More than forty years after his death, Sanjeev Kumar remains a role model for aspiring actors. He could light up the screen in underpants, paunch showing, in one of Hindi cinema's most lovable song sequences, 'Thande thande paani se nahana chahiye' (Pati Patni Aur Woh, 1977). Unselfconscious of his star image, he often portrayed father figures to contemporaries like Sharmila Tagore in Mausam (1975) and Amitabh Bachchan in Trishul (1978), leaving an indelible mark with his presence and acting prowess. Starting out in B-films in the 1960s, he gained attention in Sungharsh (1967), where he held his own against Dilip Kumar, a moment now part of Hindi film folklore. Equally adept at comedy (Angoor and Manchali) and serious roles (Anubhav and Koshish), he was truly an actor's actor. The biography by Hanif Zaveri and Sumant Batra offers insights into his personal and professional life, from the traditional Zariwala business to romantic involvements with major stars, his lifelong battle with loneliness, and his achievements on screen. This work serves as a succinct introduction to a star who tragically left us at forty-seven but continues to resonate through his remarkable contributions to Hindi cinema.
