Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi

Biography

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

Most Known For

Diwana

as Kaka

Hum Paanch

as Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav

Insaan

Neelam

Daku Aur Jawan

Malhar

Upkar

Mother India

as Sukhilala

Gunga Jumna

as Kallu

Grahasti

as Station Master Ram Swarup

Bandhan

Satyam Shivam Sundaram

as Pandit Shyam Sunder

Ram Aur Shyam

Zindagi

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen

as Rahmat

Dost

as Gadibabu

Apna Desh

as Sevaram

Ghunghat

Oonche Log

as Master Gunichand

Doli