About

Known credits:
56
Birthday:
1910-01-01
Place of birth:
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Website:
N/A

Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi

Overview

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

Known for

Acting
1980 Hum Paanch Actor Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav 58
Average
1980 Sitara Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Daku Aur Jawan Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Satyam Shivam Sundaram Actor Pandit Shyam Sunder 58
Average
1977 Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein Actor N/A
N/A
1977 Jadu Tona Actor 58
Average
1977 Duniyadari Actor Mevalal Sahukar N/A
N/A
1974 Dost Actor Gadibabu 58
Average
1973 Heera Actor Dhaniram N/A
N/A
1972 Apna Desh Actor Sevaram 58
Average
1971 Banphool Actor Muninji 58
Average
1970 Jeevan Mrityu Actor Jagat Narayan 58
Average
1970 Samaj Ko Badal Dalo Actor Kundanlal N/A
N/A
1969 Chirag Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Meri Bhabhi Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Bandhan Actor 58
Average
1969 Doli Actor 58
Average
1969 Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Aurat Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Ram Aur Shyam Actor 58
Average
1967 Diwana Actor Kaka 58
Average
1967 Upkar Actor 58
Average
1967 Dulhan Ek Raat Ki Actor N/A
N/A
1966 Biradari Actor Rammurthy 'Dudhwala' 58
Average
1966 Gaban Actor 58
Average
1966 Daadi Maa Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Oonche Log Actor Master Gunichand 58
Average
1965 Rishte Naate Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Himalay Ki Godmein Actor Ghoghar Baba 58
Average
1965 Noor Mahal Actor N/A
N/A
1964 Zindagi Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Bharosa Actor Raunaklal N/A
N/A
1963 Grahasti Actor Station Master Ram Swarup N/A
N/A
1963 Meri Surat Teri Ankhen Actor Rahmat N/A
N/A
1962 Son of India Actor Paro's dad 58
Average
1961 Gunga Jumna Actor Kallu 58
Average
1960 The Test Actor Pandit Tarkalankar 58
Average
1960 Ghunghat Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Sahara Actor Chaudhary Gaman Singh 58
Average
1957 Mother India Actor Sukhilala 60
Fair
1955 Naata Actor N/A
N/A
1954 Naukari Actor Hari 58
Average
1954 Bahut Din Hue Actor Pujari N/A
N/A
1952 Mr. Sampat Actor Seth Makhanlal Jhaverimull Gheewala N/A
N/A
1952 Daag Actor 58
Average
1951 Hum Log Actor Lalaji / Haricharandas 58
Average
1949 Jeet Actor Thakur Kalyan Singh 58
Average
1945 Shri Krishnarjun Yudh Actor Narad N/A
N/A
1945 Ramayani Actor N/A
N/A
1944 Lal Haveli Actor Chacha N/A
N/A
1944 Gaali Actor N/A
N/A
1944 Dost Actor Lobhi Chand N/A
N/A
1941 Nai Roshni Actor Mohan N/A
N/A
1940 Aurat Actor Sukhilala 58
Average
1938 Gramophone Singer Actor N/A
N/A

Production
1969 Doli Production Production Manager 58
Average