Anant Balwant Dhumal (29 March 1914 – 13 February 1987), popularly known as Dhumal, was an actor in

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

films known for playing character roles. He acted in many movies and was active from the mid 1940s till the late 1980s. He started his acting career from

Marathi theatre Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, ...

, which paved way for

Marathi cinema Marathi cinema is an Indian film industry of Marathi-language motion pictures. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Based in old Mumbai, it is the oldest film industry of Indian cinema. The first Marathi film to be released in India was ''Shre ...

and later he moved to

Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

, where he mostly played comedy roles and later in his career, character roles. He worked in notable films such as ''

Howrah Bridge The Howrah Bridge is a balanced cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the cities ...

'' (1958), ''

Bombai Ka Babu ''Bombai Ka Babu'' (English: ''Gentleman from Bombay'') is a 1960 Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla and written by Rajinder Singh Bedi. The film stars Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen in a rare appearance in Hindi cinema. Though the film was a thr ...

'' (1960), ''

Kashmir Ki Kali ''Kashmir Ki Kali'' () is a 1964 Indian Hindi-language romance film directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore in her Hindi movie debut role, Pran, Dhumal, Nazir Hussain and Anoop Kumar. The music was compose ...

'' (1964), ''

Gumnaam ''Gumnaam'' (translation: ''Unknown'' or ''Anonymous'') is a 1965 Indian Bollywood thriller film directed by Raja Nawathe, starring Manoj Kumar, Nanda, Pran, Helen and Mehmood. The film is a loosely-inspired adaptation of the 1939 mystery n ...

'' (1965), ''

Do Badan Do Badan (English: Two Bodies) is a 1966 Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla, and starring Manoj Kumar, Asha Parekh, Simi Garewal and Pran (actor), Pran. The music is by Ravi (music director), Ravi. The film became a big hit at the box office. Th ...

'' (1966), ''

Love in Tokyo ''Love In Tokyo'' is a 1966 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed and produced by Pramod Chakravorty. The film was a hit at the box office. Plot A young man Ashok's (Joy Mukherjee) mother makes him go to Tokyo, Japan in search of h ...

'' (1966) and '' Benaam'' (1974).

Career

His career in acting began when he joined a drama company, where he served drinks and washed utensils. There would be occasions when artistes playing minor roles failed to turn up; this would give the spot boys an opportunity to fill in for them. This was how Dhumal landed up with bit roles in plays. During this period, he met P. K. Atre and Nanasaheb Phatak, both big names in the drama world. Soon, he started getting recognised and bigger roles came his way. Although he eventually became famous as a comedian in films, he was more well known as a villain. He played major roles in famous plays such as ''Lagna Chi Bedi'' and ''Ghara Baher''. From the stage, he shifted his focus to the silver screen. He worked in big movies such as ''Woh Kaun Thi'', ''Ankhen'', ''Gumnaam'', ''Arzoo'' and ''Sasural''. His first movie was a

Marathi film Marathi cinema is an Indian film industry of Marathi-language motion pictures. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Based in old Mumbai, it is the oldest film industry of Indian cinema. The first Marathi film to be released in India was '' S ...

called ''Pedgaonche Shahane'' (1952) in which he played the role of a South Indian. He paired with fellow comedians

Mehmood Mahmud is a transliteration of the male Arabic given name (), common in most parts of the Islamic world. It comes from the Arabic triconsonantal root Ḥ-M-D, meaning ''praise'', along with ''Muhammad''. Siam Mahmud *Mahmood (singer) (born 1 ...

and

Shobha Khote Shubha Balsavar ('' née'' Khote) is an Indian film and television actress who has worked in several Hindi-language and few Marathi-language films. She is also a former women's national champion in swimming and cycling. Early life and educati ...

in numerous Hindi films, such as '' Sasural'' (1961).

Selected filmography

Death

Dhumal died on 13 February 1987 due to a massive heart attack.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1914 births 1987 deaths Male actors in Hindi cinema 20th-century Indian male actors Male actors in Marathi theatre Male actors in Marathi cinema Indian male comedians 20th-century comedians