Remembering Raaj Kumar on His Birth Anniversary

By Amit Kumar

October 8, 2025

Raaj Kumar, born Kulbhushan Pandit on October 8, 1926, is remembered as one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive actors. His film debut came in 1952 with Rangili, and his career spanned over four decades, featuring more than 70 films.

Raaj Kumar earned wide acclaim for his unique style of dialogue delivery and intense portrayals. He gained significant recognition with his role in the 1957 Oscar-nominated film Mother India and further prominence through movies such as Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957), Paigham (1959), and Dil Ek Mandir (1963), for which he won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

His versatility was evident through roles in Waqt (1965), Heer Raanjha (1970), and Kudrat (1981). Raaj Kumar reunited on screen with Dilip Kumar in Saudagar (1991), highlighting an important collaboration after decades.

He was married to Jennifer Pandit, an Anglo-Indian air hostess. The couple had three children, two sons who also pursued acting careers.

Raaj Kumar’s last hit was Tirangaa (1993), and his final film was God and Gun (1995). He succumbed to throat cancer on July 3, 1996, leaving behind a legacy characterized by powerful screen presence and memorable performances.

On this birth anniversary, admirers and cinema enthusiasts recall Raaj Kumar for his contribution to Hindi cinema and his unique cinematic persona.