#GoldenFrames: A. K. Hangal, an actor par excellence

A. K. Hangal's dialogue, "Itna sannata kyun hai bhai?" resonates in Indian cinema even after his death. He was a freedom fighter who fought for India's independence. Hangal continued to fight for workers' rights after the India-Pakistan partition in 1947 in Karachi, Pakistan. The actor did landmark movies such as 'Sholay', 'Namak Haraam' and 'Lagaan'. Hangal admitted in one of his interviews that he only watched 50 out of 225 movies he has worked in! Unlike other actors, Hangal made his debut in Hindi cinema at the age of 50.

In This Pic : goldenframes, ak hangal

Avtar Kishan Hangal was born on February 1, 1914, to Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal and Ragia Hundoo in Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. The actor had two sisters Bishan and Kishan. Hangal was brought up in Peshawar, Pakistan, as his grandfather was the assistant commissioner and his father too had a government job. Following his father’s retirement, the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi, Pakistan. Hangal learnt tailoring and formed a trade union for tailors in Karachi, Pakistan. Apart from being a professional tailor, he was a theatre artist as well. He worked in plays under Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theatre group, for a decade. Being a freedom fighter. Juggling between two jobs didn't stop Hangal from being an active member during the freedom struggle.

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Being a freedom fighter, the actor spent three years in jail in Karachi, Pakistan before coming to Mumbai, India. The actor had no plans to come to India after the Partition but was sent here by the Pakistan government. He told Filmfare in 2011, “I came to India from Karachi in 1949 with just Rs 30 in my pocket. I was tadipar (banished) from Pakistan. I refused to bow before them. I had secular and communist leanings. My progressive views didn’t suit them.”

(Photo: Rajesh Khanna and A.K. Hangal in a still from the movie 'Avtaar')

In This Pic : Rajesh Khanna, goldenframes, a. k. hangal

Hangal joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), where he bonded with like-minded personages such as Prithviraj Kapoor, Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi. Things changed for Hangal when he was offered a role by 'parallel cinema filmmaker' Basu Bhattacharya in ’Teesri Kasam’ (1966), where he played the role of Raj Kapoor’s elder brother. Followed by his role in Samir Ganguly's 'Shagird' (1967), as Saira Banu's quirky father, which kick-started his screen career.

In This Pic : Zeenat Aman, Rakhee, goldenframes, a. k. hangal

The actor continued to play character roles such as a loving father, helpful neighbour, loyal servant or a close relative for two decades. Hangal is best known for his role as Rahim Chacha in 'Sholay' (1975). His iconic dialogue in the movie, 'Itna sannata kyun hai bhai,' has achieved the same kind of cult status as Gabbar Singh's 'Kitne aadmi the?' For 'Sholay' (1975), Hangal learnt Islamic hymns and tried to perfect the body language for the role of an imam. The actor used to well research such roles.

(Photo: Dharmendra and A.K. Hangal in a still from the movie 'Sholay')

In This Pic : goldenframes, Dharmendra, a. k. hangal