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 ...
. Starting his career with a small role in ''Insaan Ya Shaitaan'' (1933), directed by Moti Gidwani and produced by Eastern Arts Production, Gope went on to act in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. Several of his films were released following his death. Best known for his comedy roles, he is stated to be one of Hindi cinema's "most popular comedians". His acting in comic roles won him "critical and popular acclaim" and he soon became "the leading comedian of his time". His popularity assured him of being mentioned in the credit roll of films along with the main cast. He became famous for lip-syncing the popular number "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" (My Beloved Has Gone To Rangoon) from '' Patanga'', playbacked by
C. Ramchandra
Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar (12 January 1918 – 5 January 1982), also known as C. Ramchandra or Chitalkar or Anna Sahib, was an Indian music director and playback singer.Shamshad Begum for Nigar Sultana.
He formed a popular comic pairing with
Yakub
Yakub or Yaqub ( ar, يعقوب, Yaʿqūb or Ya'kūb , links=no, also transliterated in other ways) is a male given name. It is the Arabic version of Jacob (name), Jacob and James (name), James. The Arabic form ''Ya'qūb/Ya'kūb'' may be direct ...
, in the "Laurel-and-Hardy" style, and the producers used them in several films. Their most famous films together were ''Patanga'' (1949), followed by ''Bazar'' (1949), ''Beqasoor'' and ''Sagai'' (1951)
Early years
Gope was born Gope Vishandas Kamlani, on 11 April 1913, in
Hyderabad, Sindh
Hyderabad ( Sindhi and ur, ; ) is a city and the capital of Hyderabad Division in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the second-largest city in Sindh, and the eighth largest in Pakistan.
Founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of th ...
,
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
. He was one of nine children. With K. S. Daryani's help, Gope moved to Mumbai and started his acting career in a small role in ''Insaan Ya Shaitaan'' (1933), which starred Jaddanbai, Ermeline and the then reigning comedian, Dixit.
Career
Gope acted in other memorable roles in films such as ''Hindustan Hamara'', ''Patanga'' and ''Chori Chori''. Gope also tried playing negative roles. In the 1951 Dilip Kumar-Madhubala starrer film ''Taraana'', he teamed up with Jeevan to play the villain's role in comic style. He started Gope Productions in the 1950s, which made films such as ''Hangama'' and ''Biradari''. Some of these films were directed by Gope's brother, Ram Kamlani. Gope married actress Latika and continued to act in films until his premature death in 1957 on the set of Kundan Kumar's Teesri Gali, which was eventually released in 1958.
Personal life
Gope married actress Latika on 5 February 1949 under the Civil Marriages Act. Latika had earlier acted in the film '' Gopinath'' (1948) opposite Raj Kapoor. According to a Filmindia magazine report, "a grand reception was given to the newly wedded couple at the Shree Sound Studios in which many film people participated. There was also a moonlight party later on the Juhu sands." Gope born a Hindu became a Jehovah's Witness. He had two sons with Latika. After his death, his widow Latika relocated to the United Kingdom with their two young sons.
Filmography
Gope acted in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. A partial list: