KC
Photo of Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi

Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi

Actor, Additional Credits
Born January 1, 1910Died August 14, 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

Known For

  • Mother India
  • Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime
  • Upkar
  • Dost
  • Daag
  • Himalay Ki Godmein
  • Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein
  • Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke
  • Jeet
  • Oonche Log
  • Sitara
  • Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
  • Ghunghat
  • Sahara

Filmography

1980
Hum Paanch · as Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav
1980
1978
1978
Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime · as Pandit Shyam Sunder
1977
1977
1974
Dost · as Gadibabu
1973
Heera · as Dhaniram
1972
Apna Desh · as Sevaram
1971
Banphool · as Muninji
1970
Jeevan Mrityu · as Jagat Narayan
1969
1969
1969
1969
1967
1967
1967
1967
Diwana · as Kaka
1967
1966
Biradari · as Rammurthy 'dudhwala'
1966
1965
Oonche Log · as Master Gunichand
1965
Himalay Ki Godmein · as Ghoghar Baba
1965
1964
1963
Bharosa · as Raunaklal
1963
Grahasti · as Station Master Ram Swarup
1963
1962
Son of India · as Paro's Dad
1961
Gunga Jumna · as Kallu
1960
Parakh · as Pandit Tarkalankar
1960
1958
Sahara · as Chaudhary Gaman Singh
1957
Mother India · as Sukhilala
1955
Naukari · as Hari
1952
1949
Jeet · as Thakur Kalyan Singh
1940
Aurat · as Sukhilala

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