Jankidas

Infobox actor
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name = Jankidas


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birthname = Jankidas Mehra
birthdate = 1910
location = India
deathdate = June 18 2003
deathplace = Mumbai
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yearsactive = 1930s - 1997
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Jankidas Mehra (1910 - June 18 2003) was a prolific Indian film actor of Bollywood, cyclist, production designer and writer. He made over 1000 film appearances between the 1930s and 1997. cite news|title=Veteran actor Jankidas passes away|date=June 18 2003|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/29157.cms|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2008-07-22]

Biography

Jankidas was interested in sports from a young age and he became the only Indian to have broken the world record in cycling between 1934 and 1942. cite web|title=Veteran actor Jankidas passes away
date=June 18 2003|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/18janki.htm
publisher=Rediff.com|accessdate=2008-07-22] He served as the only Indian member of the International Olympic Committee at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Jankidas is credited with being the first production designer in the Indian film industry and had designed several films including "Pathar aur Paya" and "Warrant". As a production designer, Jankidas was responsible for the founding of many famous Indian actor careers. He was responsible for Madhubala's role in Sohrab Modi's "Daulat" in 1947 and introduced Meena Kumari in Nanabhai Bhatt's "Hamara Ghar" and Khusboo in Sunil Dutt's "Dard Ka Rishta". He also introduced actress Mala Sinha in Hamlet, produced and directed by Kishore Sahu.

In 1985 he wrote the script to 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.

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".

Death

Jankidas was suffering from a heart ailment for a substantial period of time but was discharged from the local hospital two days before his death. He died of cardiac failure at his Juhu residence on Wednesday June 18 2003. He was 93.

Jankidas is survived by two sons and two daughters.

References

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