
Written by his nephew Uday Jariwala and biographer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, this memoir takes us through the actor’s journey in Bollywood.
The book, which is endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, primarily consists of personal essays by those who were close to Kumar.
There are articles by friends Randhir Kapoor, Gulzar, and co-stars Sharmila Tagore and Tanuja among others, which highlight the rich details of Kumar’s life and relationships.
Published by HarperCollins India, the book will be released on 9 July on SoftCover, ThePrint’s online venue to launch non-fiction books.
HarperCollins India’s Executive Publisher Udayan Mitra calls him one of the great actors to have “graced the celluloid screen”. Though he passed away in his forties, film enthusiasts are “still in awe” of his versatile talents even 37 years later, Mitra said.
The publisher said Kumar could take on any role and brand it as his own. “This is a biography that will bring back memories of a golden age of Indian cinema for many readers. We’re also excited that the book is going to be adapted into a motion picture,” Mitra added.
Actor Paresh Rawal says Sanjeev Kumar was a ‘parasmani’ or a philosopher’s stone, someone who turned iron into gold with his prowess.
Co-author Uday Jariwala calls the book a labour of love. “It is an authentic representation of his life. For the first time, his fans will get to know him up close as he really was,” he says.
Jariwala also keeps his uncle’s legacy alive in the ‘Sanjeev Kumar Foundation’, a non-government organisation that works towards the promotion of theatre, art and education.
Biographer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta says all his friends told her to write a happy book. “Haribhai was a happy man,” they told her. “I believe that’s what we have achieved with the book.”
The book documents and collates glimpses from Sanjeev Kumar’s life, from his early days to superstardom. It also looks at his family and love life. A section called ‘Hurricane Hari’ documents the body of his work and how he built his legacy.
The book begins with Gulzar’s poem – ‘An Ode To My Friend’. He fondly remembers how Kumar had complete faith in Gulzar’s abilities as a director. Kumar would tell Gulzar: “I know you will never waste me.” “Our friendship was not because of the film industry, but because of our struggle and learning,” Gulzar told co-author Gupta.
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says the book “fills a gap in the history of Hindi cinema”. “How can an industry not chronicle its greatest performer?” he asks.
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