Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
Date of birth: 1910-01-01
Place of birth: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Kanaiya Lal, Lala, Munim, Sukhilala, Kanhaiyalal
Biography
Kanhaiyalal was born in Varanasi into a theatrical family. His father, Pandit Bhairodutt Choube, owned a drama company but disapproved of his son’s interest in acting. Undeterred, Kanhaiyalal began working backstage and gradually transitioned into small stage roles. After his father's death, he moved to Bombay to pursue a career in cinema—initially aspiring to become a writer and director. However, fate had other plans, and he made his screen debut as an extra in Sagar Ka Sher. He rose to national and international fame for his iconic portrayal of the scheming moneylender Sukhilala in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), one of Indian cinema’s most legendary villains. He had originally played the same role in Aurat (1940), making him the first Indian actor to reprise a character in a remake 17 years later. Mother India also earned the distinction of being India’s first official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best International Feature Film—cementing Kanhaiyalal’s performance in global film history. Known for his mastery of negative and elderly roles, Kanhaiyalal acted in over 100 films including Ganga Jamuna, Upkar, Apna Desh, Dushman, and Grahasti. He also wrote dialogues and lyrics for films like Sadhana. His cinematic legacy lives on through the 2022 documentary Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal, produced by his daughter Hemaa Singh. TMDB mini biography by: Ashvin Borad
Movie Credits
Mother India
1957-02-13
A poverty-stricken woman raises her sons through many trials and tribulations. But no matter the str
Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke
1969-01-01
Gangaram, a farmer, has two younger step-brothers, Moti and Shivram. Supported by Gangaram, Moti has
Zindagi
1964-01-01
Beena falls in love with Rajan after he rescues her from some goons. Soon they marry and she is preg
Gaban
1966-01-01
Based on novel by Munshi Prem Chand. Believing himself to be a suspect for embezzlement in British I
Samaj Ko Badal Dalo
1970-01-01
Two close friends, Vimla and Chhaya, part ways when their friendship turns bitter. Years later, when
The Test
1960-08-05
The postmaster of a village receives a check for 500,000 rupees, for the purpose of bequeathing it t
Naata
1955-01-01
A woman describes the relationship between her sister and a postmaster
Dost
1974-04-12
Maanav is an orphan who was brought up by a Catholic Priest. After completing his M.A. he returns ho
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
1978-03-24
Rajeev falls in love with Roopa, a beautiful singer who hides the fact that half her face is disfigu
Ram Aur Shyam
1967-01-01
Abused by an oppressive brother-in-law Gajendra (Pran), Ramchandra (Dilip Kumar) runs away from home
Son of India
1962-01-01
The film is based on an incredible true story about a village woman who gets lost at a railway stati
Diwana
1967-01-01
Meet Pyarelal, a simple-minded, naive young man, orphaned at birth, living with a Muslim landlady, F
Duniyadari
1977-01-01
A Bollywood drama.
Grahasti
1963-01-01
Drama about a large Indian family coping with revelations about the fathers past.
Gunga Jumna
1961-11-10
Widowed Govindi lives a poor lifestyle in Haripur along with two sons, Gungaram and Jumna. While Jum
Heera
1973-01-01
A man is arrested for murder but escapes and becomes a bandit to clear his name and find the real ki
Apna Desh
1972-05-26
When it's discovered that four prominent members of the community are crooks and black marketeers, y
Hum Paanch
1980-11-27
Tyrannical and wealthy Veer Pratap Singh, rules over a small town - ruthlessly. Whoever opposes him
Oonche Log
1965-08-16
A blind, principled Major Chandrakant takes in a stranger on the run, unaware the man murdered his y
Noor Mahal
1965-01-01
A story of a revenge taken by Vir Singh in greediness to get the throne of his brother, who was the
Biradari
1966-01-04
Seema lives a wealthy lifestyle with her widowed mom in Bombay, India. Her mother is a compassionate
Banphool
1971-12-31
Haria lives with his widowed and elderly grandmother at a tea estate and works as Elephant Driver. H
Jadu Tona
1977-01-01
A family is plagued by the vengeful spirit of a murdered man who uses the body of an innocent child
Naukari
1954-10-12
The comic, tragic and heartrending saga of Ratan Kumar Chaudhary, who leaves his village, aging mom
Meri Surat Teri Ankhen
1963-01-01
Raj Kumar is a wealthy businessman and dislikes everything ugly. When his wife, Kamla, becomes pregn
Ramayani
1945-01-01
Ramayani is a 1945 Hindi mythological film directed by Sarvottam Badami for Purnima Productions. The
Sahara
1958-11-15
Sahara is a 1958 Indian Bollywood film directed by Lekhraj Bhakri. The film stars Meena Kumari in th
Sitara
1980-06-13
Bandhan
1969-01-01
Jeevanlal lives in a small village in India with his wife, Sita, a son, Dharmchand and daughter, Mee
Ghunghat
1960-01-01
An adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 Bengali story Noukadubi (The Wreck).
Himalay Ki Godmein
1965-01-01
Sunil Mehra has successfully completed his medical studies and is now a qualified doctor, who can no
Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
1967-01-01
Arrogant son of a wealthy, blind woman, rapes his mother's nurse and abandons her. She gets pregnant
Bahut Din Hue
1954-03-19
Kidnapped by a villainous sorcerer, young mother Balanagamma (Pushpavalli) remains in captivity for
Chirag
1969-01-31
When Ajay (Sunil Dutt) meets Asha (Asha Parekh), he mistakenly believes she's wealthy. The fact that
Daadi Maa
1966-01-01
Parvati seeks to heal the breach between her husband and his mother
Aurat
1967-08-18
A woman responsible for her mother and 7 siblings faces challenges after marrying a widower with 6 c
Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein
1977-11-04
When Ravi gets a job as a post officer in a village, he falls in love with Mohini, not knowing she l
Hum Log
1951-09-14
An impoverished family faces illness and financial challenges after one of them is sent to prison.
Daag
1952-07-04
Shankar and Paro love each other, but their relationship is strained by his drinking problem and Par
Lal Haveli
1944-12-16
Mukta and Anand are childhood friends and love each other. But Mukta belongs to higher social class
Jeet
1949-08-24
India has finally won independence from British rule, and there are signs of progress among the popu
Doli
1969-01-01
Amar and Prem, college friends, and Asha and Shobana form friendships. Marriages are arranged, but d
Upkar
1967-01-01
Widowed Radha lives in rural India in the 1960s, along with two sons: Bharat and Puran. While she wo
Mr. Sampat
1952-12-25
The charming Mr. Sampat weaves his way into theatrical company with his moneymaking schemes, only to
Daku Aur Jawan
1978-07-13
Birju and Ramu are brothers and have a friendly bond with each other, They do a lot of pranks with t
Meri Bhabhi
1969-01-15
A simple-minded, yet loving young couple, Rajoo (Sunil Dutt), and his wife Maya, who allow their chi
Rishte Naate
1965-01-01
Thakur Narendrapal Singh is a generous and kind-hearted landlord and zamindar. He has a daughter Kal
Aurat
1940-01-02
Radha is a resolute mother, who strives hard against poverty and a lecherous money lender to feed he
Bharosa
1963-09-02
Ramdas is a trusting individual, and trusts everybody around him. When times turn bad for him, he en
Nai Roshni
1941-11-22
A neglected wife, Indira, schemes to win back her philandering bank manager husband, Bihari. She use
Jeevan Mrityu
1970-01-06
An honest bank manager is arrested for embezzlement on the eve of his marriage. After his release, h
Dost
1944-01-10
A cruel uncle usurps his niece's inheritance, but a kind doctor and his wife help her reclaim it. Th
Gaali
1944-12-01
An unusual story of Mangala, a young blind widow who believes her deceased husband still communicate
Shri Krishnarjun Yudh
1945-06-01
Chitrasen inadvertently humiliates Gabal Rishi, who approaches Bhagwan Shri Kishan and prays that th
Aasra
1941-02-28
Aasra revolves around the life of Chanda (Sardar Akhtar), a sweet girl, who runs away from her hous
Radhika
1941-11-07
Radha is deeply devoted to Lord Gopal and spends her days in worship and spiritual pursuit. Her beau
Gramophone Singer
1938-10-14
Thakur’s music-dominated debut tells of a love triangle involving the famous gramophone singer Sunda
Neelam
1945-10-05
An early romantic comedy staring Meena Shorey and Harish
Buzdil
1951-11-01
Two brothers fall in love with the same girl, but the girl loves younger brother creating an intrigu
Malhar
1951-10-26
Two lovers Ratan and Reshmi are torn apart by Reshmi's scheming, cruel brother, Anand. After the dea
Insaan
1952-06-07
A philosophical drama follows a disillusioned man's journey to rediscover his lost humanity in a soc
Gharana
1961-02-22
A mother and daughter create bitterness, hatred, acrimony and discord in a wealthy family.