# Gope (actor)

Gope (11 April 1913 – 19 March 1957) was an Indian actor of Hindi cinema. Starting his career with a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan (1933), directed by Moti Gidwani and produced by Eastern Arts Production, Gope went on to act in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. Several of his films were released following his death.
Best known for his comedy roles, he is stated to be one of Hindi cinema's "most popular comedians". His acting in comic roles won him "critical and popular acclaim" and he soon became "the leading comedian of his time". His popularity assured him of being mentioned in the credit role of films along with the main cast. He became famous after lip-syncing the popular number "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" from Patanga, given playback by C. Ramchandra for Gope and by Shamshad Begum for Nigar Sultana.
He formed a popular comic pairing with Yakub, in the "Laurel-and-Hardy" style, and the producers used them in several films. Their most famous films together were Patanga (1949), followed by Bazar (1949), Beqasoor and Sagai (1951)

## Early years

Gope was born Gope Bishandas Kamlani, on 11 April 1913, in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. He was one of nine children. With K. S. Daryani's help, Gope moved to Mumbai and started his acting career in a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan (1933), which starred Jaddanbai, Ermeline and the then reigning comedian, Dixit.

## Career

Gope acted in other memorable roles in films such as Hindustan Hamara, Mirza Sahiban, Patanga and Chori Chori. Gope also tried playing negative roles. In the 1951 Dilip Kumar-Madhubala starrer film Taraana, he teamed up with Jeevan to play the villain's role in comic style. He started Gope Productions in the 1950s, which made films such as Hangama and Biradari. Some of these films were directed by Gope's brother, Ram Kamlani. Gope married actress Latika and continued to act in films until his premature death in 1957 on the set of Kundan Kumar's Teesri Gali, which was eventually released in 1958.

## Personal life

Gope married actress Latika on 5 February 1949 under the Civil Marriages Act. Latika had earlier acted in the film Gopinath (1948) opposite Raj Kapoor. According to a Filmindia magazine report, "a grand reception was given to the newly wedded couple at the Shree Sound Studios in which many film people participated. There was also a moonlight party later on the Juhu sands." Gope born a Hindu became a Jehovah's Witness. He had two sons with Latika. After his death, his widow Latika relocated to the United Kingdom with their two young sons.

## Filmography

Gope acted in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. A partial list:
| Year | Film | Cast | Director | Studio/Producer |
| 1933 | Insan Ya Shaitan | Jaddanbai, Dixit | Moti Gidwani | Eastern Arts Production |
| 1934 | Prem Pariksha | Jaddanbai, Hari Shivdasani, Rajkumari | G. R. Sethi | Eastern Arts Production |
| 1935 | Dharam Ki Devi (Religious Lady, Suhag Ki Raat) | Sardar Akhtar, Kumar, Hari Shivdasani, Anant Marathe | Hiren Bose | Eastern Arts Production |
| 1935 | Bharat Ki Beti (India's Daughter) | Rattan Bai, Gul Hamid, Yasmin, Amirbai Karnataki | Premankur Atorthy | Eastern Arts Production |
| 1936 | Pratima (The Idol Of Love, Prem Murti) | Sardar Akhtar, Nazir, Omkar Devaskar | Ram Daryani | Daryani Productions |
| 1937 | Gentleman Daku (Gentleman Bandit) | Leela Chitnis, Yusuf Effendi, Kokila | Ram Daryani | Daryani Productions |
| 1938 | Rajkumari (The Princess) | Lalita Pawar, Nazir, Ameena, O. K. Dar | Dwarka Khosla | Krishna Movies |
| 1939 | Kaun Kisi Ka (Who Belongs To Whom?) | Shobhana Samarth, Nazir, Padma Devi, Khurshid, Mubarak, K. N. Singh | C. M. Luhar (Chimanlal Muljibhoy Luhar) | Hindustan Cinetone |
| 1940 | Laxmi (Lakshmi) | Bibbo, Kumar, Jeevan, Maya Devi | Mohan Sinha | Circo Productions |
| 1940 | Hindustan Hamara (Our India) | Jamuna Barua, Nandrekar, Padma Devi, Hari Shivdasani | Ram Daryani | Film Corporation of India |
| 1941 | Laheri Jeevan (Life Is A Comedy) | Husn Banu, Harishchandra Rao, W. M. Khan | S. M. Yusuf | Harishchandra Pictures |
| 1942 | Society | Sitara Devi, Rajkumari Shukal, Nazir, Majid | S. Nazir | Hind Pics |
| 1942 | Umar Marvi (Meri Duniya) | Mazhar Khan, Kaushalya, Ashiq Hussain, Hari Shivdasani | Mazhar Khan | National Artists |
| 1942 | Duniya Ek Tamasha (The World's A Show) | Sardar Akhtar, W. M. Khan, Shyam, Urmila | Dwarka Khosla | Saubhagya Pictures |
| 1943 | Jhankar | Chandra Mohan, Pramila, Kumar, Azurie | S. Khalil | Silver Films |
| 1943 | Muskurahat (The Smile) | Motilal, Vanmala, Hari Shivdasani, Leela Mishra | Dwarka Khosla | Saubhagya Pictures |
| 1943 | Nai Zindagi (Gharonda) | Sheikh Mukhtar, Anees Khatoon, Yakub | S. Khalil | United Films |
| 1943 | School Master | Karan Dewan, Kaushalya, Maya Bannerji, Rajkumari Shukal | C. M. Luhar | Sun Art Pictures |
| 1944 | Biswi Sadi | Motilal, Nargis, Mazhar Khan | M. D. Bhavnani (Mohanlal Dayaram Bhavnani) | Bhavnani Productions |
| 1944 | Aaina (Mirror) | Trilok Kapoor, Husn Banu, Yakub | | |
| 1944 | Krishna Bhakta Bodana (Krishna Worshipper Bodana) | Sheikh Mukhtar, Meera, Ranjit Kumari, Rani Premlata | J. B. H. Wadia | Wadia Movietone |
| 1945 | Khiladi | E. Billimoria, Agha, Rajkumari | A. H. Essa | Empire Pictures |
| 1946 | Chalis Karod (Forty Crores) | Nirmala Devi, Yakub, Arun, Agha | Nanabhai Bhatt | Chandra Art |
| 1946 | Laat Saheb (Big Lord) | Latika, Harishchandra Rao, Anees Ktoon, Dalpat | K. P. Bhave | Harishchandra Pictures |
| 1947 | Mirza Sahiban | Noorjahan, Trilok Kapoor |
| 1947 | Dak Bangla (Rest House) | Suraiya, Wasti, Kamal Kapoor | M. Sadiq | Indian National Pictures |
| 1948 | Ghar Ki Izzat (Honour Of The House) | Dilip Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti, Manorama, Jeevan | Ram Daryani | Murli Movietone |
| 1948 | Pugree | Kamini Kaushal, Wasti, Gope, Dixit, Ram Avatar, Jeevan | Anant Thakur | All India Pictures |
| 1948 | Pyar Ki Jeet (Love's Victory) | Suraiya, Rehman, Raj Mehra, Manorama, Leela Mishra | O. P. Dutta | Famous Pictures |
| 1949 | Patanga (The Moth) | Nigar Sultana,Khairati,Shyam, Yakub, Purnima, Randhir | H. S. Rawail | Varma Films |
| 1949 | Bazaar | Shyam, Nigar Sultana, Yakub, Cuckoo | K. Amarnath | K. Amarnath |
| 1950 | Bhai Bahen | Geeta Bali, Nirupa Roy, Prem Adib, Bharat Bhushan | Ram Daryani | Krishna Movies |
| 1950 | Beqasoor | Madhubala, Ajit, Yakub | K. Amarnath | Madhukar Pictures |
| 1950 | Hanste Aansoo | Madhubala, Motilal, Manorama | | |
| 1950 | Anmol Ratan (Rare Jewel) | Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey, Nirmala, Madan Puri | M. Sadiq | Jaimini Dewan for Dewan Productions |
| 1951 | Tarana (Tune) | Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama, Jeevan | Ram Daryani | K. S. Daryani |
| 1951 | Sazaa | Dev Anand, Shyama, Nimmi, Durga Khote | Fali Mistry | G. P. Productions |
| 1951 | Nagina (The Jewel) | Nutan, Nasir Khan, Bipin Gupta | Ravindra Dave | Pancholi Productions |
| 1951 | Sagai (The Engagement) | Rehana, Premnath, Yakub | H. S. Rawail | Varma Films |
| 1951 | Sanam (Beloved) | Suraiya, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, K. N. Singh | Nandlal Jaswantlal | United Technicians |
| 1956 | Chori Chori (The Theft) | Raj Kapoor Nargis | | | Anant Thakur L.B. Lachman |
| 1958 | Teesri Gali, Gope died on the movie set | Pram Adib Abhi Bhattacharya Shyama Mohan Choti | Kundan Kumar | Radiant Movies |