Bollywood's 'grand old man' AK Hangal dies
The actor's son, Vijay Hangal, told reporters the news outside Asha Parekh hospital in Mumbai, where his father was recently admitted after he slipped and injured his thigh and back.
"My father was put on a ventilator but his health kept deteriorating since yesterday. He passed away at 9:00 am (local time) today," he said.
Hangal was born in Sialkot in now Pakistan, where he spent three years in jail for his freedom fighting against British rule. After partition, in 1949, he moved to Mumbai and joined a leftist theatre group.
The former tailor entered Bollywood relatively late in life but went on to appear in more than 200 films, making his name in roles as the on-screen elderly relative to big Bollywood stars.
He was best known for his parts in films such as "Sholay" and "Namak Haraam" in the 1970s, and he was honoured with India's civilian Padma Bhushan award in 2006 for his contribution to Hindi cinema.
But he fell on hard times later in life, with his son appealing for help from Bollywood stars last year to pay Hangal's medical expenses.
Various names of Hindi cinema paid tribute to the actor on Twitter. "The Marathon Man of Hindi Cinema reaches the final winning post. We will miss you," said veteran actor Anupam Kher.
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@Ch. Allah Daad: Well it is unclear why his son sought help for treating Hangal medically. Please see this anecdote describing Hangal's career and acting: "Perhaps it had something to do with his face that filmmakers were loath to offer him a villain’s part. Yes, of course he did break the mould sometimes, as in Shaukeen, where he played, along with Ashok Kumar and Utpal Dutt, a lecherous old man. That he acted with conviction is reflected in the following anecdote. Hangal, well into his 90s then, had finished a leisurely dinner at a five-star hotel in Delhi and needed to be dropped off at a friend’s place. A girl in her 20s was assigned the task of driving him. She whispered in trepidation to her boss: “Sir, I have seen Shaukeen!” Finally, a man had to be commandeered to drive Hangal where he wanted to go."
The fact that this anecdote refers to Hangal after he had finished a leisurely meal at a 5 star hotel shows he was not in penury.
Also when his son did appeal for help, it is not as though the appeal went unheard. Jaya Bachchan, who had acted with Hangal in Bawarchi, Guddi and Sholay, offeried to pay for his treatment. So did others such as Mithun Chakraborty. Efforts were also made to restore not just his health but also his self-respect and income. Riyaz Gangjee got Hangal to ‘walk’ the ramp on a wheel chair a little more than a year ago. Earlier this year, he also started shooting for the serial Madhubala on Colors.
@Ch. Allah Daad very true sir,i think this is a bitter truth of life,more specially of Bollywood which is more of a wood than life.
"Itni khamoshi kyon ha bhai?" Great actor. May his soul rest in peace.
Very sad news. Also sad that in Bollywood lead actors earn hundreds of millions but veterans and true professionals spend their last days in misery and poverty. Shame...