Raaj Kumar born Kulbushan Pandit (8 October 1926  3 July 1996) was an Indian actor in Hindi movies. Raaj Kumar started out as sub-inspector of Mumbai police in the late 1940s before he turned to acting with the 1952 film Rangili. He appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1957 film Mother India and went onto star in over 70 Hindi films in a career that spanned over four decades.His performances include Shararat (1959), Paigham (1959), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960), Gharana (1961), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Neel Kamal (1968), Pakeezah (1972), Lal Patthar (1971), Heer Ranjha (1971), Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973), Ek Se Badh Kar Ek (1976), and Karmyogi (1978). He received Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Awards for Dil Ek Mandir and Waqt.During the 1980s he appeared in Chambal Ki Kasam (1980), Kudrat (1981), Ek Nai Paheli (1984), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Jung Baaz (1989) and Police Public (1990).In 1991 he appeared alongside Dilip Kumar in Saudagar. His last film appearance was in God and Gun (1995).He died at the age of 69 in July 1996. He died a few months before his son Puru Raajkumar made his debut in Bal Brahmachari which was released later that year. It was dedicated to his memory.