# D. K. Sapru

Daya Kishan Sapru (16 March 1916 – 20 October 1979), was an Indian actor famed for a variety of character roles in Hindi cinema, particularly villains, judges and aristocrats in crime thrillers and dramas. His most notable performances were in Bollywood productions of between the late 1950s and early 1970s, including Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Heer Raanjha, Pakeezah, Kala Pani, Dooj Ka Chand, Tere Mere Sapne, Humjoli, Jewel Thief, and Deewar.
Born to Kashmiri Pandit parents in 1916, Sapru made his Bollywood debut in Chand (1944), starring Prem Adib, another Kashmiri Pandit actor. By the early 1970s, Sapru had risen to prominence as a villain in crime thrillers. Although he died in 1979, he continued to appear in several films that were released in the 1980s, including Krodhi (1981).
His son Tej Sapru and younger daughter Preeti Sapru are actors in Punjabi and Hindi films. His elder daughter Reema Rakesh Nath is a scriptwriter and director, and her son, actor Karan Nath, is Sapru's only grandson.

## Selected filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Credited as |
| 1981 | Kudrat | Janak Singh's Father | Sapru |
| 1981 | Krodhi | Zamindar (Raja's Dad) | |
| 1980 | Jyoti Bane Jwala | | |
| 1978 | Chor Ke Ghar Chor | Thakur | Sapru |
| 1978 | Naya Daur (1978 film) | Hotel Manager | Sapru |
| 1978 | Vishwanath | Judge | Sapru |
| 1978 | Phaansi | Chhaya's Father | Sapru |
| 1978 | Ram Kasam | | |
| 1977 | Rangaa Aur Raja | | |
| 1977 | Mukti | Mr. Verma | Sapru |
| 1977 | Guru Manio Granth | Chandu Seth | |
| 1977 | Chhaila Babu | Ramesh Verma | Uncredited |
| 1977 | Alibaba Marjinaa | Badshah | |
| 1977 | Dharam Veer | Badshah | Sapru |
| 1977 | Dream Girl | Sindhi Groom's Dad | Sapru |
| 1977 | Gayatri Mahima | | |
| 1977 | Jai Ambe Maa | | |
| 1976 | Charas | Watson | Sapru |
| 1976 | Adalat | Judge | |
| 1975 | Faraar | Defence Lawyer | Sapru |
| 1975 | Pratigya (1975 film) | Purohit | |
| 1975 | Rafoo Chakkar | #6 Duo | Sapru |
| 1975 | Deewaar | Mr. Agarwal | Sapru |
| 1975 | Lafange | Dhanraj | |
| 1974 | Majboor | Neelu's Dad | Sapru |
| 1974 | Benaam | Mr. Sharma | |
| 1974 | Haath Ki Safai | Baba Sheikh | Sapru |
| 1974 | Resham Ki Dori | Anupama's Grandfather | Sapru |
| 1974 | Patthar Aur Payal | Rai Bahadur Shiv Narayan Sinha | Sapru |
| 1974 | 5 Rifles | Maharaja | Sapru |
| 1974 | Kasauti | Hariram | Sapru |
| 1974 | Do Chattane | Dhaniram | |
| 1974 | Imtihaan | College Chairman | |
| 1974 | Chowkidaar | Thakur Ranvir Singh | |
| 1974 | Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam | as Raja Duni Chand | Punjabi Movie |
| 1974 | Paise Ki Gudiya | Raja Saheb (Madhavi's Patron) | Sapru |
| 1974 | Prem Shastra | Judge | |
| 1974 | Shaitan | Police Commissioner | Sapru |
| 1973 | Zanjeer | Patil | Sapru |
| 1972 | Bhai Ho To Aisa | Thakur Vikram Singh | Sapru |
| 1972 | Pakeezah | Hakim Saab | Sapru |
| 1971 | Gambler | Ganga Ram | Sapru |
| 1971 | Shri Krishna Leela | Raja Kansa | Sapru |
| 1970 | Prem Pujari | Military Judge | Sapru |
| 1970 | Heer Ranjha | | Sapru |
| 1969 | Sajan | manoj Kumar father | |
| 1969 | Satyakam | Diwan Bajridhar Talwar | Sapru |
| 1968 | Humsaya | Mr. Sen | Sapru |
| 1967 | Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan | Amarchand Mehra | Sapru |
| 1967 | Jewel Thief | Seth Vishambhar Nath | Sapru |
| 1966 | Dil Diya Dard Liya | Thakur | Sapru |
| 1965 | Johar-Mehmood in Goa | Hakim | |
| 1965 | Shaheed | Sardar Kishan Singh | Sapru |
| 1964 | Leader | King of Shahgarh | Sapru |
| 1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Zamindar | Sapru |
| 1962 | Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam | Chaudhary (Majhle Sarkar) | Sapru |
| 1962 | Sangeet Samrat Tansen | Raja Ramchandra | Sapru |
| 1960 | Hum Hindustani | Judge | |
| 1958 | Kalapani | Diwan Sardarilal | Sapru |
| 1955 | Waman Avtar | Mahabali | Sapru |
| 1953 | Jhansi Ki Rani | General Sir Hugh Rose | Sapru |
| 1948 | Lal Dupatta | Manager | Sapru |
| 1947 | Romeo And Juliet | | |
| 1944 | Chand | | |