# Bharat Bhushan

Bharatbhushan Gupta, better known as Bharat Bhushan (14 June 1920 – 27 January 1992) was an Indian actor in Hindi language films, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the same name. He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

## Career

He made his debut with the Kidar Sharma hit Chitralekha (1941). However, he struggled for over a decade to make a mark in Hindi movies till Baiju Bawra (1952), which gave him instant stardom and legendary status along with Mohammad Rafi, Meena Kumari and Naushad Ali. Though a very talented actor and a prominent star of the 1950s and 1960s in Hindi language films, he often took on roles of tragic musicians in the movies. Films in which he starred as lead actor include Basant Bahar. His pairing with Madhubala proved to be very popular as they worked together in successful films like Gateway of India (1957), Phagun (1958) and Barsaat Ki Raat (1960).
"He portrays historical and mythological characters the best in Hindi movies," states contemporary actor-producer Chandrashekar. He wrote scripts and stories for Barsat Ki Raat, Nayi Umar Ki Nayi Fasal, Basant Bahar, Dooj Ka Chand, etc. He was the producer of Dooj Ka Chand. His brother R. Chandra made many films such as Bebus, Minar, and Basant Bahar.
He was the recipient of the second Filmfare best actor award for the film Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1954. Most of the great songs of major singers of that period such as Rafi, Manna Dey, Talat, and Mukesh were pictured on him. He was one of the few actors who had a good sense of music, so most music-based movies were made with him in lead roles in the 1950s and 1960s.
He acted in Hindi language movies until the 1990s. He is still loved and revered by the Indians for the great movies and great songs that he gave in spite of personal tragedies and stiff competition from his contemporaries. He is considered to be one of the greatest stars and legends of Hindi cinema.

## Personal life

Bharat Bhushan was born as Bharat Raibahadur Motilal Gupta on 14 June 1920 in a Vaishya (Baniya) family at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
His father, Raibahadur Motilal, was the government pleader of Meerut and Supreme Court Judge, Allahabad. He had one older brother. His mother died when he was two years old. The brothers left for Aligarh to stay with their grandfather after their mother's death. He did his studies and earned a graduate degree from Dharam Samaj College, Aligarh. His elder brother was film producer and high court judge, Rameshchandra Gupta, who owned the Ideal Studio at Lucknow. After studies, he took to acting against his father's wishes. He first went to Calcutta to join cinema and later established himself in Bombay.
He married into a prominent family in Meerut, Zamindar Raibahadur Budha Prakash's daughter Sarla. They had two daughters, Anuradha (who had polio-associated complications) and Aparajita. Bhushan's wife Sarla died of labour complications after delivering their second child in the early 1960s, soon after the release of film Barsaat Ki Raat. In 1967, he married actress Ratna, his co-star from Barsaat Ki Raat. Ratna was a prominent actress who played the sister or friend of the heroine in many films. Among her notable TV appearances was the serial Trishna as mother of the four young girls. It was an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
In an interview, his daughter Aparajita had said that after the sudden demise of her husband, she turned to acting. Aparajita has done more than 50 films and TV serials. She played the role of Mandodari in Ramanand Sagar's famous serial Ramayan.
Bhushan owned a bungalow in Bandra suburb of Bombay. This was the famous Aashirwad bungalow, which he sold to Rajendra Kumar, who in turn sold it to Rajesh Khanna. This bungalow, was thus home to 3 famous film stars. Bhushan was an avid reader and boasted of a fine collection of books, which he had to sell off like his cars and bungalows in bad times, after he turned co-producer at the instance of his brother. Only a few of his films were successes and unfortunately, the rest flopped. He died after he escaped his financial crisis, on 27 January 1992.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1941 | Chitralekha | | |
| 1942 | Bhakta Kabir | | |
| 1943 | Bhaichara | | |
| 1945 | Sawan | | |
| 1948 | Suhaag Raat | Beli | |
| 1949 | Rangila Rajasthan | | |
| 1949 | Udhaar | | |
| 1949 | Thes | Shyam | |
| 1950 | Aankhen | | |
| 1950 | Bhai Bahen | | |
| 1950 | Janmashtami | | |
| 1950 | Kisi Ki Yaad | | |
| 1950 | Ram Darshan | | |
| 1951 | Hamari Shaan | | |
| 1951 | Saagar | | |
| 1952 | Baiju Bawra | Baiju | |
| 1952 | Maa | Bhanu | |
| 1952 | Anand Math | Mahendra | |
| 1953 | Paheli Shaadi | | |
| 1953 | Dana Pani | | |
| 1953 | Farmaish | | |
| 1953 | Ladki | Raja | |
| 1953 | Shuk Rambha | | |
| 1953 | Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Vishvambhar Mishra / Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
| 1954 | Shabaab | | |
| 1954 | Meenar | | |
| 1954 | Pooja | Deepak | |
| 1954 | Kavi | | |
| 1954 | Dhoop Chhaon | | |
| 1954 | Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani | | |
| 1954 | Mirza Ghalib | Mirza Ghalib | Nomination, Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
| 1955 | Amanat | Pradeep | |
| 1956 | Basant Bahar | Gopal | Also co-wrote the script |
| 1957 | Sakshi Gopal | | |
| 1957 | Mera Saalam | | |
| 1957 | Champakali | | |
| 1957 | Gateway of India | Prakash | |
| 1957 | Rani Rupmati | Baz Bahadur | |
| 1958 | Samrat Chandragupt | Chandragupta Maurya | |
| 1958 | Phagun | Bijandra "Bijan" | |
| 1958 | Sohni Mahiwal | | |
| 1959 | Kal Hamara Hai | Bharat | |
| 1959 | Kavi Kalidas | | |
| 1959 | Sawan | | |
| 1960 | Chand Mere Aaja | | |
| 1960 | Ghunghat | Dr. Gopal | |
| 1960 | Angulimaal | Ahinsak (Angulimaal) | |
| 1960 | Barsaat Ki Raat | Amaan Hyderabadi / Mirza Lakhnauwi | Also co-wrote the script |
| 1962 | Gyara Hazar Ladkian | Puran | |
| 1962 | Sangeet Samrat Tansen | Sangeet Shiromani / Sangeet Samrat Tansen "Tanu" | |
| 1964 | Jahan Ara | Mirza Yusuf Changezi | |
| 1964 | Chandi Ki Deewar | | |
| 1964 | Dooj Ka Chand | Gopu | Also producer, co-wrote the script |
| 1964 | Vidyapati | Vidyapati | |
| 1965 | Naya Kanoon | Deepak | |
| 1967 | Taqdeer | | |
| 1969 | Pyar Ka Mausam | Gopal | |
| 1969 | Vishwas | Ramnath "Ram" Kapoor | |
| 1972 | Gomti Ke Kinare | Bharat | |
| 1973 | Kahani Kismat Ki | Doctor | |
| 1975 | Ranga Khush | Dilip Singh | |
| 1977 | Solah Shukrawar | Bhola Bhagat | |
| 1977 | Hira Aur Patthar | Tulsiram | |
| 1977 | Khoon Pasina | Kaka | |
| 1977 | Jai Dwarkadheesh | | |
| 1978 | Nawab Sahib | Salma's father | |
| 1978 | Ganga Sagar | Pratap Singh (Padma's father) | |
| 1980 | Unees-Bees | | |
| 1981 | Khara Khota | | |
| 1981 | Yaarana | Komal's father | |
| 1981 | Commander | | |
| 1981 | Umrao Jaan | Khan Saheb (music master) | |
| 1983 | Adi Shankaracharya | Kaippilly Shivaguru Nambudiri (Adi Shankara's father) | |
| 1983 | Nastik | Temple priest | |
| 1983 | Justice Chaudhury | Jagannath | |
| 1983 | Hero | Ramu (Jaikishen's father) | |
| 1983 | Ek Baar Chale Aao | Narayan Das | |
| 1984 | Zakhmi Sher | Judge | |
| 1984 | Sharaabi | Masterji | |
| 1984 | Shravan Kumar | | |
| Farishta | | |
| 1985 | Phaansi Ke Baad | | |
| 1985 | Mera Saathi | Gopal | |
| 1985 | Rehguzar | Landlord | Direct-to-video film |
| 1986 | Mera Dharam | Baba | |
| 1986 | Kala Dhanda Goray Log | Maharaj | |
| 1986 | Ghar Sansar | Rahim Chacha | |
| 1986 | Paise Ke Peechhey | Mahendra Malhotra | |
| 1987 | Himmat Aur Mehanat | Customer in hotel | Special appearance |
| 1987 | Ramayan | Goswami Tulsidas | TV series |
| 1988 | Pyaar Ka Mandir | Satish's father | |
| 1988 | Sone Pe Suhaaga | Kashinath | |
| 1988 | Maalamaal | Shri Mangatram's manager | |
| 1988 | Jai Karoli Maa | | |
| 1989 | Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon | | |
| 1989 | Chandni | Doctor | |
| 1989 | Ilaaka | Man with suitcase | |
| 1989 | Gharana | Radha's father | |
| 1989 | Toofan | Priest in the Hanuman temple | |
| 1989 | Jaadugar | Gyaneshwar | |
| 1990 | Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri | John | |
| 1990 | Majboor | Judge | |
| 1990 | Sheshnaag | Bhola & Champa's father | |
| 1990 | Baaghi | Asha's father | |
| 1991 | Pyar Ka Devta | Doctor | |
| 1991 | Karz Chukana Hai | College principal | |
| 1991 | Irada | | |
| 1991 | Prem Qaidi | Suryanath | |
| 1991 | Swarg Yahan Narak Yahan | School principal | |
| 1991 | Sau Crore | Kamlesh's father | Cameo |
| 1992 | Humshakal | Judge | Posthumous release |
| 1993 | Aakhri Chetawani | | Posthumous release |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 1955 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Won |
| 1956 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Mirza Ghalib | Nominated |