#GoldenFrames: Jagdeep - Pictorial biography of Bollywood's 'Soorma Bhopali'

Jagdeep was the first golden generation of comedians of the Indian cinema who played memorable characters in his six decades-long Bollywood career. The actor had acted in almost 400 movies. Jagdeep’s most famous role was Soorma Bhopali from Sholay (1975), and other memorable roles include Mithun Chakraborty's informant in Surakksha (1979), Muhammed Ali in Feroz Khan's Qurbani (1980), Taarachand Baadlani in Shahenshah (1988), Bankelal Bhopali in Andaz Apna Apna (1994) and Subedar Ramaiyah in China Gate (1998). He was one of the very few actors who could cry without using glycerin. Jagdeep believed that his audience was the common man, who just wanted to laugh. He would observe people from the streets as a child. He wasn't educated, but that didn't stop him from seeking knowledge. Jagdeep was brilliant at improvising—he would keep the context the same but make it funnier in his own words.

In This Pic : Jagdeep

Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri, popularly known as Jagdeep, was born on March 29, 1939, in Datia, Madhya Pradesh (Central Provinces, British India). He came to Mumbai with his mother and took all kinds of work to make ends meet. Jagdeep made kites, sold fruits and cutlery on trains and on the street, worked as a waiter and even as a handcart-pusher. Watching his mother cooking at an orphanage, he offered her help. He was just a small kid then, but he wanted to make a difference and give back to society.

In This Pic : Jagdeep

In one of his interviews, Jagdeep recalled his first role as a child artist in BR Chopra’s ‘Afsana’ (1951) and how he got promoted from being paid Rs 3 per day to Rs 6 in his first movie itself. Jagdeep was the only kid on the set who could speak Urdu, and the rest is history.

In This Pic : Jagdeep

He was a popular kid amongst artist suppliers. Eventually, the actor landed a role in the big movie ‘Dhobi Doctor’ (1954), starring Kishore Kumar, Usha Kiran and Baby Asha Parekh. Jagdeep played the role of young Kishore Kumar opposite Baby Asha Parekh, who portrayed the role of young Usha Kiran.

In This Pic : kishore kumar, Jagdeep

In ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ (1953), Jagdeep was paid ₹300 for a shoeshine boy's role. The actor asked the director Bimal Roy why he chose him for the funny part as he was known for more serious roles. The director explained that an actor who can make his audience cry a lot could make his audience laugh a lot. The actor must have depth, and a shallow actor cannot perform.

(Photo: Still from the movie ‘Do Bigha Zamin’)

In This Pic : Jagdeep, Bimal Roy