Moti Sagar
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- Died: 14 March, 1999 (Bombay)
- Primary Cinema: Hindi
- Children: Preeti Sagar , Namita Sagar
Moti Sagar was a noted Hindi film actor of yesteryears, who was also a singer, writer and director. Born in 1927, he was the cousin of actor Motilal, and singer Mukesh and Tara Harish. He acted in approximately 13 films, and is best known for films like Malhar (1951), Dharm Patni (1953), Shikar (1955), Diwali Ki Raat (1956), Aabroo (1956), Makkhee Choos (1956), Pak Daman (1957), Apna Ghar (1960), Burmah Road (1962), Chhoti Chhoti Baten (1965), Pyar Ki Baazi (1967), and Rabba Main Kya Karoon (1971).
He had always dreamt of becoming an actor, starting off with serving as an announcer on All India Radio in Delhi. He approached his relative, Motilal, the famous actor, asking if he could come across to Bombay. Motilal told him he was most welcome in Bombay, but that he couldn’t promise to make him an actor. Thus, he reached Bombay and made attempts to get a break in films. When Mukesh started his film, Malhar, Moti Sagar bagged the chance to star in it. In fact, it was Mukesh who also chose the name Moti Sagar for him, for films. Offered a choice between two roles—one, a happy-go-lucky, song-crooning role and the other, a more difficult one, Sagar chose the latter, which afforded him a challenge. Despite not being trained to face the camera, he felt completely natural. The film was a superhit, followed by Dharm Patni, which celebrated its silver jubilee in theatres. Attempting to essay different types of roles, as an actor, he revered Motilal and yearned to be like him. He played his idol Motilal’s onscreen son in the film Chhoti Chhoti Baten written, produced and directed by Motilal, which also won two National Awards. After the screening of the film, Motilal clapped his back warmly and told him, ‘Bhola (his pet name), today I realise how good an actor you are!’
Moti Sagar acted opposite heroines including Nimmi, Shashikala, Shakila, Nirupa Roy, Kamini Kaushal. Despite not being trained, he was an excellent singer, and rendered several songs in his films, as well as released non-film records including ghazals. Some of the songs he rendered include Jhoom rahi hai mastiyan which is a duet with Sulochana Kadam, Likhi hai do dilon ki kismet ne yeh kahani, Pyar ka maara pyar kare ya doob mare, Rasiya re rasiya batiyaan suno which is a duet with Asha Bhosle, and Phoolon mein chup ke pyar kare which is a duet with Seeta Kalyanpur.
Moti Sagar is the father of playback singer Preeti Sagar, and Namita Sagar.
Moti Sagar passed away on 15 March, 1999.
References
Image credit: Imdb
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Filmography (12)
SortRole
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Nawab Sirajuddaula 1967
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Burmah Road 1962
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Apnaa Ghar 1960
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Raajaa Betaa 1958
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Pak Daman 1957
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Paak Daaman 1957
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Diwali Ki Raat 1956
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Aabroo 1956
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Shikar 1955
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Khusboo 1954
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Dharm Patni 1953
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