View source for Jankidas

{{Short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2010}}
{{upscaled images|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Jankidas
| image         = Actor Jankidas.jpg
| caption       = An AI-upscaled image of Jankidas in a promotional poster of ''[[Hanste Aansoo]]'' (1950)
| birthname     = Jankidas Mehra
| birth_date    = 1910
| birth_place   = [[Lahore]], [[British India]]
| death_date    = 18 June {{Death year and age|2003|1910}}
| death_place   = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| othername     =
| yearsactive   = 1930s–1998
| spouse        =
| children      = Shanoo Mehra
| homepage      =
}}
'''Jankidas Mehra''' (1910 – 18 June 2003) was an Indian actor of [[Hindi cinema]], [[cycle sport|cyclist]], [[production designer]], and writer. He made over 1000 film appearances between the 1930s and 1997.<ref name=times>{{cite news|title=Veteran actor Jankidas passes away|date=18 June 2003|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-18/india/27174874_1_jankidas-mehra-production-designer-nanabhai-bhatt|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=22 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102025010/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-18/india/27174874_1_jankidas-mehra-production-designer-nanabhai-bhatt|archive-date=2 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Biography==
===Sports===
Although various press articles in India mention Jankidas as being a member of the [[International Olympic Committee]] at the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Olympic Games]] and being the only Indian to have broken the world record in cycling between 1934 and 1942,<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|title=Veteran actor Jankidas passes away|date=18 June 2003|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/18janki.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=22 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918064424/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/18janki.htm|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[India at the 1936 Summer Olympics]] page does not mention him. Nor do any IOC or Cycling records mention his name.
In the 1940s, along with [[Sohrab Bhoot]], he founded the [[Cycling Federation of India|Cycling Federation]] of India. [[File:India-Cycle-Sporting-1-JanakiDas+SohrabBhoot.jpg|thumb|alt=text| [[Cycling Federation of India]] founders J. Das (left) and [[Sohrab Bhoot]] (right)]]
===Films===
Jankidas debuted in films playing a major role in ''[[Khazanchi (1941 film)|Khazanchi]]'' (1941), produced in [[Lahore]]. He was not seen again until 1946, when he would appear in ''[[Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani]]''. From then on he would continue to play roles with increasing vigour over the years.<ref name="times" />
As a production designer, Jankidas was responsible for the founding of many famous Indian actor's careers. He was responsible for [[Madhubala]]'s role in [[Sohrab Modi]]'s ''[[Daulat (1949 film)|Daulat]]'' in 1947, and introduced [[Meena Kumari]] in [[Nanabhai Bhatt]]'s ''[[Hamara Ghar (1950 film)|Hamara Ghar]]'', and [[Khushbu Sundar|Khushbu]] in [[Sunil Dutt]]'s ''[[Dard Ka Rishta]]''.<ref name=rediff/> He also introduced actress [[Mala Sinha]] in Hamlet, produced and directed by [[Kishore Sahu]].
In 1985, he wrote the script for the film ''[[Yaadon Ki Kasam]]''.
Jankidas was the recipient of numerous national and international awards. In May 1996, he was honored with the [[Lifetime Achievement Award]] given by the [[Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association]].<ref name=rediff/>
Jankidas was also an author and wrote numerous books on Bollywood and the acting profession. He published '' My Misadventures in Filmland'' and ''Acting for Beginners''.<ref name=times/>
==Selected filmography==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year !!Film !!Character/Role
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1941|1941]] || ''[[Khazanchi (1941 film)|Khazanchi]]'' ||News reporter
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1946|1946]] || ''[[Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani]]'' ||Dr.  Mukherjee
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1948|1948]] || ''[[Rambaan]]'' ||
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1949|1949]]|| ''[[Aiye]]'' ||
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1949|1949]]
|''[[Daulat (1949 film)|Daulat]]''
|
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1950|1950]] || ''[[Babul (1950 film)|Babul]]'' ||Ashok's father
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1950|1950]]
|''[[Hanste Aansoo|Hanste Ansoo]]''
| Kumar's father
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1958|1958]] || ''[[Kala Pani (1958 film)|Kala Pani]]'' ||Daulat Chand
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1960|1960]] || ''[[Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960 film)|Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere]]'' ||Teacher
|-
|Rowspan="2"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1965|1965]] || ''[[Arzoo (1965 film)|Arzoo]]'' ||Ramesh's servant
|-
| ''[[Adhi Raat Ke Baad (1965 film)|Adhi Raat Ke Baad]]''
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1966|1966]] || ''[[Daadi Maa]]''|| Pandit Gyandutt
|-
|Rowspan="3"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1967|1967]] || ''[[Patthar Ke Sanam]]'' ||  Mr. Poojari
|-
|''[[Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan]]'' || Shopkeeper
|-
|''[[Parivar (1967 film)|Parivar]]''|| [[Paan]] seller
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1968|1968]] || ''[[Sadhu Aur Shaitaan]]''|| Seth Jankidas
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1969|1969]] ||'' [[Sajan (1969 film)]]''|| Tarakilal, Stage Show Organizer
|-
|Rowspan="2"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1970|1970]]   ||''[[Pushpanjali (1970 film)|Pushpanjali]]'' || Tourist guide
|-
|''[[Khilona (1970 film)]]'' || Advocate Jankidas
|-
|Rowspan="2"| [[List of Bollywood films of 1971|1971]]||''[[Chingari (1971 film)|Chingari]]'' || Pandit
|-
|''[[Naya Zamana]]''|| Sitaram
|-
|Rowspan="2"| [[List of Bollywood films of 1972|1972]] || ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' ||Secretary
|-
|''[[Yeh Gulistan Hamara ]]'' || Haku
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1974|1974]]||''[[Patthar Aur Payal]]'' || Jankidas,Casino Manager
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1975|1975]]||''[[Khel Khel Mein (1975 film)|Khel Khel Mein]]''||Seth Ghanshyam Das,Jewellery Store Owner
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1976|1976]]||''[[Sankoch]]'' || Vidyavathi Father
|-
|Rowspan="2"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1977|1977]]|| ''[[Saheb Bahadur]]''|| Astrolger
|-
|''[[Kasam Khoon Ki]]'' || Seth Dwarkadas
|-
|Rowspan="4"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1978|1978]] || ''[[Tumhari Kasam]]''|| Tikam Seth
|-
|''[[Bhola Bhala]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Des Pardes (1978 film)|Des Pardes]]'' || Daiyal
|-
|''[[Azaad (1978 film)]]''|| Diwanji
|-
|Rowspan="3"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1979|1979]] ||  ''[[Sargam (1979 film)|Sargam]]''|| Landlord
|-
|''[[Khandaan (1979 film)|Khandaan]]'' || Kedarnath
|-
|''[[Prem Bandhan (1979 film)|Prem Bandhan]]'' || Rodrigues
|-
|Rowspan="3"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1980|1980]] || ''[[Khanjar (1980 film)|Khanjar]]'' ||
|-
|''[[The Burning Train]]''|| Ticket Collector in Express Train
|-
|''[[Kali Ghata (1980 film)|Kali Ghata]]'' ||
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1982|1982]] || ''Taaqat''|| ||
|-
|Rowspan="4"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1983|1983]]||''[[Humse Na Jeeta Koi]]''|| Lala
|-
| ''[[Paanchwin Manzil]]''||Gyanchand
|-
|''[[Nishaan (1983 film)|Nishaan]]''|| Pandit
|-
|''[[Naukar Biwi Ka]]'' || Director Personnel Assistant
|-
|Rowspan="3"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1984|1984]] || ''[[Sharaabi]]''|| Rustomjee Bandookwala
|-
|''[[Phulwari (1984 film)|Phulwari]]'' || Antique Shop Owner
|-
|''[[Laila (1984 film)|Laila]]'' || Pandit
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1985|1985]]||''[[Karishma Kudrat Kaa]]'' || Seth Jankidas, Jeweller
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1986|1986]] || ''[[Sasti Dulhan Mahenga Dulha]]'' ||Pandit
|-
|Rowspan="6"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1987|1987]]||  ''[[Goraa]]'' || Seth Tarachand
|-
|''[[Insaniyat Ke Dushman]]''|| Manager
|-
|''[[Hukumat]]''|| Ticket Collector at Railway station
|-
|''[[Sitapur Ki Geeta]]''|| Bread Man
|-
|''[[Mera Yaar Mera Dushman]]''  ||Club Manager
|-
|''[[Sadak Chhap]]'' || Seth ''Jankidas''
|-
|Rowspan="4"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1988|1988]]||''[[Shoorveer]]''|| House Servant
|-
|''[[Kanwarlal]]''|| Trivedi
|-
| ''[[Maalamaal]]''|| Antique Shop Owner
|-
|''[[Bees Saal Baad (1988 film)|Bees Saal Baad]]'' || Estate Agent/Broker ''Jankidas''
|-
|Rowspan="3"|[[List of Bollywood films of 1991|1991]]|| ''[[Farishtay]]''|| Foreign Terrorist (Cameo/Guest) Role
|-
|''[[Iraada]]'' || Janki
|-
|''[[Dushman Devta]]'' ||Pandit
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1993|1993]] || ''[[Dhanwan (1993 film)|Dhanwaan]]''||Pensioner club Member
|-
|[[List of Bollywood films of 1998|1998]] || ''[[Ghar Bazar]]'' ||Gupta
|-
|}
==Death==
Jankidas had a heart ailment for a substantial period of time, but was discharged from the local hospital two days before his death.<ref name=rediff/> He died of cardiac failure at his Juhu residence on Wednesday 18 June 2003. He was 93.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links and sources ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0417714}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian production designers]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male cyclists]]
{{India-actor-stub}}