Jackie Shroff pays tribute to Sanjeev Kumar on 40th death anniversary
Synopsis
Forty years after his death at just 47, Sanjeev Kumar — the man who played nine characters in one film and won two National Awards — is remembered by Jackie Shroff with a monochrome image and a Lata Mangeshkar song. The tribute is a small but telling reminder that his range and restraint still set a benchmark few in Hindi cinema have matched.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Shroff paid tribute to Sanjeev Kumar on his 40th death anniversary on 6 November 2025 via social media.
Shroff shared a monochrome photo with the caption 'Always in our hearts' and the song 'Beeti Na Bitaai Raina' from 'Parichay' (1972) .
Sanjeev Kumar, born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on 9 July 1938 in Surat , won the National Film Award for Best Actor for both 'Dastak' and 'Koshish' .
He played nine different characters in 'Naya Din Nayi Raat' and portrayed the iconic Thakur Baldev Singh in 'Sholay' .
Sanjeev Kumar died on 6 November 1985 , aged 47 , following long-standing heart disease; several films were released posthumously, the last in 1993 .
Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff honoured the memory of legendary Hindi cinema star Sanjeev Kumar on 6 November 2025 — the 40th anniversary of his passing — with a heartfelt social media tribute. Shroff shared a monochrome photograph of the celebrated actor, captioning it simply: 'Always in our hearts.'
The Tribute
Accompanying the image, Jackie Shroff chose the soulful track 'Beeti Na Bitaai Raina' from the 1972 film 'Parichay', sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupinder Singh. The song originally featured Sanjeev Kumar alongside Jaya Bachchan, making it a poignant and apt selection for the occasion.
A Life on Screen
Born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on 9 July 1938 in Surat, Gujarat, Sanjeev Kumar grew into one of the most versatile performers Hindi cinema has ever produced. Unlike many leading men of his era, he was equally at ease playing romantic heroes, comic roles, patriarchs, and aged characters — a range that set him apart from his contemporaries.
His breakthrough arrived with 'Khilona', after which he delivered a string of acclaimed performances. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor twice — for 'Dastak' and 'Koshish'. In 'Koshish', his portrayal of a deaf-mute character is widely regarded as one of the most courageous and technically demanding performances in Indian cinema. In 'Naya Din Nayi Raat', he famously played nine distinct characters in a single film, underscoring the breadth of his craft.
His landmark filmography includes 'Sholay' — where he played the iconic Thakur Baldev Singh — alongside 'Angoor', 'Aandhi', 'Mausam', 'Trishul', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Namkeen', 'Anamika' and 'Pati Patni Aur Woh', among others.
Personal Life and Health Struggles
Sanjeev Kumar never married, despite being romantically linked with several leading actresses of his time. His relationship with Hema Malini remains among the most discussed chapters of his personal life; reportedly, he was serious about marrying her. Heart disease cast a long shadow over his later years — his father had died of a massive heart attack when Sanjeev was just 11 years old. Sanjeev himself suffered multiple heart attacks and underwent bypass surgery in the United States.
A Legacy That Outlived Him
Despite medical intervention and medical advice to guard his health, Sanjeev Kumar died prematurely on 6 November 1985, aged just 47. Several of his films were released posthumously, including 'Love and God', 'Haathon Ki Lakeeren', 'Qatl', 'Baat Ban Jaye', 'Namumkin', and 'Professor Ki Padosan' — the last of which arrived in 1993, nearly eight years after his death. Four decades on, tributes from contemporaries like Jackie Shroff confirm that his place in the canon of Hindi cinema remains undiminished.
Point of View
But they also quietly indict an industry that has never quite replaced what he represented. His willingness to play fathers, villains, and character roles at the height of his stardom remains anomalous in a star system still governed by hero vanity. The two National Awards, the nine-role tour de force in 'Naya Din Nayi Raat', and the deaf-mute performance in 'Koshish' constitute a body of work that would be remarkable for any actor at any age — let alone one who died at 47. Forty years on, the gap he left is still visible.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 6 November significant for Sanjeev Kumar?
6 November marks the death anniversary of actor Sanjeev Kumar, who passed away on this date in 1985 at the age of 47 due to heart failure. In 2025, it is the 40th anniversary of his death.
How did Jackie Shroff pay tribute to Sanjeev Kumar?
Jackie Shroff shared a monochrome photograph of Sanjeev Kumar on social media with the caption 'Always in our hearts', accompanied by the song 'Beeti Na Bitaai Raina' from the 1972 film 'Parichay', sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupinder Singh.
What National Awards did Sanjeev Kumar win?
Sanjeev Kumar won the National Film Award for Best Actor twice — for 'Dastak' and 'Koshish'. In 'Koshish', he portrayed a deaf-mute character in a performance widely considered one of the most demanding in Hindi cinema history.
What are some of Sanjeev Kumar's most iconic films?
His landmark films include 'Sholay' (as Thakur Baldev Singh), 'Angoor', 'Aandhi', 'Mausam', 'Trishul', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Koshish', 'Dastak', and 'Naya Din Nayi Raat', in which he played nine different characters.
What caused Sanjeev Kumar's early death?
Sanjeev Kumar had a family history of heart disease — his father died of a massive heart attack when Sanjeev was just 11. He suffered multiple heart attacks himself and underwent bypass surgery in the United States, but died on 6 November 1985, aged 47.
