MAST BAHARON KA AASHIQ..JEETENDRA 75+!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Birthday of one of the most famous actors of Popular Indian Cinema & TV Serial-Film Producer Jeetendra..just happened! He is 75+ now and already completed golden jubilee film career!

Young handsome Jeetendra.

Born Ravi Kapoor..who was in the family business to supply imitation jewellery to filmmaker V. Shantaram's 'Rajkamal' studio. And there Shantarambapu noticed him & asked to act in his 'Navrang' (1959).

Jeetendra & Rajashree in art film 'Geet Gaya Patharone' (1964).

After that small role.. in 1964 he came as lead hero in 'Rajkamal's 'Geet Gaya Patharone' with V.Shantaram's pretty daughter Rajashree who gave him a screen name.. Jeetendra! He portrayed a sculptor in it and she appeared as his beautiful inspiration! This artistic film & their roles critically acclaimed. Kishori Amonkar sung it's title song!

"Oo Oo.." Jumping Jack..Jeetendra in 'Farz' (1967).

After this successful debut as hero..Jeetendra became star with hit 'Farz' (1967) a spy movie directed by Ravikant Nagaich..who was famous for such kind of genre! It's Laxmikant-Pyarelal's music and Mohammed Rafi sung romantic songs like "Mast Baharon ka Main Aashiq.." became popular. In this first time he jumped with yelling "Oo Oo.." and then became famous as 'Jumping Jack'!

Hit pair..Babita & Jeetendra in 'Farz' (1967) in mentioned song!

In this film 'Farz' beautiful Babita was Jeetendra's heroine and their pair became very hit..Then they came together in films 'Aulad' (1967), 'Anmol Moti' (1969), 'Bikhare Moti' (1971), 'Banphool' (1971) & 'Ek Hasina Do Diwane' (1971).

Jeetendra & pretty gorgeous Leena Chandavarkar in 'Humjoli' (1970).

Then he also played romantic hero with other beautiful actresses in hit films..like in 'Humjoli' (1970) with gorgeous Leena Chandavarkar. Their performances in it's unique songs & dances like while playing Tennis "Dhal gaya din.." & in rain "Hay re hay.." were fabulous! Then in 'Caravan' (1971) Asha Parekh was his heroine and in this Nasir Hussain style romantic musical their "Kitana pyara wada hain in matavali aankhon ka.." gave such feelings!

Jeetendra & Asha Parekh in 'Caravan's (1971) song "Kitna pyrara.."

His films with other co-actors were also hit..like Manmohan Desai's 'Dharam Veer' (1977) and multi-starrer 'Jaani Dushman' (1979). During this period he did some different kind of meaningful films like Gulzar's 'Parichay' (1972) which was inspired from classic Hollywood musical 'The Sound of Music' (1965) made by Robert Wise!

Dharmendra & Jeetendra in action scene of film 'Dharam Veer' (1977).

By 1980 he became lucky star for south Indian filmmakers' that kind of commercial films. During that period he paired mostly with actresses came from that region like..with Rekha in 'Judai' (1980), Sridevi in 'Himmatwala' (1983) and with Jayaprada in 'Tohfa' (1983). But some such films were with good content like..Dasari Narayan Rao's 'Pyasa Sawan' (1981) in which his & Moushumi Chatterjee's characters were emotional!

Jeetendra & Sangeeta Bijalani in 'Hatimtai' (1990).

He also acted in costume dramas like 'Patal Bhairavi' (1985) and 'Hatimtai' (1990) which was directed by Babubhai Mistri who was famous for such kind of fantasy films! ( I saw it's shooting in Mumbai in which Sangeeta Bijalani was with him!)

Jeetendra & Moushumi Chatterjee in 'Pyasa Sawan' (1981).

There were few notable films he did like 'Dharma Adhikari' (1986) and 'New Delhi' (1988) which was a remake! After some films like 'Sone pe suhaaga' (1990) & 'Udhar ki Zindagi' (1994) he soon turned to characters roles! But he always presented himself with full energy!

He received various awards includes lifetime achievement by Filmfare & Screen!

Jeetendra..evergreen!

On his birthday at this age.. 
I remembered his famous song from super hit film 'Farz' only..in which he sung for Babita..

"Bar bar din ye aaye..Bar bar dil ye gaaye..
Tu jiye hazaro saal..Ye meri hai aarzu..!"

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]