Remembering Hindi cinema legends Guru Dutt and Sanjeev Kumar on their birth anniversaries

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Hindi cinema greatest legends Guru Dutt and Sanjeev Kumar were born on the same day (July 9). While Guru Dutt came up with tragic stories that magically merged artistic and commercial sensibilities and became box office successes, Sanjeev Kumar always proved his versatility as an actor. 

On the occasion of their birth anniversaries, let us remember the legends who will stay with us forever.

Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt – the man who made some of finest Hindi films of all time like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand – was born on July 9 in 1925. He may now seem like a name lost in the past, but his timeless movies make him a legend, a source of inspiration even today. Internationally, Dutt is mentioned in the same breath as Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak. 

Gripped by depression, Guru Dutt committed suicide at 39, leaving behind a rich legacy of popular classics such as Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.

Sanjeev Kumar

Sanjeev Kumar always had interest in films and that led him to Filmalaya acting school and theatres.  Not many people know that Sanjeev was just 30 when he played the role of Thakur in Sholay. He was applauded for his performance as the film is still called as one of the finest arts of Hindi cinema. The actor won hearts with his role in Sholay, but not much people know that veteran actor Dharmendra wanted to play Thakur in the film.

The actor died catastrophically young at 47. As if that setback wasn’t enough, tragedy struck Kumar’s family as one of his brothers had passed away before him while another died shortly after him. Like Dutt, Kumar also left in his wake incomplete productions and several projects that released after his demise.