Rsingh at 06:22, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T06:22:54Z

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{{Short description|Indian actor (1923–1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|3|21|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1980|7|22|1923|3|21}}
| death_place =
| birth_place = [[Bhadran, Gujarat|Bhadran]], [[Kaira district]], [[British India]]
| yearsactive =
| spouse = Jayaben
| children = 3 sons, 1 daughter
| relatives =
| occupation = Actor
}}
'''Arvind Pandya''' (21 March 1923 – 22 July 1980)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=પંડ્યા અરવિંદ – Gujarati Vishwakosh – ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ |url=https://gujarativishwakosh.org/%E0%AA%AA%E0%AA%82%E0%AA%A1%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%AF%E0%AA%BE-%E0%AA%85%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%82%E0%AA%A6/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |language=en-GB}}</ref> was an Indian actor. In his career spanning 35 years, he acted in more than one hundred films including 73 [[Gujarati cinema|Gujarati films]]. He also worked in [[Hindi cinema|Hindi films]] and [[Gujarati theatre]].

== Early life ==
Pandya was born on 21 March 1923 in [[Bhadran, Gujarat|Bhadran]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2023-03-23 |title=ગાયત્રીમાતાના પરમ ઉપાસક હતા:ગુજરાતી ફિલ્મના 'અશોક કુમાર' તરીકે જાણીતા બન્યા, 23 વર્ષની ઉંમરે ડેબ્યૂ કર્યું હતું |language=gu |work=[[Divya Bhaskar]]}}</ref> He spent his childhood in [[Khambhat]] and [[Baroda]] (now Vadodara). His father Ganpatrao was an executive manager in Mandvi branch of [[Bank of Baroda]]. His mother's name was Anandiben. He participated in the [[Indian independence movement]] and in [[Quit India Movement|1942 Quit India movement]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Arvind Pandya Gujarati cinemana Ashokkumar Sha Mate Kahevaya? |script-title=gu:અરવિંદ પંડયા ગુજરાતી સિનેમાના અશોકકુમાર શા માટે કહેવાયા? |trans-title=Why Arvind Pandya was known as Ashok Kumar of Gujarati cinema? |url=https://www.gujaratsamachar.com/news/chitralok/why-is-arvind-pandya-called-the-ashok-kumar-of-gujarati-cinema |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=[[Gujarat Samachar]] |language=gu}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==Career==
Pandya went to [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai) in 1937<ref name=":0" /> and joined [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]] where he studied [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in [[Sanskrit]].<ref name=":1" /> He studied music at Devdhar Classes and later under Pandharinath Kolhapure. After listening to him at an event at St. Xavier's College, he was selected as a playback singer in ''Mansarovar'' (1946) by [[S. N. Tripathi]] in which he sang a solo as well as a duet with [[Shamshad Begum]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

To enter Hindi film industry, he visited Fatelal Damle's studio several times in period of six months but was denied. He continued to work in the theatre. He came to an attention of Prakash Picture's director Shantikumar Dave who saw him in his role of [[Kacha (sage)|Kach]] in play ''Kach-Devyani''.<ref name=":0" />

Shantikumar cast him in lead role in Gujarati film ''Bhakta Surdas'' (1947) in which he also sang several songs. After some Gujarati films, he worked with [[Meena Kumari]] in Hindi film ''[[Naulakha Haar]]'' (1953).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He continued to play supporting roles as well as lead roles in Hindi and Gujarati films. He portrayed mostly historical, social and rural characters in these films.<ref name=":0" /> In 1960s, he portrayed negative characters.<ref name=":1" /> He had played saints as well as bandits in his films. In his career spanning 35 years, he acted in more than one hundred films including 73 Gujarati films. He was known as "[[Ashok Kumar]] of Gujarati cinema".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Due to his efforts, Laxmi Studio was established in Baroda in 1975.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

He continued acting in the [[Gujarati theatre]]. His successful plays included ''Sapnana Sathi'', ''Jesal Toral'', ''Unda Andharethi'', ''Gadh Juno Girnar'', ''Mari Venima Char Char Phool'', ''Swayamsiddha'', ''Major Chandrakant'', ''Pachhale Barane'' and ''Sambharana''. He received the prize from the [[Government of Maharashtra]] for his play ''Sapnana Sathi''.<ref name=":0" />

He was awarded several times for acting by the [[Government of Gujarat]]<ref name=":0" /> including in 1961 for ''Kadu Makrani'', in 1962 for ''Nandanvan'', in 1963-64 for ''Jivno Jugari'', in 1970 for ''Majiyara Haiya'' and in 1975 for ''Tanariri''.<ref name=":1" />

He died on 22 July 1980 following [[Intracerebral hemorrhage|brain hemorrhage]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Personal life ==
Pandya married Jayaben in 1950, and they had three sons – Hameer, Atri and Deval – and a daughter, Neela.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Filmography ==

=== Gujarati cinema ===
* ''Bhakta Surdas'' (1947)
* ''[[Jogidas Khuman (1948 film)|Jogidas Khuman]]'' (1948)
* ''[[Divadandi]]'' (1950)
* ''Bhakt Narsainyo'' (1952)
* ''[[Mulu Manek]]'' (1955)
* ''[[Kadu Makrani (film)|Kadu Makrani]]'' (1960)
* ''[[Jogidas Khuman (1962 film)|Jogidas Khuman]]'' (1962)
* ''[[Jivano Jugari]]'' (1963)
* ''Akhand Saubhagyavati'' (1963)
* ''Ramat Ramade Ram'' (1964)
* ''Kasumbino Rang'' (1965)
* ''Mare Javun Pele Par'' (1968)
* ''Majiyara Haiya'' (1969)
* ''Hasta Melap'' (1969)
* ''Sansar Leela'' (1969)
* ''Vidhina Lekh'' (1970)
* ''Veline Avya Phool'' (1970)
* ''Upar Gagan Vishal'' (1971)
* ''Kumkum Pagla'' (1972)
* ''[[Ranakdevi (1973 film)|Ranakdevi]]'' (1973)
* ''Valo Namori'' / ''Vala Taro Deshma Danko'' (1973)
* ''Amar Premi Sheni Vijanand'' (1974)
* ''Okha Haran'' (1975)
* ''[[Mena Gurjari]]'' (1975)
* [[Jogidas Khuman (1975 film)|''Jogidas Khuman'']] (1975)
* ''Jai Ranchhod'' (1975)
* ''Tana Riri'' (1975)
* ''Parbhav ni Preet'' (1975)
* ''Veer Champaraj Valo'' (1975)
* ''Ra'Navghan'' (1976)
* ''Jalamsang Jadeja'' (1976)
* ''Sati Jasma Odan'' (1976)
* ''Veer Abhal Vallo'' (1976)
* ''Daku Rani Ganga'' (1976)
* ''Ame Pardesi Paan'' (1976)
* ''Ver no Varas'' (1976)
* ''Gher Gher Matina Chula'' (1977)
* ''Mota Gharni Vahu'' (1978)
* ''Nari Tu Narayani'' (1978)
* ''Aapo Jadro'' (1979)
* ''Paraki Thapan'' (1979)
* ''Ganga Sati'' (1979)
* ''Jai Bhadrakali'' (1979)
* ''Vaya Viramgam'' (1980)
* ''Khordani Khandani'' (1980)
* ''Alakhne Otle'' (1980)

Sources:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

=== Hindi cinema ===
* ''[[Naulakha Haar]]'' (1953)
* ''Tilottama'' (1954)
* ''Rani Rupmati'' (1959)
* ''Jai Chittod'' (1961)
* ''Tarzan Aur Jadugar'' (1963)
* ''Tere Dwar Khada Bhagwan'' (1964)
* ''Rustam-e-Rome'' (1964)
* ''Hameer Hath'' (1964)
* ''[[Mahabharat (1965 film)|Mahabharat]]'' (1965)
* ''Veer Chhatrasal'' (1971)
* ''Hari Darshan'' (1972)
* ''Mahasati Savitri'' (1973)
* ''[[Alam Ara (1973 film)|Alam Ara]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Andhera]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Toofan Aur Bijlee]]'' (1975)
* ''Jagadguru Shankaracharya''
* ''Rajpratigya''
* ''Priya''
* ''Bolo He Chakradhari''

Sources:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandya, Arvind}}
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:Male actors in Gujarati-language films]]
[[Category:People from Kheda district]]
[[Category:Actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Gujarati theatre]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, alumni]]

Arvind Pandya - Revision history

Rsingh at 06:22, 7 May 2026