with the starting of the Institute for Film
were started in 1969. Towards the end of 60s, Rajesh Khanna emerged as
a romantic megastar with the big success of Aradhana, which also put the
singer Kishore Kumar to great fame. Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Ashok
Kumar and Manoj Kumar were among the leading heroes of the sixties
while Vijayantimala, Madhubala, Nutan and Waheeda Rehman were
among the leading heroines. Rajesh Khanna emerged as the undisputed
romantic hero of the 60s and early 70s following major hits like Andaz,
Aradhana, Kati Patang, Do Raaste and Dushman.
Famous Personalities
Ashok Kumar: He was one of the greatest actors of the Hindi cinema. His
first film was Jeevan Naiya (1936), which was soon followed by the more
renowned Achhut Kanya (1936). His important films in his long film
career include Kangan (1939), Azad (1940), Mahal (1949), Deedar
(1951), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Gumrah
(1963), Chitralekha (1964), Bahu Begum (1967), Aashirwad (1968),
Aradhana (1969), Satyakam (1969), Paakezah, (1971), Guddi (1971) and
Chhotisi Baat (1975).
Dada Kondke: He was the Marathi comedian who became famous for his
double entendres and broad comedy. Starting off his career as actor and
director in Marathi film Songadya, he made a hit team with actress Usha
Chavan with whom he worked in almost all his films. Among his hits were
Pandu Havaldar, Boat Lavin Tithye Gudgulya, Muka Ghya Muka, Ram
Ram Gangaram and Hindi films like Tere Mere Beech Mein and Andheri
Raat Mein Diya Tere Haat Mein. His name was recorded in the Guiness
Book of World Records after he gave a series of nine consecutive hits in
Marathi films.
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke: Popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke
(1870-1944), he is regarded as the ‘Father of the Indian Cinema’. He
made India’s first indigenous feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1912.
His next film was Mohini Bhasmasur (1914), which was followed by
Savitri Satyavan (1914) and Lanka Dahan (1917). Phalke produced
several comedies (Pithache Panje, Soulagna Rasa, Animated Coins,
Vichitra Shilpa), topicals (Sinhasta Parvani, Kartiki Purnima Festival,
Ganesh Utsava) and documentaries      (Bird’s Eye-view of Bodh Gaya, Rock-