JEETENDRA

Ravi Kapoor was always interested in films. His friend, Jatin, was a little more serious. He had already joined Indian National Theatre and was known as a good actor on stage. Ravi wanted an easy way out. He found his chance when he realised that his uncle was a regular visitor at V Shantaram’s Rajkamal Studios. His uncle used to display different kinds of imitation jewellery and Shantaram and his make-up man would select what they wanted. Ravi once sought permission from his uncle and accompanied him to Rajkamal Studios. The razzle-dazzle, the atmosphere inside the studios, the pampering of the stars first impressed and then inspired Ravi. He developed the great urge to act. He was very fortunate. He was handsome enough for Shantaram to select him to play a bit role in his film, Navrang. Ravi felt he had conquered the world. The reality however brought him down to earth. He was just another junior artiste. He however, didn’t lose hope. He continued visiting the studio. Till Shantaram took a liking for him and offered him another bit role in Sehra. He had just one line to speak in the entire film. It was not a great experience but it gave Ravi a lot of confidence, the courage to face the camera more than confidence.

      Shantaram one day asked him to go through a screen test for a film called Geet Gaya Pattarone. Rahshri, Shantaram’s daughter was to play the leading lady. Ravi faced his first big test. He knew it was a do or die effort for him. He was chosen to play Rajshri’s hero and Jeetendra (the name was given by Shantaram) a new star was born. Soon Rajshri became his friend, philosopher and guide. Jeetendra and Rajshri didn’t work in the next Shantaram film called Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti. Shantaram took one more risk and signed a one –time extra Mumtaz to play Jeetendra’s leading lady. The film didn’t do well but both Jeetendra and Mumtaz were recognised as stars.

      Jeetendra signed a film called Farz, which was directed by Ravee Nagaich and produced by Sunderlal Nahta. It was a typical desi James Bond kind of thriller. There were lost of songs and dances and the kind of thrills that were never seen in Hindi films before. The film didn’t open to a very good response but within a few weeks it seemed like success had used her magic wand. Farz was declared one of the biggest hits.

      The good times however didn’t last long. Some steps he took made him stagger, he took some wrong decision and some decisions taken by the industry went against him. Till a time came when Jeetendra had literally no work. It was during this bleak period that another veteran (like Shantaram) this time from the South LV Prasad offered him a role in Bidaai. The film was a major box-office hit and Jeetendra was accepted as a major star. And the Jeetendra and LV Prasad team became a team to watch. All the films made by Prasad with Jeetu were big hits (except Jai Vijay). Jeetendra also learned things about life in general and films in particular from Prasad. That’s why he calls Prasad "my mentor" to this day.

      Gulzar took Jeetendra the star who was never taken seriously by the critics or the connoisseurs of good cinema and made three memorable films with him Kushbhoo, Kinara and Parichay. A flood of Hindi films made by some of the leading banners and the leading commercial directors followed for almost a decade. Jeetu was lost to Mumbai. He had no films in Mumbai. He had no time for the film he was doing in the South. He spent all his time shooting in Madras, Hyderabad, Ooty and far off places like Rajahumundhry, Vishakhapatnam and Madhumalai and other exotic places in the south. He was the leading man in nine out of ten films that were being made. He brought directors like K Raghavendra Rao, T Rama Rao, K Bapaiah, Dasari Narayana Rao and several other directors into the national limelight. He brought unknown actresses like Sridevi and Jayapradha and Jayasudha and Bhanupriya and Shantipriya and Radha and several others to Hindi films and made them stars and superstars.
He produced a multi-crore film called Deedar-e yaar with the veteran HS Rawail (Who made films like Mere Mehbood, Sangharsh and Laila Majnu) as his director. He literally put everything he had earned for more than a quarter of a century into the making of his magnum opus. The film didn’t run for more than three days. It was a major disaster that rocked the entire industry. It almost ruined the man who had risen from nowhere to be the sultan of his own kingdom.

      D Rama Naidu signed him to play the key role in santaan. The film in the original with director Dasari Narayana Rao as the "hero" was a very big hit. The film with Jeetendra in the same role, directed by Dasari couldn’t work the same wonders and Jeetu almost gave up believing in wonders, which made up a part of his life. He was depending on the film. He believed it could start a new phase in his career but that didn’t happen.