Mumbai: Jagdeep belonged to an era when the term comedian carried as much weight as the phrase hero in Hindi films. Almost no films, especially a family drama or even a romantic film, was complete without a healthy dose of comedy.
Born on March 29, 1939 as Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri in Amritsar, Jagdeep acted in over 400 films in his career spread over six decades. However, it was his role of Soorma Bhopali in Ramesh Sippy's blockbuster Sholay (1975) that really put him on the map. When Sholay released, Jagdeep was already in and around the film industry for more than twenty years.
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep Interestingly, his character, Soorma Bhopali, a comical wood trader, was based on an acquaintance of the actor, a forest officer from Bhopal named Soorma. The real-life Soorma eventually threatened to press charges when people who had viewed Sholay began referring to him as a woodcutter.
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep Over a decade later, the actor also directed the movie Soorma Bhopali with his character as the protagonist.
Jagdeep started his career as a child artiste in BR Chopra's 1951 release, Afsana, starring Ashok Kumar, Veena and Pran. As a child artiste he also worked in the Raj Kapoor-produced Ab Dilli Door Nahin, KA Abbas's Munna, Guru Dutt's Aar Paar, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin and the AVM-produced Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke.
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep Besides winning National Film Award for Best Children's Film, Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke made Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru take notice of the young Jagdeep. Back then, it was widely reported that impressed with the actor's stellar performance, Nehru had gifted his personal staff to Jagdeep as a token of appreciation.
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Before resorting to comedy, the actor also had a few successful outings as a leading man. Jagdeep was launched as a leading man by AVM in the films Bhabhi (1957), Barkha (1960) and Bindaya (1960), and went on to do a few more films as the protagonist.
His golden patch as a comedian, however, would begin with GP Sippy's film Brahmachari (1968), starring Shammi Kapoor. His comic role in the film was widely appreciated. Through the seventies, eighties and the nineties, he became a familiar face in Hindi films, essaying the goofy funnyman in film after film.
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep Though his Soorma Bhopali will always be etched in audiences' minds, the new-generation Bollywood buffs would recall him as Salman Khan's father in Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaaz Apna Apna (1994).
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep His last-released film is Ali Abbas Chaudhary-directed comedy Masti Nahi Sasti (2017) which also featured Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Johnny Lever and Prem Chopra.
From beginning as a child actor to play a leading man to alternate between villainy and comedy and having directed a film, Jgdeep lapped all that the world of make-believe had to offer. He enjoyed his place under the sun, having his period of glory.
Beyond Soorma Bhopali: A peep into the celluloid journey of Jagdeep The late actor's sons Jaaved Jaaferi and Naved Jafri have also made their mark in the entertainment industry. Jaaved is a noted actor and dancer, and along with Naved, he hosted the longrunning and popular dance show, Boogie Woogie. The show was created and directed by Naved.
Jagdeep passed away at 8.30 pm at his residence in Bandra on Wednesday owing to age-related health problems.
With his departure, Hindi cinema has lost an actor who enjoyed, one may say, a connect with the audience.
