Actor Jackie Shroff paid heartfelt homage to the legendary dancer and actor Bhagwan Dada, reflecting on his legacy through the iconic song ‘Shola Jo Bhadke’ as he commemorated the 24th anniversary of his passing. Jackie shared a touching monochrome photograph of Bhagwan Dada along with a video of the late star’s performance of the timeless track from the 1951 classic ‘Albela’ on his Instagram Stories. “Remembering Bhagwan Dada on his death anniversary,” Jackie captioned the post.
Renowned for his social film ‘Albela’, Bhagwan Dada delivered numerous hit songs including ‘Shola Jo Bhadke,’ ‘Shaam Dhale Khidki Tale,’ ‘Bholi Surat Dil Ke Khote,’ and ‘Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram.’ His distinctive dance step in ‘Bholi Surat Dil Ke Khote’ became an instant sensation, influencing the dance styles of many actors, including Amitabh Bachchan.
Bhagwan Dada began his career during the silent film era with ‘Criminal.’ He co-directed his first film, ‘Bahadur Kisan,’ with Chandrarao Kadam in 1938 and went on to direct a series of low-budget stunt and action films that resonated with the working-class audience. One of his standout works from this time was the Tamil film ‘Vana Mohini.’
In 1942, he ventured into production with Jagruti Pictures, acquiring land to establish Jagriti Studios in Chembur in 1947. Following the advice of Raj Kapoor, he created the social film ‘Albela,’ which starred himself and Geeta Bali and featured music by his friend Chitalkar Ramchandra. The film was a monumental success, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1951.
However, by the mid-1950s, Bhagwan Dada faced significant challenges as his films began to falter. He transitioned into character roles and comedic parts, earning praise for his brief appearances in films like ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje’ (1955), ‘Chori Chori’ (1956), and ‘Gateway of India’ (1957). He also directed and starred in ‘Bhagam Bhag’ in 1956.
Bhagwan Dada passed away in 2002 due to a heart attack, facing financial struggles later in his life.
In addition to honoring Bhagwan Dada, Jackie also celebrated Urmila Matondkar’s 52nd birthday on Wednesday. He shared a montage featuring images of the actress set to the song ‘Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena’ from their 1995 hit film ‘Rangeela,’ captioning it with, “Happiness Always.” Recently, ‘Rangeela’ was re-released in theaters to mark its 30 years in the Hindi film industry. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film tells the story of Mili’s ambition to become a renowned actor amidst the love interests of Raj Kamal and her childhood friend Munna. The film also stars Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff.