#GoldenFrames: Balraj Sahni, an actor par excellence...

Balraj Sahni was born on May 1, 1913, in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He studied at the Government College in Lahore, followed by a Bachelor's degree in Hindi. Balraj went back to Rawalpindi and joined his family business after completing his master's degree in English Literature from Lahore. He married Damayanti Sahni and started his career as an English and Hindi teacher at Tagore's Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, Bengal. Their first son, Parikshit Sahni was born while his wife Damayanti was earning her Bachelor's degree. The following year, Sahni, with Gandhi's blessings, went to England to join the BBC-London's Hindi service as a radio announcer for five years. He returned to India in 1943. Balraj's wife Damayanti was well known as an IPTA actress much before making a name for herself in movies. Balraj started his acting career with the plays of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). The actor is known for classics such as 'Do Bigha Zameen' (1953), 'Kabuliwala' (1961) and 'Garm Hava' (1974).

In This Pic : goldenframes, Balraj Sahni

Balraj Sahni was a non-conformist and lived away from the glamour world. Being an intellectual and a writer, he had mastered the craft of acting without following the norms of the film industry. According to his son, Parikshit Sahni, Balraj never wanted any publicity for himself, unlike other actors.

In This Pic : goldenframes, Balraj Sahni

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

Balraj was a family man, who loved every family member and managed to bind the entire family together with love. Balraj made sure his children got a good education. Balraj and younger brother Bhisham loved and stood by each other throughout their lives. They were like buddies. Bhisham Sahni authored several novels and plays in Hindi.

In This Pic : goldenframes, Bhisham Sahni, Balraj Sahni

Balraj made his debut in ‘Insaaf’ (1946). In 1946, Balraj worked with his wife Damayanti in 'Dharti Ke Lal' and 'Door Chalein,' after a series of movies, ‘Humlog’ (1951) was a huge success for the actor.

In This Pic : goldenframes, Damayanti, Balraj Sahni

Balraj’s wife Damayanti was a member of the Communist party who engaged in social work. She worked with the slum-dwellers and even ate with them. Balraj was once jailed as he too was a member of the Communist party. In 1947, Damayanti, who was the lead actress of Balraj Sahni’s 1947 movie 'Gudia', passed away that same year at the age of twenty-six.

In This Pic : goldenframes, Damayanti, Balraj Sahni