Mahipal (1919 -2005) was an Indian actor who worked 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 ...
mostly in stunt films like ''Parasmani, Zabak, Cobra Girl, Jantar Mantar, Arabian nights themed movies such as Alibaba and 40 Thieves,
Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag
''Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp'' (Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag) is a 1952 Indian fantasy film produced and directed by Homi Wadia. Made under the Basant Pictures banner, it had story, scenario and additional dialogue by JBH Wadia. The dialogues w ...
, Roop Lekha, Sunehari Nagin'', Hindu mythological movies like ''Sampoorna Ramayan, Ganesh Mahima, Veer Bhimsen, Jai Santoshi Maa''. He is known for playing the iconic role of
Lord Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
Lord Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...
in lot of various puranic, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana based movies, besides playing Tulsidas and Abhimanyu, and is also best known as the lead in
V. Shantaram
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was an Indian filmmaker, film producer, and actor known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. He is most known for films such ...
's ''
Navrang
Navrang is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film co-written and directed by V. Shantaram. The film is noted for its dance sequences with lead actress Sandhya and music by C. Ramchandra, while playback singer Mahendra Kapoor made his singing debut wi ...
'' (1959), and the songs "Tu Chhupi Hai Kahan Me Tadapta Yahan" and "baazigar me tu jaadugar". He acted in several well-known films of the 1950s and 1960s including
V. Shantaram
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was an Indian filmmaker, film producer, and actor known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. He is most known for films such ...
's ''
Navrang
Navrang is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film co-written and directed by V. Shantaram. The film is noted for its dance sequences with lead actress Sandhya and music by C. Ramchandra, while playback singer Mahendra Kapoor made his singing debut wi ...
'' (1959) and
Babubhai Mistry
Babubhai Mistry (5 September 1918 – 20 December 2010) was an Indian film director and special effects pioneer who is best known for his films based on Hindu mythology, such as ''Sampoorna Ramayana'' (1961), ''Mahabharat'' (1965), and ''Parasm ...
Jodhpur
Jodhpur (; ) is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan and officially the second metropolitan city of the state. It was formerly the seat of the princely state of Jodhpur State. Jodhpur was historically the capital of the ...
, Rajasthan, where after his schooling, he graduated in literature from Jaswant Government College Jodhpur. Thereafter, he worked in the theatre before migrating to Mumbai in the early 1940s.
He made his film debut in the 1942 film '' Nazrana''. However, the film didn't work, thereafter he wrote lyrics for V. Shantaram for four films. He went on to work with directors such as
Sohrab Modi
Sohrab Merwanji Modi (2 November 1897 – 28 January 1984) was an Indian stage and film actor, director and producer. His films include ''Khoon Ka Khoon'' (1935), a version of Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', '' Sikandar'', ''Pukar'', ''Prithvi Va ...
and later with the Wadia Brothers,
Homi Wadia
Homi Wadia (22 May 1911 – 10 December 2004) was an Indian film director and producer in Bollywood (Hindi cinema). He was the co-founder of Wadia Movietone productions, established in 1933 and later after the closure of Wadiatone, he founded Ba ...
and J. B. H. Wadia, however, it was his work with V. Shantaram that got him lasting acclaim. He worked in several mythological and historical films with actresses such as
Nirupa Roy
Nirupa Roy (born Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara; 4 January 1931 – 13 October 2004) was an Indian actress who had appeared in Hindi films. Noted for her portrayals of tragedy and sorrow, Roy was known for her acting ability, and was uncharitab ...
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; 1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Popularly known as ''The Tragedy Queen'', she was active between 1939 and 1972. Kumari is widely considered one of ...
. He also did a series of fantasy films based on '' Arabian Nights'', including '' Alibaba and 40 Thieves'' (1954), ''Jennie'' (1953), ''Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag'' (1952) and ''Alibaba ka Beta'' (1955), which gave him popularity even in the Gulf countries. Later in his career, he switched to character roles, and appeared in films such as ''
Jai Santoshi Maa
''Jai Santoshi Maa'' is a 1975 Indian Hindi-language devotional film directed by Vijay Sharma and written R. Priyadarshi. Santoshī Mā (also called Santoshi Mata) is the goddess of satisfaction. Usha Mangeshkar, sang the devotional songs for t ...
'' (1975), a 1970s hit. He died in
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...
of
cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and poss ...
, at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife Akkal Kunwar and daughters Shushila Jain and Nirmala Oswal.
Narasinha Avatar
''Narasinha Avatar'' (The Incarnation of Narsinha) is a 1949 Hindi mythological film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi.
Made under the Minerva Movietone banner, it had music composed by Vasant Desai with lyrics by Narendra Sharma. The story ...
Shri Ganesh Mahima
''Shri Ganesh Mahima'' also called ''Shri Krishna Vivah'' is a 1950 Hindi mythological film directed by Homi Wadia. The film was made under Wadia's Basant Pictures Banner with music composed by S. N. Tripathi. Meena Kumari, after her career as ...
Hanuman Patal Vijay
''Hanuman Patal Vijay'' ( hi, हनुमान पाताल विजय, "Hanuman's Victory Over Hell") is a 1951 Hindi mythological film directed by Homi Wadia for his Basant Pictures banner. Meena Kumari starred in this devotional film w ...
'' (1951)
* ''Devyani'' (1952)
* ''
Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag
''Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp'' (Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag) is a 1952 Indian fantasy film produced and directed by Homi Wadia. Made under the Basant Pictures banner, it had story, scenario and additional dialogue by JBH Wadia. The dialogues w ...
Navrang
Navrang is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film co-written and directed by V. Shantaram. The film is noted for its dance sequences with lead actress Sandhya and music by C. Ramchandra, while playback singer Mahendra Kapoor made his singing debut wi ...
Sampoorna Ramayana
''Sampoorna Ramayana'' () is a 1961 Indian Hindi-language Hindu mythological film directed by Babubhai Mistry, based on the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' by Valmiki, starring Mahipal and Anita Guha as Rama and Sita respectively. The film was a box of ...
Zabak
''Zabak'' is a 1961 Hindi/Urdu action costume drama film produced and directed by Homi Wadia for his Basant Pictures under the Wadia Productions banner. The story and dialogue were by C. L. Cavish, with screenplay by JBH Wadia. The music compos ...
Jantar Mantar
A Jantar Mantar ( Hindustani pronunciation: ͡ʒən̪t̪ər mən̪t̪ər is an assembly of stone-built astronomical instruments, designed to be used with the naked eye. There were five Jantar Mantars in India, all of them built at the com ...
Balak Dhruv
''Balak Dhruv'' is a 1974 Bollywood drama film directed by Himmat Dave.
Cast
*Satyajeet Puri, Master Satyajeet ... Bhakta Dhruv
*Jayshree Gadkar as Suniti
*Jeevan (actor), Jeevan as Narad Muni
*Master Alankar as Uttam
*Mahipal (actor), Mahipa ...
Jai Santoshi Maa
''Jai Santoshi Maa'' is a 1975 Indian Hindi-language devotional film directed by Vijay Sharma and written R. Priyadarshi. Santoshī Mā (also called Santoshi Mata) is the goddess of satisfaction. Usha Mangeshkar, sang the devotional songs for t ...
'' (1975) .... Devrishi Narad
* ''
Rani Aur Lalpari
''Rani Aur Lalpari'' is a 1975 Indian Hindi-language children's fantasy film directed by Ravikant Nagaich and produced by Hari Prasad Nagaich and Rani Nagaich of Guru Enterprising Movies. The film stars Baby Raani in the lead role with an ensemb ...
'' (1975)
* ''Jai Mahalaxmi Maa'' (1976) .... Vishnu
* '' Do Chehere'' (1977)
* '' Gopal Krishna'' (1979) .... Bhagwan Vishnu
* ''Navaratri'' (1983)
* '' Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani'' (1983)
* ''Jai Baba Amarnath'' (1983)
* ''Amar Jyoti'' (1984) .... (final film role)