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Sanjeev Kumar, born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala and fondly known as Haribhai, was born in Surat, Gujarat, into a traditional Gujarati family. In childhood, his family moved to Mumbai, where his passion for cinema blossomed. He enrolled in a reputed film institute, which marked the beginning of his journey in Indian cinema. Gifted with immense talent, he rose to become one of the most versatile and respected actors in the industry.
He had a sister and two younger brothers and was fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, and English. Sanjeev began his career on stage with IPTA and the Indian National Theatre. Even at 22, he impressed audiences by portraying elderly characters, such as in All My Sons and Damru, directed by A.K. Hangal.
He made his screen debut with a small role in Hum Hindustani (1960) and got his first lead in Nishan (1965). He acted in Gujarati films Kalapi (1966) and Mare Javun Pele Par (1968). His breakthrough came with Khilona (1970), a Hindi remake of the latter. He starred in notable films like Sangharsh (1968), Sachaai (1969), and even in an Indo-Iranian film in 1972.
Sanjeev Kumar won the National Film Award for Best Actor twice for Dastak (1971) and Koshish (1973). He also won Filmfare Awards for Shikar (1969), Sholay (1975), Aandhi (1976) and Arjun Pandit (1977), Trishul (1979), Angoor and Vidhaata(1983), cementing his legacy as one of Indian cinema's greatest performers.
As part of his government recognition, several honours have been bestowed upon Sanjeev Kumar in his hometown of Surat. A prominent road named Sanjeev Kumar Marg stands as a lasting tribute, inaugurated by veteran actor Sunil Dutt. Additionally, a school bearing his name was opened by the then-mayor, Kadir K. Pirzada. On a national level, India Post released a commemorative postage stamp in his honour on 3 May 2013, marking his immense contribution to Indian cinema. One of the most notable tributes is the Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium, a state-of-the-art facility built by the Surat Municipal Corporation at a cost of 108 crore. This cultural landmark was inaugurated on 14 February 2014 by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi (now India’s Prime Minister). Sanjeev Kumar Udhyan in Mota Varachha was officially inaugurated by the Surat Municipal Corporation on 5 June 2018.
