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Biography

Kanhaiyalal was born in Varanasi into a theatrical family. His father, Pandit Bhairodutt Choube, owned a drama company but disapproved of his son’s interest in acting. Undeterred, Kanhaiyalal began working backstage and gradually transitioned into small stage roles. After his father's death, he moved to Bombay to pursue a career in cinema—initially aspiring to become a writer and director. However, fate had other plans, and he made his screen debut as an extra in Sagar Ka Sher. He rose to national and international fame for his iconic portrayal of the scheming moneylender Sukhilala in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), one of Indian cinema’s most legendary villains. He had originally played the same role in Aurat (1940), making him the first Indian actor to reprise a character in a remake 17 years later. Mother India also earned the distinction of being India’s first official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best International Feature Film—cementing Kanhaiyalal’s performance in global film history. Known for his mastery of negative and elderly roles, Kanhaiyalal acted in over 100 films including Ganga Jamuna, Upkar, Apna Desh, Dushman, and Grahasti. He also wrote dialogues and lyrics for films like Sadhana. His cinematic legacy lives on through the 2022 documentary Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal, produced by his daughter Hemaa Singh. TMDB mini biography by: Ashvin Borad

Known For

6.9

Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav

Hum Paanch

1980

0.0

Sitara

1980

0.0

Daku Aur Jawan

1978

7.0

Pandit Shyam Sunder

Satyam Shivam Sundaram

1978

0.0

Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein

1977

6.0

Jadu Tona

1977

🎬

0.0

Mevalal Sahukar

Duniyadari

1977

7.0

Gadibabu

Dost

1974

0.0

Dhaniram

Heera

1973

2.7

Sevaram

Apna Desh

1972

Credits

Hum Paanch

as Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav

1980

6.9

Sitara

1980

0.0

Daku Aur Jawan

1978

0.0

Satyam Shivam Sundaram

as Pandit Shyam Sunder

1978

7.0

Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein

1977

0.0

Jadu Tona

1977

6.0

🎬

Duniyadari

as Mevalal Sahukar

1977

0.0

Dost

as Gadibabu

1974

7.0

Heera

as Dhaniram

1973

0.0

Apna Desh

as Sevaram

1972

2.7

Banphool

as Muninji

1971

6.3

Jeevan Mrityu

as Jagat Narayan

1970

5.8

🎬

Samaj Ko Badal Dalo

as Kundanlal

1970

0.0

Chirag

1969

0.0

Meri Bhabhi

1969

0.0

Bandhan

1969

6.0

Doli

1969

6.0

Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke

1969

0.0

Aurat

1967

0.0

Diwana

as Kaka

1967

9.0

Dulhan Ek Raat Ki

1967

0.0

Ram Aur Shyam

1967

7.4

Upkar

1967

5.2

Biradari

as Rammurthy 'Dudhwala'

1966

7.0

Daadi Maa

1966

0.0

🎬

Gaban

1966

10.0

Oonche Log

as Master Gunichand

1965

6.2

Himalay Ki Godmein

as Ghoghar Baba

1965

5.5

Noor Mahal

1965

0.0

Rishte Naate

1965

0.0

Zindagi

1964

0.0

Bharosa

as Raunaklal

1963

0.0

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen

as Rahmat

1963

0.0

Grahasti

as Station Master Ram Swarup

1963

0.0

Son of India

as Paro's dad

1962

6.0

Gunga Jumna

as Kallu

1961

5.6

Gharana

1961

6.0

The Test

as Pandit Tarkalankar

1960

6.0

Ghunghat

1960

0.0

Sahara

as Chaudhary Gaman Singh

1958

7.0

Mother India

as Sukhilala

1957

7.1

Naata

1955

0.0

Naukari

as Hari

1954

6.2

Bahut Din Hue

as Pujari

1954

0.0

Mr. Sampat

as Seth Makhanlal Jhaverimull Gheewala

1952

0.0

Daag

1952

6.0

Insaan

1952

0.0

Buzdil

1951

0.0

Malhar

1951

0.0

Hum Log

as Lalaji / Haricharandas

1951

8.8

Jeet

as Thakur Kalyan Singh

1949

5.0

Neelam

1945

0.0

Shri Krishnarjun Yudh

as Narad

1945

0.0

Ramayani

1945

0.0

Lal Haveli

as Chacha

1944

0.0

Gaali

1944

0.0

Dost

as Lobhi Chand

1944

0.0

Nai Roshni

as Mohan

1941

0.0

Radhika

as Mohant

1941

0.0

Aasra

as Ticket Examiner

1941

0.0

Aurat

as Sukhilala

1940

5.0

Gramophone Singer

1938

0.0