Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
Actor
1 January 1910 — 14 August 1982 (72 years)
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
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
Filmography
| 1982 | Haathkadi · as Raghuvir |
| 1982 | Jeeo Aur Jeene Do · as Villager |
| 1981 | Kanhaiyaa · as Makhanlal |
| 1980 | Hum Paanch · as Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav |
| 1980 | Sitara · as Girdhari |
| 1979 | Janta Hawaldar · as Mama |
| 1979 | Jaan-E-Bahaar · as Cast |
| 1978 | Daku Aur Jawan · as Sukkhilala |
| 1978 | Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime · as Pandit Shyam Sunder |
| 1978 | Karmayogi · as Landlord |
| 1977 | Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein · as Cast |
| 1977 | Hatyara · as Pyarelal 'pyare' |
| 1977 | Jadu Tona · as Amirchand's Father |
| 1975 | Mounto · as Lala |
| 1974 | Dost · as Gadibabu |
| 1973 | Anokhi Ada · as Ram Prasad 'ramu' |
| 1973 | Heera · as Dhaniram |
| 1972 | Gaon Hamara Shaher Tumhara · as Advocate Chandershekhar Pandey |
| 1972 | Apna Desh · as Sevaram |
| 1972 | Annadata · as Landlord |
| 1972 | Dushmun · as Durga Prasad |
| 1972 | Tangewala · as Munimji |
| 1972 | Aan Baan · as Dhaniram |
| 1971 | Banphool · as Muninji |
| 1971 | Lakhon Me Ek · as Manoharlal - Gauri's Dad |
| 1970 | Sharafat · as Pratapchand |
| 1970 | Dulhan Ek Raat Ki · as Cast |
| 1970 | Jeevan Mrityu · as Jagat Narayan |
| 1969 | Bandhan · as Malikram |
| 1969 | Doli · as Cast |
| 1969 | Chirag · as Munim |
| 1969 | Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke · as Gangaram |
| 1968 | Teen Bahuraniyan · as Sita's And Mala's Father |
| 1967 | Ram Aur Shyam · as Munimji |
| 1967 | Woman · as Pandit |
| 1967 | Upkar · as Lala Dhaniram |
| 1967 | Diwana · as Kaka |
| 1966 | Biradari · as Rammurthy 'dudhwala' |
| 1966 | Gaban · as Devideen Khati |
| 1965 | Oonche Log · as Gunichand |
| 1965 | Himalay Ki Godmein · as Ghoghar Baba |
| 1964 | Phoolon Ki Sej · as Banwari |
| 1964 | Zindagi · as Pandit |
| 1963 | Bharosa · as Raunak Lal |
| 1963 | Grahasti · as Station Master Ram Swarup |
| 1963 | Meri Surat Teri Ankhen · as Rahmat |
| 1962 | Son of India · as Paro's Dad |
| 1962 | Sautela Bhai · as Gokul's Father-In-Law |
| 1961 | Gunga Jumna · as Kallu |
| 1961 | Gharana · as Advocate Shyam Lal Gupta |
| 1960 | Parakh · as Pandit Tarkalankarji |
| 1960 | Ghunghat · as Saroj's Father |
| 1958 | Sahara · as Chaudhary Gaman Singh |
| 1957 | Mother India · as Sukhilala |
| 1957 | Bandi · as Maheshwar |
| 1957 | Do Roti · as Lakshmidas |
| 1955 | Devdas · as Teacher |
| 1955 | Naukari · as Hari |
| 1952 | Daag · as Lala Jagat Narayan |
| 1949 | Jeet · as Thakur Kalyan Singh |
| 1941 | Bahen · as Moti |
| 1940 | Aurat · as Sukhilala |