Anju Mahendru remembers 'bro' Sanjeev Kumar on his 88th birth anniversary
Synopsis
Anju Mahendru's birthday post for Sanjeev Kumar — calling him 'Hari' and 'bro' — is a rare window into the private warmth behind one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated friendships. On what would have been his 88th birthday, the tributes from Mahendru and Jackie Shroff serve as a reminder that Sanjeev Kumar's hold on Bollywood's memory remains as firm as ever, four decades after his death at 47.
Key Takeaways
Anju Mahendru posted a vintage photograph of Sanjeev Kumar on X on 9 July 2026 , marking his 88th birth anniversary .
The two starred together in 'Dastak' (1970) and 'Mukti' (1977), and shared a close off-screen friendship.
Actor Jackie Shroff shared a career-spanning collage on social media, accompanied by the song 'Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai' from 'Aandhi' (1978).
Born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on 9 July 1938 , Sanjeev Kumar won the National Film Award for Best Actor for 'Koshish' .
He passed away on 6 November 1985 at age 47 following a massive heart attack, having never married.
Veteran actress Anju Mahendru paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary Hindi cinema actor Sanjeev Kumar on 9 July 2026, marking what would have been his 88th birth anniversary. Taking to her X account, Mahendru shared a vintage photograph of the actor dressed in a black suit with a patterned tie, holding a glass — and accompanied it with a caption that read: 'Hari !! Miss you so much Bro Happy birthday…'
A Bond Beyond the Screen
The affection behind Mahendru's post runs deep. She and Sanjeev Kumar appeared together in two Hindi films — 'Dastak' (1970), directed by Rajinder Singh Bedi, and 'Mukti' (1977), directed by Raj Tilak. The professional collaboration grew into a close off-screen friendship, with Mahendru affectionately calling him 'Hari' — a shortened form of his birth name — and often referring to him as her 'bro'.
Bollywood Pays Tribute
Actor Jackie Shroff also joined the remembrance on Thursday, sharing a career-spanning collage of Sanjeev Kumar's photographs on his social media account. The collage carried the message: 'Sanjeev Kumar ji Always in our hearts (9 July 1938 – 6 Nov 1985).' Shroff paired the tribute with the timeless duet 'Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai', sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from the 1978 film 'Aandhi' — widely regarded as one of Sanjeev Kumar's most celebrated performances.
The Legacy of Harihar Jethalal Jariwala
Born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on 9 July 1938, Sanjeev Kumar is widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most versatile actors. His filmography spans decades and genres: he immortalised the iconic role of Thakur Baldev Singh in 'Sholay', delivered a critically acclaimed performance as a deaf-mute husband opposite Jaya Bhaduri (now Jaya Bachchan) in 'Koshish' — directed by Gulzar, which earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor — and charmed audiences with his double role in Gulzar's cult comedy 'Angoor', still hailed as one of the greatest comic performances in Indian cinema.
Other landmark films include 'Aandhi', 'Mausam', 'Trishul', 'Khilona', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Pati Patni Aur Woh', 'Manchali', 'Namkeen', and 'Hero', among many others.
Personal Life and Heartbreak
Sanjeev Kumar's personal life attracted as much discussion as his professional achievements. It has long been reported that he deeply admired actress Hema Malini and proposed marriage to her in the early 1970s; the proposal was declined, reportedly leaving him heartbroken. Hema Malini later married Dharmendra in 1980. Separately, playback singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit reportedly expressed her love for him and proposed marriage, which he declined; she is said to have remained unmarried until her passing in 2025.
Despite his immense success and wide admiration, Sanjeev Kumar never married. He passed away following a massive heart attack on 6 November 1985, at the age of just 47. Decades on, his performances continue to be studied, celebrated, and mourned by those who knew him and the generations who discovered him on screen.
Point of View
Comedy, and physical transformation. The tributes from Anju Mahendru and Jackie Shroff are touching, but they also underscore an archival gap: very little of the personal warmth that defined his relationships has been documented on record. His story — prodigious talent, rumoured heartbreak, early death — has calcified into myth rather than biography, and that is a loss for film history.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sanjeev Kumar being remembered on 9 July 2026?
9 July 2026 marks what would have been Sanjeev Kumar's 88th birth anniversary. He was born on 9 July 1938 and passed away on 6 November 1985, and his birth anniversary is regularly observed by colleagues and fans across Bollywood.
What did Anju Mahendru post about Sanjeev Kumar?
Anju Mahendru shared a vintage photograph of Sanjeev Kumar on X, captioning it 'Hari !! Miss you so much Bro Happy birthday…' — using his nickname 'Hari', short for his birth name Harihar, and calling him her 'bro', reflecting their long off-screen friendship.
Which films did Anju Mahendru and Sanjeev Kumar appear in together?
The two appeared together in 'Dastak' (1970), directed by Rajinder Singh Bedi, and 'Mukti' (1977), directed by Raj Tilak. Their shared screen time laid the foundation for a close personal friendship that lasted until his death.
What are Sanjeev Kumar's most celebrated films?
Sanjeev Kumar is best remembered for 'Sholay', 'Aandhi', 'Koshish' — for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor — and Gulzar's comedy 'Angoor'. Other notable films include 'Mausam', 'Trishul', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', and 'Pati Patni Aur Woh'.
How did Sanjeev Kumar die, and did he ever marry?
Sanjeev Kumar died on 6 November 1985 following a massive heart attack at the age of 47. Despite wide public interest in his personal life — including reported proposals involving Hema Malini and Sulakshana Pandit — he never married.
