Raj Kiran (actor)

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Raj Kiran
Raj Kiran.jpg
Kiran in the late 1970s
Born (1949-06-17) 17 June 1949 (age 76)
StatusMissing, presumed dead
OccupationActor
Years active1973–2003
Notable work Kaagaz Ki Nao
Karz
Baseraa
Arth
Raaj Tilak
Waaris
Ek Naya Rishta
Hip Hip Hurray
SpouseRoopa Mahtani

Raj Kiran Mahtani (born 17 June 1949) is an Indian former actor, who is best known for his work in Bollywood films. [1] [2] Born into a Sindhi family in Bombay, he made his debut in B. R. Ishara's Kaagaz Ki Nao in 1975 and appeared in more than 100 films, until the 1990s. [3] He later disappeared from the film industry and was believed to have been living as a recluse in the United States, but conflicting reports from 2011, have indicated his current whereabouts are unknown.

Contents

Career

Kiran made his acting debut opposite Sarika in B. R. Ishara's Kaagaz Ki Nao in 1975. [4] In 1980, he appeared in 8 films and he started to get noticed. [5] He appeared in leading roles in films such as Shikshaa (1979), Maan Abhiman (1980) and Ek Naya Rishta (1988). [6] [7] [8] He also had supporting roles in films such as Karz (1980), Baseraa (1981), Arth (1982) and Raaj Tilak (1984). [9] While Kiran was often cast as a kind-hearted romantic hero because of his chocolate boy good looks [3] [10] he also played some roles with gray shades, as in Justice Chaudhury (1983). [11] His film career started to slow down in the 1990s. He also appeared in the acclaimed TV series Reporter (1994–1995) which also started Shekhar Suman. [12]

Personal life

Kiran was born in Bombay to a Sindhi Hindu family. He is rumored to have gone into acute depression, when his career declined and faced several domestic crises and was later admitted to a mental asylum in Mumbai. He was later rumoured to have been living as a recluse, in the United States. Deepti Naval tried to look for Kiran through Facebook, writing: "Looking for a friend from the film world, his name is Raj Kiran – we have no news of him – last heard he was driving a cab in New York, if anyone has any clue, please tell . . ." [13]

"I’ve been wondering where Raj had disappeared. The question was haunting me for a very long time. Then these rumours of Raj being no more began doing the rounds. I was really disturbed. How can a colleague with whom I shared a really good times, just vanish from the face of earth? I decided to look up Raj’s elder brother Govind Mahtani to find out about Raj. I was so relieved when Govind told me that Raj was alive. But he was confined to an institution in Atlanta due to health problems. ... apparently, he looks after his own treatment by working within the institution. It’s a heart-rending situation for an actor who was so successful at one time".

Rishi Kapoor on Raj Kiran’s disappearance [14]

In June 2011, Rishi Kapoor, who was on a trip to the United States, made a phone call to Kiran's brother Gobind Mahtani and was told that Kiran was in a mental asylum in Atlanta, but was not given more details. [15] [16] [17] [14] [13] [8] However Kiran's daughter Rishika, subsequently issued a public statement, negating the reports of Kiran being found in Atlanta. She clarified that the family had been searching for him, with the assistance of New York police and private detectives for years. [18] [19]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1975 Kaagaz Ki Nao RajDebut film
1978 Kissa Kursi Ka Gopal
1979 Shikshaa Vijay D. Gupta / Vinay
Prem JaalKishen
1980 Patita Ashok
Karz Ravi Verma
Bambai Ka MaharajaBitu
ManokaamnaaVikas Kashyap
Yeh Kaisa InsafShankar
Maan AbhimanAjay Choudhary
Nazrana Pyar KaRaj Kumar Gupta
Saajan Mere Main Saajan KiRaj
1981 Nakhuda Ravi Shankar
Bulundi Vicky
Baseraa Sagar Kohli
Dhuan Himself
Josh
Ladaaku
KaaranSuraj
Khara KhotaVishwas Bahadur
1982 Farz Aur Kanoon Ravi
Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar DoonLord Kunwar Anand Kumar Singh
Bezubaan Raman
Arth Raj
Star Shiv Kumar Verma
Jeeo Aur Jeene Do Raj
1983Humse Na Jeeta KoiInspector Vijay Singh
Chatpati
Sun Meri LailaVikram "Vicky" Rai
Justice Chowdhary Gopal (Jagannanth's son)
Mazdoor Ramesh D. Saxena
1984SardaarRaj
Ghar Ek Mandir Dr. Vicky
Raaj Tilak Shamsher Singh
Hip Hip Hurray Sandeep
Waqt Ki Pukar Ajay
1985 Aandhi-Toofan Jaanu
Aaj Ka Daur Rambabu Dard
Ghar Dwaar Chander
Faasle Shivraj Gupta
Arjun Inspector Ravi Rane
Teri Meherbaniyan Gopi
1986 Ilzaam Satish Singh
Begaana Vinod Kumar
Shatru Raj Choudhry
1987Woh Din AayengaRavi-Kapil
Khooni Mahal Raj
Mard Ki Zabaan Anand
Mera Lahoo Dharam Singh
Tera Karam Mera DharamRaj Kumar
Majaal Rakesh
GoraaMohan
Aaj Sumit
Himmat Aur Mehanat Advocate Raja
Mard Ki Zabaan Anand
1988 Charnon Ki Saugandh Laxmi's Husband
Hatya Police Inspector Ashok Gupta
Dariya Dil Vijay Kumar
Pyaar Ka Mandir Ajay Kumar
7 BijliyaanDacait Chitah
Ek Hi Maqsad Raj
Aurat Teri Yeh KahaniBalwant
Bahaar Ram
Waaris Sharvan Singh
Ek Naya Rishta Rajiv "Raju" S. Tandon
1989 Bade Ghar Ki Beti Manohar
Tere Bina Kya Jeena
Jung Baaz Inspector. Jwala Prasad Saxena
Aag Se Khelenge Inspector Rakesh
Jurrat Joseph
Sindoor Aur Bandook Cameo
Kasam Vardi Ki Vicky
Paanch PaapiVijay Singh
Awara Zindagi Tony
Apna GharUnreleased film
1990 Police Public Vijay Sharma
Ghar Ho To Aisa Vijay R. Kumar
Pyar Ka Devta Advocate Gopal
Ghar Parivar Balwant
1991Paap Ki AandhiVijay
Karz Chukana Hai Vijay Mathur
1992 Naach Govinda Naach Anand
1993 Zakhmi Rooh Rocky
1994 Jazbaat Inder Babu
1995 Kartavya Inspector Suraj Singh
1996KalingaUnreleased film
1997 Agnichakra Inspector. Suryaveer
1999 Chudail No. 1
Aaag Hi Aag Inspector. Jwala Singh
Dulhan Banoo Main Teri Koushi
2014 Akeli Avinash's First BossDelayed release

List of Shelved films

YearFilm
1973Basera
1974Bobby in Bombay
1977Humdum
1979Hari Bhari
1980Sorry Madam
1980Apni Dharti Apni Log
1981Matlabi
1982Dekthe Hi Dekthe
1982Tu Hi Mere Manzil
1983Dhaage Ki Zanjeer
1983Ram Ka Bhai Lakshman
1983Naseeb Ki Baat
1988Aakhri Adam
1992Aurat Ki Adalat
1999Tabaahi

Television

See also

References

  1. "Raj Kiran movies, filmography, biography and songs – Cinestaan.com". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. After Raj Kiran, we find the memories – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (1 June 2011). Retrieved on 30 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Bygone Stars of Eighties". koimoi.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Kagaz Ki Nao". osianama.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. "Raj Kiran Filmography, Raj Kiran List of Movies on Gomolo.com". gomolo.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. "Ek Naya Rishta (1988) – Cinestaan.com". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. "Raj Kiran finds a well-wisher in Sushma Swaraj". Rediff. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  8. 1 2 Khanna, Riddhima (19 February 2014). "5 film stars who burned into oblivion". Kindle Magazine. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  9. "The Strange Tale of Hindi Film Actor Raj Kiran – Lost and Found". Bollykings. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  10. "Actor Raj Kiran Still Missing! Family Orders Rishi Kapoor and Deepti Naval To Back Off!!". spotboye.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  11. "Justice Chowdhury (1983) – Cinestaan.com". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  12. "Reporter (Old Doordarshan TV Serial)". Free Online India. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "This Famous 80s Bollywood Star Went From Being A Heartthrob to a Taxi Driver And Finally Has Ended Up in a Metal Asylum". dailybhaskar. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.[ dead link ]
  14. 1 2 "Actor Raj Kiran in mental asylum – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  15. Rishi to help Raj Kiran return to B-town. Hindustan Times (3 June 2011). Retrieved on 30 May 2013.
  16. 'Raj Kiran is okay wherever he is' – Rediff.com Movies. Rediff.com (6 June 2011). Retrieved on 30 May 2013.
  17. Actor Raj Kiran found in mental asylum in US. Ibnlive.in.com (1 June 2011). Retrieved on 30 May 2013.
  18. "We just want people to back off: Raj Kiran's daughter – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  19. My dad's still missing: Raj Kiran's daughter. NDTV, 12 July 2011. Archived 20 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine