K. N. Singh

Krishan Niranjan Singh (1 September 1908 – 31 January 2000), known as K. N. Singh in Indian cinema, was a prominent villain and character actor. He appeared in over 200 Hindi films over a long career stretching from 1936 to the late 1980s.

Early years (1908–1936)
The son of Chandi Prasad Singh, an erstwhile Indian prince and a prominent criminal lawyer, K.N. Singh was a sportsman who once dreamt of being in the army. Born in Dehradun, Singh was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a lawyer. However, his father's skillful defence, which saved an obviously guilty man from the gallows, turned him away from the profession.

Turning his energy to sports, K.N. Singh came to excel in the javelin throw and the shot put. He was selected to represent India in the 1936 Berlin Olympics before circumstances compelled him to go to Calcutta to attend on his ailing sister. There he met his family friend Prithviraj Kapoor, who introduced him to director Debaki Bose, who offered him a debut role in his film Sunehra Sansar (1936).

Popular villain (1936 to late 1960s)
K.N. Singh enjoyed limited success until the release of Baghban (1938), in which he played the antagonist. Baghban was a golden jubilee hit, establishing Singh as one of the leading villains of the era.

Through the 1940s and 1950s, Singh appeared in several iconic movies of the era, including Sikandar (1941), Jwar Bhata (1944) (Dilip Kumar's film debut), Humayun (1945), Awara (1951), Jaal (1952), CID (1956), Howrah Bridge (1958), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Amrapali (1966) and An Evening in Paris (1967).

As opposed to playing angry mobsters, he mostly played a white collared gentleman villain, dressed in a fine suit and smoking a pipe, with a calm cold delivery.

His suave style, baritone voice and menacing eyes became legendary – so much so that on one occasion (in his own words) "Even off-screen I was a bad man. One day on my way back from shooting, I had to deliver an envelope at an address given to me by my friend. I pressed the doorbell and, from the moving curtains, I could see a woman hurrying to open the door. When she saw me standing in front of her, she screamed out in fright and ran inside leaving the door open."

As an actor, Singh's thirst for learning was legendary. For example, he studied the style and mannerisms of carriage riders to prepare for the role of a horse carriage driver in Inspector (1956).

Later years (1970 to late 1980s)
Singh played prominent roles in movies such as Jhoota Kahin Ka (1970), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971 film) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972 film). His last prominent role was in the 1973 film Loafer (1973 film).

With advancing years, Singh became less active, particularly from the mid 1970s onwards. Many of his roles from the late 1970s onwards were mere cameo appearances, arranged with the sole purpose of ensuring that actors turned up on time – such was his stature that actors would never turn up late when K.N. Singh was on the set. His last appearance was in Woh Din Aayega (1986).

Personal life
Singh was the eldest among 6 siblings: a sister and five brothers. Because he was unable to have any children naturally, he adopted Pushkar, the son of his brother Bikram (who was once the editor of Filmfare magazine) as their son.

Singh became completely blind in his last years. He died in Mumbai on 31 January 2000 aged 91 and was survived by his adopted son Pushkar, who is a producer of television serials.

Selected filmography

 * Sonar Sansar (1936)
 * Sunehra Sansar (1936)
 * Karodpati (1936)
 * Mukti (1937) as Guest at party of Chitra's father
 * Bidyapati (1937)
 * Sitara (1938)
 * Nirala Hindustan (1938)
 * Baghban (1938) as Ranjit
 * Thokar (1939) as Doctor
 * Aap Ki Marzi (1939)
 * Sikandar (1941) as Raja Ambhi (Maharaja Amphis)
 * Phir Milenge (1942)
 * Ek Raat (1942)
 * Shahenshah Akbar (1943)
 * Prithvi Vallabh (1943) as Bhillam
 * Prarthana (1943) as Doctor
 * Taqdeer (1943)
 * Maharathi Karna (1944) as Duryodhan
 * Jwar Bhata (1944)
 * Draupadi (1944)
 * Ratnavali (1945)
 * Mazdoor (1945)
 * Laila Majnu (1945)
 * Humayun (1945) as Jai Singh
 * Room No. 9 (1946)
 * Rangbhoomi (1946)
 * Zanjeer (1947)
 * Parwana (1947) as Kishan
 * Chalte Chalte (1947)
 * Barsaat (1949) as Bholu
 * Singaar (1949) as Kishan's Father
 * Paras (1949)
 * Nirdosh (1950)
 * Banwra (1950)
 * Sazaa (1951) as Major Dhurjan Singh
 * Awara (1951) as Jagga
 * Sanam (1951) as Advocate-Sadhna's Father
 * Saagar (1951)
 * Hulchul (1951) as Asha's brother
 * Baazi (1951) as Rajani's Father
 * Parbat (1952) as Parbat's obsessive lover
 * Jaal (1952) as Carlo
 * Insaan (1952)
 * Ghungroo (1952)
 * Do Raha (1952)
 * Aandhiyan (1952) as Kuber Das
 * Armaan (1953)
 * Shahenshah (1953)
 * Shikast (1953) as Madho
 * Baaz (1953) as General Barborosa
 * Sangham (1954)
 * Ehsan (1954)
 * Badshah (1954)
 * Angarey (1954) as Dozila
 * Marine Drive (1955) as Khanna
 * Milap (1955) as Seth Karamchand
 * House No. 44 (1955) as Captain
 * C.I.D. (1956) as Superintendent of Police
 * Zindagi Ke Mele (1956)
 * Funtoosh (1956) as Karodi Lal
 * Beti (1957)
 * Inspector (1957) as Badri Prasad
 * Ustad (1957)
 * Mera Salaam (1957)
 * Hill Station (1957)
 * Bade Sarkar (1957) as Thakur Maan Singh
 * Chandan (1958)
 * Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) as Raja Hardayal Singh
 * Taxi Stand (1958)
 * Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala (1958)
 * Howrah Bridge (1958) as Pyarelal
 * Detective (1958) as Gonsalves
 * Chaubees Ghante (1958)
 * Chaalbaaz (1958)
 * Keechak Vadha (1959)
 * Kali Topi Lal Rumal (1959)
 * Forty Days (1959) as Bholanath
 * Bank Manager (1959) as Ranjeet
 * Nache Nagin Baje Been (1960)
 * Singapore (1960) as Shivdas
 * Road No. 303 (1960)
 * Mehlon Ke Khwab (1960) as Motilal / CID Police Inspector
 * Manzil (1960) as Mr. Mehta
 * Gambler (1960)
 * Chhabili (1960)
 * Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) as Police Commissioner Khan Bahadur
 * Miss Chalbaaz (1961)
 * Senapati (1961)
 * Sapne Suhane (1961) as Baldev
 * Salaam Memsaab (1961)
 * Reshmi Rumal (1961) as Rai Saheb
 * Passport (1961) as Shamsher Singh / Shyamlal
 * Opera House (1961) as Danial
 * Krorepati (1961) as Diwan Hukumat Rai
 * Dark Street (1961)
 * Hong Kong (1962)
 * Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962) as Varma
 * Vallah Kya Baat Hai (1962) as Firoz Singh
 * Soorat Aur Seerat (1962)
 * Raaz Ki Baat (1962) as Police Commissioner Singh
 * Naqli Nawab (1962) as Nawab Sharafat Ali
 * Shikari (1963) as Dr. Cyclops
 * Lado Rani (1963) Punjabi Movie
 * Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) as Dr. Singh
 * Dulha Dulhan (1964) as Thakur Dharam Singh
 * Rustom-E-Hind (1965)
 * Raaka (1965) as Vishal
 * Faraar (1965) as Public Prosecutor
 * Ek Saal Pehle (1965)
 * Bombay Race Course (1965)
 * Mera Saaya (1966) as Prosecuting Lawyer
 * Street Singer (1966)
 * Amrapali (1966) as Badbadhra Singh
 * Teesri Manzil (1966)
 * Raat Aur Din (1967) as Varuna's Father
 * Johar in Bombay (1967)
 * An Evening in Paris (1967) as Jack
 * Dil Aur Mohabbat (1968) as Singh
 * Teri Talash Mein (1968) (uncredited)
 * Spy in Rome (1968) as Dr. Chang
 * Mere Huzoor (1968) as Hakim
 * Ek Phool Ek Bhool (1968) as Dr. Rakesh's Father
 * Sapna (1969)
 * Simla Road (1969)
 * Shart (1969) as Singh
 * Nateeja (1969) as Boss
 * Jigri Dost (1969) as Chairman Neelkanth
 * The Revenger (1970)
 * Tarzan 303 (1970)
 * Suhana Safar (1970) as Dr. Singh
 * Mangu Dada (1970)
 * Dagabaaz (1970)
 * Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) as Max
 * Himmat (1970) as Inspector Mathur
 * Ehsan (1970) as Dinanath / Vishwanath Prasad
 * Meeting (1970) as Mahendranath
 * Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) as Sarwan Kumar
 * Pyar Ki Kahani (1971) as Ram's boss
 * Jaane-Anjaane (1971) as Poonamchand
 * Reshma and Shera (1971) as Chowdhary
 * Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971) as Advocate (Vakil Saheb)
 * Dushmun (1971) as Public Prosecutor Saxena
 * Bansi Birju (1972)
 * Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972) as Gobindram (Prakash's dad)
 * Do Chor (1972) as Tribhuvan Singh
 * Do Bachche Dus Haath (1972) as Girdhari
 * Loafer (1973) as Mr. Singh 'Uncle'
 * Kachhe Dhaage (1973) as Sona's father
 * Sabak (1973) as Ajit
 * Keemat (1973) as Chief of Secret Services
 * Hanste Zakhm (1973) as Chanda's patron
 * Daaman Aur Aag (1973) as Mr. Singh
 * Sagina (1974) as Factory Owner
 * Majboor (1974) as Prosecuting Attorney
 * Vachan (1974)
 * Jeevan Rekha (1974)
 * Hamrahi (1974) as Boss V.K.
 * Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974) as Khadak Singh
 * Romeo in Sikkim (1975)
 * Dimple (1975)
 * Rafoo Chakkar (1975) as #3 Duo
 * Qaid (1975) as Dr. Trivedi
 * Kala Sona (1975) as Police Commissioner
 * Prem Kahani (1975) as Rai Bahadur Shrikant Sinha
 * Meera Shyam (1976)
 * Harfan Maulaa (1976) as Police Inspector
 * Adalat (1976) as Singh
 * Mamta (1977)
 * Jadu Tona (1977)
 * Saheb Bahadur (1977) as Police Supdt. Pasupathi
 * Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam (1977) as Khan Bahadur
 * Agent Vinod (1977) as Chief of Agent Vinod
 * Guru Ho Jaa Shuru (1979) as CBI Chief (uncredited)
 * Zulm Ki Pukar (1979)
 * Do Premee (1980) as Shivlal / Mahayogi
 * Dostana (1980) as Judge
 * Farz Aur Pyar (1981) as Senior Air Force Officer
 * Shradhanjali (1981) as Amit's Diwanji
 * Kaalia (1981) as Convict
 * Professor Pyarelal (1981)
 * Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982) as Nataraj Seth
 * Bekhabar (1983)
 * Sardaar (1984) as Advocate Mathur
 * The Gold Medal (1984) as Singh
 * Woh Din Aayega (1987) as Police Commissioner hukumat
 * Hukumat (1987) as DBDN's Friend
 * Soorma Bhopali (1988)
 * Laat Saab (1992) as K.N. Singh
 * Laila (1994 film) (1994)
 * Daanveer (1996) (final film role)