Happy Birthday Jeetendra: 10 Lesser-Known Facts, Top Films and Hit Songs of the Veteran Actor

Jeetendra, affectionately known as Jeetu ji, has carved a remarkable path in the film industry with numerous blockbuster films, exhilarating tracks and impactful dialogues over his illustrious career spanning more than 50 years. His unique style of dialogue delivery and eccentric dancing set him apart from his contemporaries, making him a true legend in Bollywood.

From the energetic moves in Mast Baharon Ka Main Aashiq to the iconic badminton-style dance in Dhal Gaya Din, and the aerobic steps in Naino Mein Sapna to the PT-style grooving in Taki Taki, Jeetendra has mesmerised audiences with his dynamic dancing and commanding presence on screen.

Regarded as the pioneer of ‘dancing heroes’ in Bollywood, Jeetendra earned the well-deserved title of the ‘Jumping Jack of Bollywood’ for his unparalleled contribution to the industry.

Jeetendra is married to producer Sobha Kapoor and is the father of acclaimed producer Ekta Kapoor and actor Tusshar Kapoor. The veteran actor celebrates his birthday on April 7.

10 Lesser-Known Facts

As Jeetendra turns 82, let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the Bollywood icon:

1. Born on April 7, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab, Jeetendra is originally named Ravi Kapoor and hails from a family in the imitation jewellery business.
2. Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna attended St. Sebastian’s Goan High School in Gurugram together and later, Jeetendra pursued his studies at K.C College in Churchgate.
3. A fascinating anecdote surrounds Jeetendra’s initial entry into the world of cinema. While supplying jewellery to V. Shantaram, he was cast as a double for actress Sandhya in the 1959 film Navrang, marking his first on-screen appearance.
4. Despite Navrang being his first feature film, Jeetendra’s official Hindi film debut is recognised as the 1964 movie Geet Gaya Patharon Ne, also directed by V. Shantaram.
5. Jeetendra has played the lead role in nearly 200 films, a milestone achieved by only a few of his contemporaries in the Hindi cinema.
6. Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna were close friends. The latter is also said to have helped and guided Jeetendra during his early days in Bollywood. They co-starred in several films later on, including Dharam Kanta (1982), Nishaan (1983) and Maqsad (1984).
7. The actor’s 1971 film Caravan achieved tremendous success overseas, becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film upon its release. Its song Piya Tu Ab To Aaja is hailed as one of the greatest Bollywood dance numbers of all time.
8. In 1974, Jeetendra tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Shobha Kapoor, who currently serves as the Managing Director of Balaji Telefilms. Reflecting on their relationship, Jeetendra fondly recalled sending a telegram expressing his love, to which Shobha playfully replied, “fake”.
9. Actor Shakti Kapoor, in an interview with Aaj Tak, shared that Jeetendra has always been very disciplined and health-conscious. Shakti recalled Jeetendra’s strict dietary habits, mentioning an incident where the veteran star mentioned not having rice for 25 years, a diet regimen he followed to stay fit.
10. Known for his tireless work ethic, Jeetendra had a remarkable streak of seven or more movie releases annually from 1977 to 1987. This included an impressive 12 films in 1981, 14 in 1982 and 11 in 1986.

Jeetendra’s Top Movies

1. FarzThis film paired Jeetendra with Babita Kapoor and Aruna Irani. It went on to become the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1967 under the direction of Ravikant Nagaich.
2. Jeene Ki RaahJeetendra portrayed Mohan, a man who lies to secure a job to support his family. This romantic drama, featuring Tanuja alongside Jeetendra, was directed by LV Prasad and also starred Anjali Kadam.
3. ParichayThe film, directed by Gulzar, stands out as one of Jeetendra’s most memorable works. He portrayed a teacher tasked with tutoring five spoiled children, eventually falling in love with Rama, played by Jaya Bachchan.
4. Dharam VeerThis raging 70s blockbuster, received acclaim from critics and audiences. Starring Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Zeenat Aman and Hema Malini, the film showcased iconic performances that are still revered to date.
5. The Burning TrainDirected by Ravi Chopra, it centres around a high-speed train engulfed in flames during its inaugural journey from New Delhi to Mumbai, endangering the lives of 500 passengers. This action-packed thriller featured a star-studded cast including Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Danny Denzongpa, Vinod Khanna, Simi Garewal, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh, Naveen Nischol and Vinod Mehra.

Hit Songs of Jeetendra

1. Baar Baar Yeh Din AayeThis song shows Jeetendra’s energetic dance alongside Babita and other background dancers in the movie Farz, with vocals by the legendary Mohammed Rafi. This is undoubtedly the most popular birthday song in Hindi to date.
2. Nainon Mein SapnaIn this timeless song from the 1983 film Himmatwala, Jeetendra and Sridevi charm audiences with their flawless dance moves. The song, composed by Bappi Lahiri with lyrics by Indeevar, features vocals by Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and SP Balasubrahmanyam.
3. Dhal Gaya DinFrom the 1970 film Humjoli, this song has Jeetendra grooving with lead actress Leena Chandavarkar in his trademark white T-shirt and trousers, showcasing his rhythmic dance moves while playing badminton.
4. Oi Amma Oi AmmaFrom the 1983 movie Mawaali, this song features Jeetendra and Jaya Prada dancing to the enchanting tunes of Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. This track later inspired the song Ooh la la in The Dirty Picture (2011).
5. Chadti JawaniCrooned by Mohammed Rafi for Jeetendra and by Lata Mangeshkar for Aruna Irani in the movie Caravan, the song remains unmatched in its original charm, earning praise for the duo’s performance. This track now has several different versions and remakes.

We wish Jeetendra a very Happy Birthday!