Jagdish Raj Khurana, born in 1928 in Sargodha, Punjab (now in Pakistan), was a prominent Bollywood actor renowned for his portrayal of police inspectors. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the most typecast actor, having played a police officer in 144 films.
Raj’s acting career commenced in 1955 with the film “Seema,” where he played a doctor. His first role as a police inspector was in the 1956 film “CID,” directed by Raj Khosla. This role set the tone for his subsequent career, leading him to embody the archetype of the on-screen policeman in numerous films.
Throughout his extensive career spanning over five decades, Raj appeared in more than 250 films. Some of his notable performances include roles in “Deewar” (1975), “Don” (1978), “Shakti” (1982), “Mazdoor” (1983), “Imaan Dharam” (1977), “Gopichand Jasoos” (1982), “Silsila” (1981), “Aaina” (1977), and “Besharam” (1978). While he was predominantly cast as a police officer, Raj occasionally took on different roles, such as a judge in “Aag Hi Aag” (1987) and a negative character in “Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka” (1975).
Raj’s consistent portrayal of law enforcement figures made him a recognizable face in Indian cinema, embodying the quintessential image of a police inspector for generations of moviegoers. His dedication to this role not only earned him a place in the Guinness World Records but also in the Limca Book of Records as the most memorable policeman after Shafi Inamdar.
On July 28, 2013, Jagdish Raj passed away at his residence in Juhu, Mumbai, due to a respiratory ailment at the age of 85. He is survived by his two daughters, Anita Raj (a Bollywood actress) and Roopa Malhotra, and a son named Bobby.
Raj’s legacy endures in the annals of Indian cinema, with his record-setting portrayals serving as a testament to his significant contribution to the film industry.
