Raj Kiran | |
---|---|
![]() Kiran in the late 1970s | |
Born | Bombay, Bombay State, India | 17 June 1949
Status | Missing, presumed dead |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1973–2003 |
Notable work | Kaagaz Ki Nao Karz Baseraa Arth Raaj Tilak Waaris Ek Naya Rishta Hip Hip Hurray |
Spouse | Roopa 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.
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]
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".
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]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Kaagaz Ki Nao | Raj | Debut film |
1978 | Kissa Kursi Ka | Gopal | |
1979 | Shikshaa | Vijay D. Gupta / Vinay | |
Prem Jaal | Kishen | ||
1980 | Patita | Ashok | |
Karz | Ravi Verma | ||
Bambai Ka Maharaja | Bitu | ||
Manokaamnaa | Vikas Kashyap | ||
Yeh Kaisa Insaf | Shankar | ||
Maan Abhiman | Ajay Choudhary | ||
Nazrana Pyar Ka | Raj Kumar Gupta | ||
Saajan Mere Main Saajan Ki | Raj | ||
1981 | Nakhuda | Ravi Shankar | |
Bulundi | Vicky | ||
Baseraa | Sagar Kohli | ||
Dhuan | Himself | ||
Josh | |||
Ladaaku | |||
Kaaran | Suraj | ||
Khara Khota | Vishwas Bahadur | ||
1982 | Farz Aur Kanoon | Ravi | |
Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon | Lord Kunwar Anand Kumar Singh | ||
Bezubaan | Raman | ||
Arth | Raj | ||
Star | Shiv Kumar Verma | ||
Jeeo Aur Jeene Do | Raj | ||
1983 | Humse Na Jeeta Koi | Inspector Vijay Singh | |
Chatpati | |||
Sun Meri Laila | Vikram "Vicky" Rai | ||
Justice Chowdhary | Gopal (Jagannanth's son) | ||
Mazdoor | Ramesh D. Saxena | ||
1984 | Sardaar | Raj | |
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 | ||
1987 | Woh Din Aayenga | Ravi-Kapil | |
Khooni Mahal | Raj | ||
Mard Ki Zabaan | Anand | ||
Mera Lahoo | Dharam Singh | ||
Tera Karam Mera Dharam | Raj Kumar | ||
Majaal | Rakesh | ||
Goraa | Mohan | ||
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 Bijliyaan | Dacait Chitah | ||
Ek Hi Maqsad | Raj | ||
Aurat Teri Yeh Kahani | Balwant | ||
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 Paapi | Vijay Singh | ||
Awara Zindagi | Tony | ||
Apna Ghar | Unreleased film | ||
1990 | Police Public | Vijay Sharma | |
Ghar Ho To Aisa | Vijay R. Kumar | ||
Pyar Ka Devta | Advocate Gopal | ||
Ghar Parivar | Balwant | ||
1991 | Paap Ki Aandhi | Vijay | |
Karz Chukana Hai | Vijay Mathur | ||
1992 | Naach Govinda Naach | Anand | |
1993 | Zakhmi Rooh | Rocky | |
1994 | Jazbaat | Inder Babu | |
1995 | Kartavya | Inspector Suraj Singh | |
1996 | Kalinga | Unreleased 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 Boss | Delayed release |
Year | Film | |
---|---|---|
1973 | Basera | |
1974 | Bobby in Bombay | |
1977 | Humdum | |
1979 | Hari Bhari | |
1980 | Sorry Madam | |
1980 | Apni Dharti Apni Log | |
1981 | Matlabi | |
1982 | Dekthe Hi Dekthe | |
1982 | Tu Hi Mere Manzil | |
1983 | Dhaage Ki Zanjeer | |
1983 | Ram Ka Bhai Lakshman | |
1983 | Naseeb Ki Baat | |
1988 | Aakhri Adam | |
1992 | Aurat Ki Adalat | |
1999 | Tabaahi |