Paidi Jairaj

He starred in about 170 feature films in a variety of roles. He directed a few films such as Mohar, Mala (1941), Pratima, Rajghar (1951) and Sagar (1951), which he produced. In 1980, he was awarded with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award for films in India, for his contributions to Indian cinema.

• Name — Paidipati Jairaj • Born — 28 September 1909 • Birthplace — Sircilla, Hyderabad State, British India (now in Telangana, India) • Died — 11 August 2000 • Place of death — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India • Awards — Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1980) • Education — Nizam College • Years Active — 1929–1995

Paidipati Jairaj was born in Sircilla of Hyderabad State (present-day Telangana) on 28 September 1909. He had two brothers - Paidipati Sundararaj Naidu, Paidipati Deendayal Naidu(Artist) and Paidipati Jairaj was the youngest.

Jairaj developed an interest in theatre and films during his graduate studies at Nizam College, and left for Bombay in 1929. He made his acting debut in 1929 with the silent film Star Kling Youth, and subsequently he acted in about eleven silent films including Triangle of Love, Mathru Bhoomi, All for Lover, Mahasagar Mothi, Flight into Death, My Hero etc. • Illustration — Jairaj with Geeta Nizami in the war thriller Panna (1944) He played the characters of Amar Singh Rathore [1957], Prithviraj Chauhan [1959], and Maharana Pratap [1960] among notable films. He also essayed the roles of Shah Jahan [1947], Tipu Sultan [1959] and Haider Ali [1962]. His other portrayals have been in films such as Sassi Punnu [1947], Hatimtai [1956], Chandrashekar Azad [1963] and Durga Das [1964] among others. Jairaj did six films with Suraiya in the 1940s and 1950s, five of them, viz. Humaari Baat (1943), Singaar (1949), Amar Kahani (1949), Rajput (1951) and Resham (1952) as her hero, and one of them, Lal Kunwar (1952), as second lead. In 1952, he produced and directed his own film Sagar, which was not well received by the audiences, but he was still committed to cinema.

He married a Punjabi woman, Savitri, from Delhi. It was an arranged marriage. Prithviraj Kapoor's father had chosen the bride for him. He had two sons and three daughters. His wife died a year before him of cancer. His daughter Geeta Gupta looked after him in his last years. Rajan Shahi, TV producer-director, is his daughter's son (maternal grandson), the sole person of Jairaj's extended family in Bollywood. Jairaj died in Mumbai on 11 August 2000.

A one-hour documentary, Life journey of Jairaj, was made by the Government of Telangana in 2018 to celebrate his life.

• Year — Film — Character — Notes • 1930 — Jagmagti Jawani • 1932 — Shikari • 1933 — Maya Jaal • Patit Pawan • Aurat Ka Dil • 1934 — Mazdoor • 1935 — Sher Dil Aurat • Jeevan Natak • 1937 — Toofani Khazana • 1938 — Bhabhi — Kishore • Madhur Milan • 1939 — Jugari • Leatherface • 1940 — Chambe Di Kali • 1941 — Prabhat • Mala — Also co-director • Swami • 1942 — Nai Duniya • Khilona • Tamanna • 1943 — Nai Kahani • Hamari Baat • Prem Sangeet • 1944 — Panna — Shyam • 1945 — Rahat • 1946 — Shahjehan • Salgirah • Rajputani • 1947 — Manmani • 1948 — Sajan Ka Ghar • Anjuman • Azadi Ki Raah Par • 1949 — Darogaji • Roomal • Singaar • Amar Kahani • 1951 — Rajput • Saagar • 1952 — Lal Kunwar • Resham • 1954 — Baadbaan • 1955 — Teerandaz • Insaniyat • 1956 — Parivar • Hatim Tai • 1957 — Mumtaz Mahal • Pardesi — Also known as Journey Beyond Three Seas • 1959 — Char Dil Char Rahen • 1960 — Return of Mr. Superman — Mr. Superman ki Wapsi • Lal Quila • Veer Durgadas • Chambe Di Kali — Punjabi movie • 1961 — Razia Sultana • Aas Ka Panchhi • Jai Chitod • 1962 — Pick Pocket • 1963 — Nine Hours to Rama • Gul-e-Bakawali • 1964 — Khufia Mahal • 1965 — Baghi Haseena • 1965 — Mujrim Kaun Khooni Kaun • 1966 — Maya • 1967 — Baharon Ke Sapne • 1968 — Neel Kamal • 1970 — Gunah Aur Kanoon • Jeevan Mrityu • 1971 — Nadaan • Chhoti Bahu • Chingari • 1972 — Shehzada • 1973 — Gehri Chaal • Suraj Aur Chanda • Chhalia • Naag Mere Saathi • 1974 — Chor Chor • Faslah • 1975 — Sholay — Police Commissioner • Kala Sona • Dharmatma • Jogidas Khuman • Himalay Se Ooncha • Toofan • 1976 — Hera Pheri • Charas • Bairaag • Naag Champa • 1977 — Chhailla Babu • Kachcha Chor • 1978 — Muqaddar Ka Sikandar • Don • Aakhri Daku • Khoon Ka Badla Khoon • 1979 — Ahimsa • Khandaan • Nagin Aur Suhagan • 1980 — Jyoti Bane Jwala • Chunaoti • Jazbaat • Shiv Shakti • 1981 — Fiffty Fiffty • Khoon Aur Paani • Kranti • 1983 — Ardh Satya • Masoom • Karate • Pukar • Paanchwin Manzil • 1984 — Bindiya Chamkegi • Maan Maryada — Thakur Surajbhan Singh • Unchi Uraan • 1986 — Zinda Laash • 1988 — Khoon Bhari Maang • 1992 — Lambu Dada • 1993 — Meri Aan • 1994 — Betaaj Badshah • 1995 — God and Gun

• Year — Film — Notes • 1941 — Mala — Co-directed with Mahendra Thakore and also acted. • 1945 — Pratima • 1951 — Rajghar • Sagar — Also producer and actor • 1959 — Mohar