Bhagwandas Moolchand Luthria

Bhagwandas Moolchand Luthria, popularly known as Sudhir, was a notable Indian actor in the Hindi film industry. He gained recognition for his memorable role in the film “Satte Pe Satta” alongside Amitabh Bachchan. Sudhir’s acting career spanned nearly five decades, from 1962 to 2009, during which he appeared in over 200 films.

He was particularly renowned for portraying antagonistic roles and was considered one of Bollywood’s most prominent villains from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Sudhir made his acting debut in the film “Prem Patra” starring Sadhana and Shashi Kapoor in 1962, where he played the character Subhash. He continued to impress the audience with his performances, including his role opposite Mumtaz in “Apna Ghar Apni Kahani” (also known as “Pyas”) in 1968.

He showcased his versatility by singing memorable songs like “Jigar me dard kaisa ishko ulfat to nhi kahate” and ‘main ye sochkar uske dar se utha tha’ from “Haqeeqat” (1964), ‘mujhe raat din ye khayal hai’ and ‘mere dil pe andheri sa chhan laga’ from “Ek Phool Ek Bhool.”

Sudhir was often cast in the role of a loyal sidekick to popular Bollywood villains such as Ajit, Prem Nath, and Pran. He also portrayed characters like a menacing police inspector or a morally questionable individual. His distinctive features included a shrill voice, long mustache, and sideburns.

He had a notable association with Amitabh Bachchan, appearing alongside him in numerous films, including “Deewaar,” “Kaalia,” “Majboor,” “Sharaabi,” “Satte Pe Satta,” “Dostana,” “Shaan,” and “Lal Baadshah.” Sudhir’s impressive filmography also featured roles in other well-known movies such as Feroz Khan’s 1974 hit “Khote Sikkay” and its sequel “Kachche Heere,” “Dharmatma,” “Mera Gaon Mera Desh,” and his memorable portrayal of a disabled thief in Dev Anand’s “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” (1971).

He made special appearances in Subhash Ghai’s “Meri Jung” (1985) and Shah Rukh Khan’s “Baadshah” (1999). His final film appearances were in “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” (2007) and “Victoria House” (2009).

Sudhir also made episodic appearances in the popular TV series “CID” in 2003.

Sadly, Sudhir passed away on May 12, 2014, at the age of 70. He had been battling a long-term lung infection, marking the end of a prolific and memorable career in Indian cinema.