Rajendranath

 RAJENDRANATH

Rajendra Nath is an actor of Bollywood who mostly did comic roles. He studied science at Darbar College in Rewa. His father was in the Police Force, and retired as the Inspector General of Police of Rewa. His sister Krishna was married to the great showman of Bollywood Raj Kapoor. In 1949, he shifted to Mumbai. By that time his brother Premnath was an established actor of the film industry. He was a good friend of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.

Rajendera Nath worked on the stage in Prithvi Theatres with Prithviraj Kapoor. He toured all over India with the troupe, alongwith Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Then he entered film industry and started doing small roles in movies. He acted in many films in Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and in South Indian movies also. In 1938, he acted in Franz Osten's Vachan with Ashok Kumar.

Rajendra Nath then got a break with a small comic role in I.S.Johar's Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956), with Shammi Kapoor and Nalini Jaywant. People appreciated his work and he got a few small roles in films. He got a better role as a harmonium player in H.S.Rawail's Sharaarat with Meena Kumari, Kishore Kumar and Raaj Kumar. Through the recommendation of Shammi Kapoor, who was working with Filmistan, he met Nasir Husain. He did a number of movies with Nasir Hussain like Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, and Pyar Ka Mausam. He played the role of a buffoon called Popatlal in Jab Pyar Kisi Se hota Hai, and the character became so popular that it soon became synonymous with Rajendera Nath.

In 1958, Rajendra Nath got a chance to work with S. Mukherji of Filmalaya in the film Dil Deke Dekho. The film was very successful and he was flooded with offers by good producers and directors. He did two films with the celebrated director Bimal Roy in Prem Patra (1962) and Usne Kaha Tha (1960) with Sunil Dutt and Nanda.

Rajendra Nath acted in Janwar with Bhappi Sonie, which was followed by Jawan Mohabbat and Tum Haseen Main Jawan, which were very successful. He has acted in a number of different roles with the best of heroes and the best of directors of the industry. He did a cameo role in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog and the role of a hippie in Purab Aur Paschim, the role of a dacoit in Mujhe Jeene Do.

He fell in love with actress Bina Rai during the filming of Aurat. They married and formed a production company together called P.N. films. 

He earned Filmfare nominations as Best Supporting Actor for: Shor (1972), Bobby (1973), Amir Garib (1974), and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974).

He died in 1992 of a heart attack at the age of sixty-six.

1967 : Baharon Ke Sapne  - as Pandu 
1969 : Bandhan - Ram Vaidraj
1970 : Aan Milo Sajana - Muft Ram Mauji 
1970 : The Train
1971 : Maryada
1972 : Mere Jeevan Saathi