indian cinema heritage foundation

Keshav Rana

Artists
  • Real Name: Keshav Singh Faizabadi
  • Primary Cinema: Hindi
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An actor who featured in supporting roles in approximately 120 films, Keshav Rana was a familiar face in Hindi films, such as Mohabbat Zindagi Hai (1966), Johny Mera Naam (1970), and Don (1978). Starting his career in the 1950s, he featured regularly in Hindi film through the following decades up until the mid-80s. He was seen mainly in negative roles. 

Hailing from a noble family from Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh), Keshav Rana was originally credited as Keshav Singh Faizabadi. Starting off his career with films such as Miss India (1957), and Khota Paisa (1958), he appeared in several films such as Insaan Jaag Utha (1959), Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1959), Patang (1960), Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961), China Town (1962), Humrahi (1963), Shehnai (1964), Janwar (1965), Street Singer (1966), Nasihat(1967), Brahmachari (1968),Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969), Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? (1970), Lal Patthar (1971), Dastaan (1972), Loafer (1973), Naya Din Nai Raat (1974), Zameer (1975), Dus Numbri (1976), Yaaron Ka Yaar (1977), Ganga Ki Saugand (1978), The Great Gambler (1979), Beqasoor (1980), Itni Si Baat (1981), Shakti (1982), and Qatl (1986).

He played a host of different characters such as a Christian landlord in Khota Paisa (1958), a police inspector in Kangan (1959), a doctor in Chhoti Bahen (1959), a tea estate manager in Maa Baap (1960), a goon in Jewel Thief (1967), a landlord in Amar Prem (1972), a dairy farm owner in Do Jhoot (1975), a prosecuting lawyer in Adalat (1976), a bartender in Chalta Purza (1977), a police officer in Don (1978), a surgeon in Jail Yatra (1981), a hotel manager in Shakti, and a henchman in The Gold Medal (1979). 

While he essayed a full-fledged villain’s role in Dillagi (1966), another memorable role is his cameo in Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), in which he played a police inspector. The comic scene in which he features alongside Hema Malini, whose character creates problems in the police station, stands out.