By Hindustan Times
Hailed once because the 'uncrowned king of theatre', AK Hangal was not very keen to enroll in films but ended up playing roles of the loving father or grandfather and doting servant of Bollywood with elan.
He played roles in films like "Sholay", "Shaukeen", "Namak Haram", "Aaina", "Avtaar", "Arjun", "Aandhi", "Kora Kagaz", "Bawarchi", "Chitchor", "Guddi", "Abhimaan", "Anamika" and "Parichay".
He was also a standard in Rajesh Khanna's starrers like "Aap Ki Kasam", "Amar Deep", "Naukri", "Thodisi Bewafaii" and "Phir Wohi Raat".
Playing the role of Rahim Chacha in "Sholay", he uttered those famous words, "Itna sannata kyon hai, bhai."
In his autobiography "The Life and Time of A K Hangal", he recounted how he ended up joining films and the way he struggled to shake off his 'gentleman' image in Bollywood though without much success.
"I never had ambitions about pursuing a career in films and was quite content with my amateur theatre work... Circumstances pulled me into the film world, though I'M REALLY NOT unhappy as a result of it. Here, I mingled with people from totally different sphere, called 'Show Business', or even after a few years in it, sometimes I BELIEVE like an outsider," he wrote.
Born as Avtaar Veenit Kishan Hangal right into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Peshawar, he was an active member of the Communist party there while working as a tailor. He actively participated in union activities and was arrested.
Hangal moved to Bombay in 1949 after spending two years in Pakistan prison. He came within the city of dreams on the age of 21 with Rs. 20 in his pocket.
Hangal was attracted to Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in India. He got to work with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi in IPTA.
In his late 40s, Hangal was offered the a part of Raj Kapoor's brother in 1966 film "Teesri Kasam" by director Basu Bhattacharya but his scenes were far from the film.
There was no on reflection for him after that. He starred in over 200 films. His mostly played roles of father, uncle, grandfather or that of a meek and harassed old man, a picture he could never get rid off.
The veteran actor suffered a political backlash in 1993 when he applied for visa to go to his birthplace in Pakistan. He was invited and attended the Pakistan day celebrations by the consulate in Mumbai thereby incurring the wrath of the Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray took offence and called him a traitor. A CHOICE to boycott his films was made, his effigies were burnt and his scenes were deleted from films.
He bounced back after two years with character roles in Amitabh Bachchan's home production "Tere Mere Sapne" and Aamir Khan's "Lagaan". He last shot for Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Paheli" in 2005.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi cinema in 2006.
The actor was in news last year for living a life in penury. His son Vijay, a retired still cameraman in Bollywood, appealed for help after failing to fulfill Hangal's medical expenses. Several Bollywood celebrities just like the Bachchans, producer-director Vipul Shah, and actors Mithun Chakraborty, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan came forward to assist him.
He returned to stand the studio lights again recently after an opening of 7 years for TV show 'Madhubala'.
Having reached the sets on wheelchair, Hangal was undecided if he could be capable of handle it physically. But he came in his elements once the cameras started rolling.
He has a 74-year-old son Vijay with late wife Manorama.
