A. K. Hangal Biography: Birthday, Early Life, Career, Awards, Death

A. K. Hangal Biography: Avtar Kishan Hangal passed away on August 26, 2012. From 1929 to 1947, was an Indian freedom fighter. He was also a stage actor from 1936 to 1965 and a character actor in Hindi language films from 1966 to 2005. Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977), Inder Sen in Shaukeen, Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, Imaam Saa’b in Sholay, Anokhelal in Manzil, the antagonist in Prem Bandhan, and the 16 films he did with Rajesh Khanna are his most notable roles. In a career spanning 1966 to 2005, he acted in approximately 225 Hindi films.

A. K. Hangal Biography

Name:	Avtar Kishan Hangal
Birth Date:	February 1 1914
Place Of Birth:	Sialkot
Death:	August 26, 2012

Early years

Avtar Kishan Hangal was born in Sialkot, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan), to a Kashmiri Pandit family.  He spent his childhood and adolescence in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, where he played important roles in the theatre. According to his memoirs, his family’s residence was within Reti Gate. The name of his father was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. The name of his mother was Ragia Hundoo. His sisters were Bishan and Kishan. He was married to Agra native Manorma Dar. However, he was primarily a tailor for the first few decades of his existence. From 1929 to 1947, he was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle.

In 1936, he joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theatre group in Peshawar, and acted in numerous performances in pre-partition India until 1946. The family migrated from Peshawar to Karachi following his father’s retirement. After three years in prison in Pakistan, he relocated to Bombay in 1949, following the Partition of India. Along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, who both had Marxist leanings, he was a member of the theatre group IPTA. From 1947 to 1949, he spent two years in prison in Karachi for being a communist, after which he moved to India and settled in Mumbai. From 1949 to 1965, he performed in numerous plays in Indian theatres.

A. K. Hangal Profession

He began his Hindi film career at the age of 52 with Basu Bhattacharya’s Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird and went on to portray the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the leading men/women in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, or the archetypal meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in Chetan Anand’s Heer Raanjha, Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Baddhu, Guddi, and Naram Garam are among his finest. As a supporting actor, he appeared in 16 films starring Rajesh Khanna, including Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Prem Bandhan, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai, and Bewafai until Sautela Bhai in 1996.

His finest performances in his later years were in Shararat (2002), Tere Mere Sapne (1997), and Lagaan (character roles). In films, he has portrayed a large number of character roles, the majority of which have been positive, with the exception of Manzil and Prem Bandhan, in which his negative roles achieved fame. In 2001, he appeared in the NFDC film DATTAK (The Adopted), directed by Gul Bahar Singh. A friend suggested that A. K. Hangal would be a better choice than Madan Puri for the character of Inder Sen, which Debika Mitra had cast Madan Puri in. The exceptional performance went on to become one of Hangal’s most cherished acts.

Hangal ‘walked’ the platform in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji’s summer line in Mumbai on February 8, 2011.

In May 2012, Hangal made his final appearance in the television series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon as a guest star. Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon was a celebration of one hundred years of Indian cinema. The episode featuring Hangal was broadcast on Colours on June 1 at 22:00. Hangal also provided the vocal for the character of King Ugrasen in the 3 August 2012 release of the animated film Krishna Aur Kans. This was his final accomplishment before passing away. His performance as Ugrasen was praised by critics.

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A. K. Hangal Awards

In 2006, the Indian government honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Hindi cinema.

A. K. Hangal Death

Hangal was admitted to the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, on 16 August 2012, three days after an accident in his bathroom fractured his thigh bone. His son said he went to the hospital because he “suffered a back injury and required surgery.” However, this was not possible after it was discovered that he has chest and respiratory problems.” On August 26, he was connected to life support. An orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital, Dr. Vinod Khanna, stated, “He is on life support.” One of his lungs is inoperative. He also has respiratory difficulties.” However, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away on the same day at the age of 98. The following afternoon, his cremation took place at the Pavan Hans crematorium.

Shabana Azmi tweeted in response to his passing, “An era comes to an end. He contributed to the enhancement of the theatrical and cinematic arts.” The Communist Party of India referred to Hangal as a dedicated social and political activist who resisted the Shiv Sena assault. L. K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari of the BJP also expressed sorrow for his passing.