K. N. Singh
Krishan Niranjan Singh | |
|---|---|
 Singh in the film Ratnavali | |
| Born | 1 September 1908 |
| Died | 31 January 2000 (aged 91) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupations | Film actor, director and producer |
| Years active | 1936–1996 |
| Children | Pushkar Singh (son) |
| Father | Chandi Prasad Singh |
Krishan Niranjan Singh (1 September 1908 – 31 January 2000), known as K. N. Singh in Indian cinema, was a prominent villain and character actor. He appeared in over 200 Hindi films over a long career stretching from 1936 to the late 1980s.
Career
Early years (1908–1936)
The son of Chandi Prasad Singh, an erstwhile Indian prince and a prominent criminal lawyer, K.N. Singh was a sportsman who once dreamt of being in the army. Born in Dehradun, Singh was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a lawyer. However, his father's skillful defence, which saved an obviously guilty man from the gallows, turned him away from the profession.[1]
Turning his energy to sports, K.N. Singh came to excel in the javelin throw and the shot put. He was selected to represent India in the 1936 Berlin Olympics before circumstances compelled him to go to Calcutta to attend on his ailing sister. There he met his family friend Prithviraj Kapoor, who introduced him to director Debaki Bose, who offered him a debut role in his film Sonehra Sansar (1936).
Popular villain (1936 to late 1960s)
K.N. Singh enjoyed limited success until the release of Baghban (1938), in which he played the antagonist. Baghban was a golden jubilee hit, establishing Singh as one of the leading villains of the era.
Through the 1940s and 1950s, Singh appeared in several iconic movies of the era, including Sikandar (1941), Jwar Bhata (1944) (Dilip Kumar's film debut), Humayun (1945), Awara (1951), Jaal (1952), CID (1956), Howrah Bridge (1958), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Amrapali (1966) and An Evening in Paris (1967).
As opposed to playing angry mobsters, he mostly played a white collared gentleman villain, dressed in a fine suit and smoking a pipe, with a calm cold delivery.[2]
His suave style, baritone voice and menacing eyes became legendary – so much so that on one occasion (in his own words) "Even off-screen I was a bad man. One day on my way back from shooting, I had to deliver an envelope at an address given to me by my friend. I pressed the doorbell and, from the moving curtains, I could see a woman hurrying to open the door. When she saw me standing in front of her, she screamed out in fright and ran inside leaving the door open."[3]
As an actor, Singh's thirst for learning was legendary. For example, he studied the style and mannerisms of carriage riders to prepare for the role of a horse carriage driver in Inspector (1956).[4]
Later years (1970 to late 1980s)
Singh played prominent roles in movies such as Jhoota Kahin Ka (1970), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971 film) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972 film). His last prominent role was in the 1973 film Loafer (1973 film).
With advancing years, Singh became less active, particularly from the mid 1970s onwards. Many of his roles from the late 1970s onwards were mere cameo appearances, arranged with the sole purpose of ensuring that actors turned up on time – such was his stature that actors would never turn up late when K.N. Singh was on the set.[5] His last but one appearance was in Woh Din Aayega (1986).He also acted in "Ajooba"(1991) which was his last film.
Personal life
Singh was the eldest among 6 siblings: a sister and five brothers.He adopted Pushkar, the son of his brother Bikram (who was once the editor of Filmfare magazine) as their son.[6]
Singh became completely blind in his last years and had a fall in his home after which he was almost bedridden. He died in Mumbai on 31 January 2000 aged 91 and was survived by his adopted son Pushkar, who is a producer of television serials.[7]
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Sonehra Sansar | A doctor | Debut film |
| Hawai Daku - Bandit Of The Air | |||
| Karodpati | |||
| 1937 | Anaath Aashram | ||
| Milap | A lawyer | Bilingual film (Bengali and Hindi) | |
| Mukti | A guest at Chitra's father's party | ||
| Vidyapati | Bengali film | ||
| 1938 | Baghban | Ranjit | His first film as the antagonist |
| Nirala Hindustan - Industrial India | |||
| Sitara | |||
| 1939 | Aap Ki Marzi | ||
| Pati Patni | |||
| Thokar | A doctor | ||
| 1940 | Apni Nagariya | ||
| 1941 | Sikandar | King Aambhi | |
| 1942 | Ek Raat | ||
| Phir Milenge | |||
| 1943 | Prarthana | A doctor | |
| Prithvi Vallabh | Bhillam | ||
| Shahenshah Akbar | |||
| 1944 | Draupadi | ||
| Jwar Bhata | |||
| Maharathi Karna | Duryodhana | ||
| Pattharon Ka Saudagar | |||
| 1945 | Humayun | Jai Singh | |
| Mazdoor | |||
| Ratnavali | |||
| 1946 | Rangbhoomi | ||
| Room No. 9 | Pratap | ||
| 1947 | Chalte Chalte | ||
| Parwana | Kishan | ||
| Zanjeer | |||
| 1949 | Barsaat | Bholu | |
| Paras | |||
| Singaar | Dr. Kishan's father | ||
| 1950 | Banwra | ||
| Nirdosh | |||
| 1951 | Awara | Jagannath "Jagga" | |
| Baazi | Rajani's father | ||
| Halchal | Chandan | ||
| Saagar | |||
| Sanam | Sadhana's father | ||
| Sazaa | Durjan Singh | ||
| 1952 | Aandhiyan | Kuber Das | |
| Doraha | |||
| Ghunghroo | |||
| Insaan | |||
| Jaal | Carlos | ||
| Parbat | Parbat's obsessive lover | ||
| 1953 | Armaan | ||
| Baaz | Barborosa | ||
| Shahenshah | |||
| Shikast | Madho | ||
| 1954 | Angarey | Dozila | |
| Badshah | |||
| Ehsan | |||
| Sangam | |||
| 1955 | House No. 44 | Captain | |
| Marine Drive | Khanna | ||
| Milap | Karam Chand | ||
| 1956 | C. I. D. | Rekha Mathur's father | |
| Funtoosh | Karodi Lal | ||
| Inspector | Badri Prasad | ||
| Zindagi Ke Mele | |||
| 1957 | Bade Sarkar | Maan Singh | |
| Beti | |||
| Hill Station | |||
| Mera Salaam | |||
| Ustad | |||
| 1958 | Chaalbaaz | ||
| Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi | Hardayal Singh | ||
| Chandan | |||
| Chaubees Ghante | |||
| Detective | |||
| Howrah Bridge | Pyarelal | ||
| Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala | |||
| Taxi Stand | |||
| 1959 | Bank Manager | Ranjit | |
| Forty Days | Bholanath | ||
| Kali Topi Lal Rumal | Jaggu | ||
| Keechak Vadha | |||
| 1960 | Barsaat Ki Raat | Khan Bahadur | |
| Chhabili | |||
| Gambler | |||
| Manzil | Raj Kumar Mehta's father | ||
| Mehlon Ke Khwab | Motilal | ||
| Nache Nagin Baje Been | |||
| Road No. 303 | |||
| Singapore | Shivdas | ||
| 1961 | Dark Street | ||
| Krorepati | Hukumat Rai | ||
| Miss Chalbaaz | |||
| Opera House | Danial | ||
| Passport | Shyamlal alias Shamsher Singh | ||
| Reshmi Rumal | Rai Sahib | ||
| Salaam Memsaab | |||
| Sapan Suhane | Baldev | ||
| Senapati | |||
| 1962 | Hong Kong | ||
| Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai | Varma | ||
| Naqli Nawab | Nawab Sharafat Ali | ||
| Raaz Ki Baat | Singh | ||
| Soorat Aur Seerat | |||
| Vallah Kya Baat Hai | Firoz Singh | ||
| 1963 | Lado Rani | Punjabi film | |
| Shikari | Dr. Cyclops | ||
| 1964 | Dulha Dulhan | Dharam Singh | |
| Woh Kaun Thi ? | Dr. Singh | ||
| 1965 | Bombay Race Course | ||
| Ek Saal Pehle | |||
| Faraar | Public Prosecutor | ||
| Raaka | Vishal | ||
| Rustom-e-Hind | |||
| 1966 | Amrapali | Badbadhra Singh | |
| Mera Saaya | Prosecuting Lawyer | ||
| Street Singer | |||
| Teesri Manzil | Manohar | ||
| 1967 | An Evening in Paris | Jack | |
| Johar in Bombay | |||
| Raat Aur Din | Varuna's father | ||
| 1968 | Dil Aur Mohabbat | Singh | |
| Ek Phool Ek Bhool | Dr. Rakesh's father | ||
| Mere Huzoor | Hakim | ||
| Spy in Rome | Dr. Chang | ||
| Teri Talash Mein | Uncredited | ||
| 1969 | Jigri Dost | Neelkanth | |
| Nateeja | Boss | ||
| Sapna | |||
| Shart | Singh | ||
| Simla Road | |||
| 1970 | Dagabaaz | ||
| Ehsan | Dinanath alias Vishwanath Prasad | ||
| Himmat | Mathur | ||
| Mangu Dada | |||
| Meeting | Mahendranath | ||
| Pagla Kahin Ka | Max | ||
| Suhana Safar | Dr. Singh | ||
| Tarzan 303 | |||
| The Revenger | |||
| 1971 | Dushmun | Saxena | |
| Haathi Mere Saathi | Shravan Kumar | ||
| Hum Tum Aur Woh | Advocate | ||
| Jaane-Anjaane | Poonamchand | ||
| Pyar Ki Kahani | Ram's boss | ||
| Reshma Aur Shera | Chowdhary | ||
| 1972 | Bansi Birju | Jaggu | |
| Do Bachche Dus Haath | Girdhari | ||
| Do Chor | Tribhuvan Singh | ||
| Mere Jeevan Saathi | Govind Ram | ||
| 1973 | Daaman Aur Aag | Singh | |
| Hanste Zakhm | One of Chanda's patrons | ||
| Kuchhe Dhaage | Sona's father | ||
| Keemat | Chief of Secret Services | ||
| Loafer | Singh | ||
| Sabak | Ajit | ||
| 1974 | Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi | Khadak Singh | |
| Hamrahi | V. K. | ||
| Jeevan Rekha | |||
| Majboor | Prosecuting Attorney | ||
| Sagina | Factory Owner | ||
| Vachan | |||
| 1975 | Dimple | ||
| Kaala Sona | Police Commissioner | ||
| Prem Kahani | Rai Bahadur Shrikant Sinha | ||
| Qaid | Dr. Trivedi | ||
| Rafoo Chakkar | |||
| Romeo in Sikkim | |||
| 1976 | Adalat | Singh | |
| Harfan Maulaa | Police Inspector | ||
| Meera Shyam | |||
| 1977 | Agent Vinod | Vinod's Chief | |
| Jadu Tona | |||
| Mamta | |||
| Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam | Khan Bahadur | ||
| Saheb Bahadur | Pashupathi | ||
| 1979 | Guru Ho Jaa Shuru | C. B. I. Chief | Uncredited |
| Zulm Ki Pukar | |||
| 1980 | Do Premee | Shivlal "Mahayogi" | |
| Dostana | Judge | ||
| 1981 | Farz Aur Pyar | Senior Air Force Officer | |
| Kaalia | A convict | ||
| Professor Pyarelal | |||
| Shraddhanjali | Amit's Diwan | ||
| 1982 | Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon | Nataraj | |
| 1983 | Bekhabar | ||
| 1984 | Sardaar | Mathur | |
| The Gold Medal | Singh | ||
| 1987 | Hukumat | Deen Bandhu Deena Nath's friend | Cameo |
| Woh Din Aayega | Hukumat | ||
| 1988 | Soorma Bhopali | ||
| 1992 | Laat Saab | K. N. Singh | |
| 1994 | Laila | ||
| 1996 | Daanveer | Last released film |
- ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Arts Tribune". Tribune India.
- ↑ "Shashi Ranjan: I met KN Singh Saab when he had lost vision in both eyes due to some disease, it was unreal - Exclusive". The Times of India. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ↑ Joshi, Lalit Mohan (22 March 2000). "KN Singh". The Guardian.
- ↑ "Rediff on the Net, Movies:Nostalgia: K N Singh". Rediff.
- ↑ "Guest post: KN Singh". 6 November 2008.
- ↑ "This actor saw his father save a murder accused, qualified for Olympics, and became Bollywood's top villain". DNA India. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ↑ "Gentleman Villain of Bollywood, K.N. Singh, dies at the age of 91". India Today. 13 February 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2025.