Book on Sanjeev Kumar to be published by HarperCollins India on actor’s birth anniversary next month

HarperCollins India is publishing Sanjeev Kumar: The Actor We All Loved on the actor’s 84th birth anniversary on 9 July. Written by the late actor’s nephew Uday Jariwala and author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, this biography will chronicle his journey as an artiste.

The upcoming book has been endorsed by prime minister Narendra Modi and features personal essays by those who worked with him, including friends like Gulzar, Randhir Kapoor and co-stars Sharmila Tagore, Moushumi Chatterjee and Tanuja.

The National award-winning actor, born Harihar Jariwala, was known for taking on all kinds of diverse roles in films such as Dastak (1970), Khilona (1970), Koshish (1972), Aandhi (1975), Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978) and Angoor (1982). Of course, he is part of Indian cinema lore with his iconic character Thakur in Ramesh Sippy's classic Sholay (1975). He died of a heart attack at 47 on 6 November 1985, leaving behind a rich legacy of work.

HarperCollins India executive publisher Udayan Mitra said that the book was also going to be adapted into a film in the future. He said, “Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta and Uday Jariwala’s book is a wonderful tribute to the actor we all loved, with accounts from many luminaries in the film industry who knew Sanjeev Kumar intimately. This is a biography that will bring back memories of the golden age of Indian cinema for many a reader. We’re also excited that the book is going to be adapted into a motion picture. We’re in talks with some leading production houses for the film rights and we should be able to make an announcement on this soon.”

Co-author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta stated, “The one thing that stands out for me when I was writing this book was that all of Sanjeev Kumar’s friends told me, ‘Please write a happy book because Haribhai was a happy man’. I believe that’s what we have achieved with the book.”

Sanjeev’s nephew Uday Jariwala added, “I still remember that for a very long time after Sanjeev dada’s demise, every time the door opened, I thought it was him entering the house. He would cuddle me and play with me. He left a vacuum in our lives that we can never fill. My family and I are excited to present Sanjeev Kumar: The Actor We All Loved. This book is a labour of love and it has taken us almost four years to complete. It is an authentic representation of his life. For the first time, his fans will get to know him up close as he really was.”

The biography was announced in 2019 and was expected to be released in 2020 on the 35th death anniversary.