Indian movie stars born in 1913
Here are 7 famous actors from India were born in 1913:
Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni (May 1, 1913 Rawalpindi-April 13, 1973 Mumbai) also known as Yudhishthir Sahni, Balraj Sahani, Balraj, Shri Balraj Sahni or Sahni was an Indian actor, writer and teacher. He had two children, Parikshit Sahni and Shabnam Sahni.
Balraj Sahni was a critically acclaimed actor who appeared in over 50 Hindi films in a career spanning three decades. He was best known for his roles in classics like "Do Bigha Zamin," "Kabhie Kabhie," and "Garm Hava." Sahni was also a prolific writer, having authored several books including "Mera Pakistani Safarnama" and "Mera Rusi Safarnama," which chronicled his travels to Pakistan and Russia. In addition to his work in film and literature, Sahni was a dedicated teacher who founded the Indian People's Theatre Association and promoted social causes through his art. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 for his contributions to Indian cinema and society. Despite his success, Sahni remained humble and committed to his craft until his death in 1973 at the age of 59.
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Bhagwan Dada
Bhagwan Dada (August 1, 1913 Mumbai-February 4, 2002 Dadar) a.k.a. Bhagwan Abhaji Palav, Master Bhagwan, Bhagwan, Bhagwandada or Bhagwan Dada was an Indian film director, actor, film producer, writer and screenwriter.
He was born in Mumbai and started his career as a stage actor in the 1930s. He made his film debut in 1936 with the film "Lal-e-Yaman." However, he shot to fame with his 1951 film "Albela," in which he not only acted but also directed and produced. The film was a huge success and is now considered a classic of Indian cinema.
Apart from that, he acted in over 50 films throughout his career, with notable performances in "Rustom Sohrab" (1963), "Chaliya" (1954), and "Zimbo Comes to Town" (1960).
He was also a trained dancer and choreographed several dance sequences in his films. In fact, he was one of the pioneers of dance in Indian cinema and infused elements of Western dance styles into his choreography.
In his later years, he suffered financial troubles and health issues before passing away in 2002 at the age of 88. Despite facing hardships during his life, he left a lasting impact on Indian cinema and is remembered as a versatile and talented artist.
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Ustad Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan (March 21, 1913 Dumraon-August 21, 2006 Varanasi) also known as Bismillah Khan or Qamaruddin Khan was an Indian musician and actor. He had one child, Soma Ghosh.
Bismillah Khan was a legendary shehnai player who is credited with popularising the shehnai, a traditional Indian wind instrument, in the Indian classical music world. He was born in Dumraon, Bihar, in a family of musicians, and learned to play the shehnai from his uncle. He later honed his skills under the tutelage of Ustad Ali Baksh Vilayati, a famous shehnai player of the time.
Bismillah Khan became a highly respected musician all over India and around the world. He was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, and other prestigious awards, such as the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
He also performed at several national events, such as India's Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations. Bismillah Khan had a great love for his country and once said, "The shehnai is the sound of India. As long as the shehnai is played, India will play on."
Apart from his musical career, Bismillah Khan also acted in movies, including "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959), which was based on his life story. He passed away in 2006 in Varanasi, his hometown, leaving behind a rich legacy of Indian classical music.
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Balakrishna
Balakrishna (November 2, 1913 Arsikere-July 19, 1995 Bangalore) also known as Balanna, Hasya Brahma Balakrishna, Hasya Brahma, Balkrishna, T.N. Balkrishana, T. N. Balakrishna or Balakrishna was an Indian actor and film director. He had one child, Ganesh Balakrishna.
Balakrishna started his career as a stage artist and then moved on to the film industry. He acted in over 300 films in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi languages. He was a versatile actor who played various roles such as a comedian, villain, character artist, and hero. Balakrishna was known for his impeccable timing in comedy and was called the "Hasya Brahma" (God of Comedy). He also directed a few films, including "Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu," which won several awards. Balakrishna was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981 for his contribution to Indian cinema. Even after his death in 1995, he is remembered as one of the greatest comedians in Indian cinema history.
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Devan
Devan (September 8, 1913 Thiruvidaimarudur-May 5, 1957 Chennai) also known as R. Mahadevan was an Indian writer and actor.
He was best known for his contributions to the Tamil film industry during the 1940s and 1950s. Devan started his career as a writer and his first published work was the short story "Kudiyai Vaanginum", which appeared in Sudesamithran in 1935. He then transitioned to acting, making his debut in the film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Devan went on to act in numerous films and also wrote screenplays for several others. He was known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters. Devan was also instrumental in launching the careers of several actors and actresses, including Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. He passed away at the young age of 43 due to a heart attack. Despite his relatively short career, Devan left a lasting impact on Tamil cinema and is remembered as a trailblazer in the industry.
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C. H. Narayana Rao
C. H. Narayana Rao (September 13, 1913 Karnataka-February 14, 1984 Chennai) also known as Narayana Rao C.H. was an Indian actor.
He started his acting career in 1933 with the silent film "Bhakta Kumbara" and went on to act in more than 300 films in his career spanning over four decades. Narayana Rao was known for his versatile acting skills and the ability to portray a wide range of characters. He was particularly noted for his performances in Kannada and Tamil films. Some of his notable films include "Krishna Prema", "Samsara Nauke", "Raja Makutam" and "Dheiva Thaai". Narayana Rao was also a trained classical singer and was known for his melodious voice. He was honored with several awards during his career, including the prestigious "Kalaimamani" award by the Tamil Nadu government.
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S.V. Sahasranamam
S.V. Sahasranamam (November 29, 1913 Coimbatore-) otherwise known as S. V. Sahasranamam is an Indian actor, film director and theatre director. He has one child, S. V. S. Kumar.
S. V. Sahasranamam made his acting debut in 1935 with the film "Sathi Leelavathi". He went on to act in more than 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. Some of his notable films include "Bhakta Prahlada", "Krishna Leelai", "Andha Naal", "Thangamalai Ragasiyam", and "Thiruvilayadal".
Apart from acting, S. V. Sahasranamam also directed and produced films in Tamil and Telugu languages. He was also a respected theatre director and a member of the Communist Party of India.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, S. V. Sahasranamam was honored with the Padma Shri award in 1969. He continued to act in films until his death in 1979.
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