#GoldenFrames: Jeevan, the incredible 'Narad Muni' of Bollywood!

Jeevan Kumar is a celebrated villain of Indian cinema. He had a prolific career, playing countless villains in Hindi movies. From playing a lecherous wretch in 'Mela'(1948) to a comical role in 'Teen Chor' (1973) to the sartorial character of Robert in the movie 'Amar Akbar Anthony' (1977), Jeevan was a household name. Moreover, the actor played Narad Muni in a total of sixty-one movies. In forty years of his career, Jeevan has worked in more than 300 movies. He was a favourite of Bollywood directors and producers. The actor considered the studio his temple of work. Jeevan has helped many people in his lifetime, including educating poor kids.

Omkar Nath Dar, popularly known as Jeevan Kumar in the film industry, was born on October 24, 1915, into an aristocratic Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Jeevan's mother died during childbirth, and he lost his father when he was three years old. He had twenty-three siblings.

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The actor's grandfather served as the Governor of the Gilgit Agency, an agency established by the British Indian Empire.

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Jeevan's desire to be a photographer started early on. Born in a noble family didn't make it easy for the actor. He ran away from home at the age of eighteen with only Rs. 26 in his pocket to become an established photographer in Mumbai. And someday, open a small photography studio in Kashmir.

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After the initial struggle and help from distant relatives, he worked under Vidya Sinha's grandfather Mohan Sinha. Jeevan worked as a reflector boy whose job was to stick the silver paper onto chunks of wood to fashion makeshift light reflectors. Sinha was captivated by his mannerisms.

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