imported>Scholar165 at 21:52, 22 July 2021

2021-07-22T21:52:57Z

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{{more citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Krishan Niranjan
| image = K.N.Singh-photo.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|09|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Dehradun]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2000|01|31|1908|09|1|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| nationality = Indian
| spouse =
| children = Pushkar ''(Son)''
| parents = Chandi Prasad Singh ''(Father)''
| family =
| relatives = One sister and five brothers
| years_active = 1936 to late 1980s
| occupation = Film actor, director and producer
}}

'''Krishan Niranjan''' (1 September 1908 – 31 January 2000), known as '''K. N. Singh''' in [[Indian cinema]], was a prominent villain and character actor. He appeared in over 200 Hindi films over a long career stretching from 1936 to the late 1980s.

==Early years (1908–1936)==
The son of Chandi Prasad Singh, an erstwhile Indian prince and a prominent criminal lawyer, K.N. Singh was a sportsman who once dreamt of being in the army. Born in Dehradun, Singh was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a lawyer. However, his father's skillful defence, which saved an obviously guilty man from the gallows, turned him away from the profession.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000204/art-trib.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Arts Tribune|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>

Turning his energy to sports, K.N. Singh came to excel in the javelin throw and the shot put. He was selected to represent India in the [[1936 Berlin Olympics]] before circumstances compelled him to go to Calcutta to attend on his ailing sister. There he met his family friend [[Prithviraj Kapoor]], who introduced him to director [[Debaki Bose]], who offered him a debut role in his film ''Sunehra Sansar'' (1936).

==Popular villain (1936 to late 1960s)==
K.N. Singh enjoyed limited success until the release of ''[[Baghban (1938 film)|Baghban]]'' (1938), in which he played the antagonist. ''Baghban'' was a golden jubilee hit, establishing Singh as one of the leading villains of the era.

Through the 1940s and 1950s, Singh appeared in several iconic movies of the era, including ''Sikandar'' (1941), ''Jwar Bhata'' (1944) (Dilip Kumar's film debut), ''Humayun'' (1945), ''[[Awara (1951 film)|Awara]]'' (1951), ''Jaal'' (1952), ''CID'' (1956), ''Howrah Bridge'' (1958), ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958), ''Amrapali'' (1966) and ''An Evening in Paris'' (1967).

As opposed to playing angry mobsters, he mostly played a white collared gentleman villain, dressed in a fine suit and smoking a pipe, with a calm cold delivery.

His suave style, baritone voice and menacing eyes became legendary – so much so that on one occasion (in his own words) "Even off-screen I was a bad man. One day on my way back from shooting, I had to deliver an envelope at an address given to me by my friend. I pressed the doorbell and, from the moving curtains, I could see a woman hurrying to open the door. When she saw me standing in front of her, she screamed out in fright and ran inside leaving the door open."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/mar/22/guardianobituaries4|title=KN Singh|first=Lalit Mohan|last=Joshi|date=22 March 2000|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

As an actor, Singh's thirst for learning was legendary. For example, he studied the style and mannerisms of carriage riders to prepare for the role of a horse carriage driver in ''Inspector'' (1956).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04kn.htm|title=Rediff on the Net, Movies:Nostalgia: K N Singh|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

==Later years (1970 to late 1980s)==
Singh played prominent roles in movies such as ''Jhoota Kahin Ka'' (1970), ''Haathi Mere Saathi'' (1971) and ''Mere Jeevan Saathi'' (1972). His last prominent role was in the 1973 film ''Loafer''.

With advancing years, Singh became less active, particularly from the mid 1970s onwards. Many of his roles from the late 1970s onwards were mere cameo appearances, arranged with the sole purpose of ensuring that actors turned up on time – such was his stature that actors would never turn up late when K.N. Singh was on the set.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://memsaabstory.com/2008/11/06/guest-post-kn-singh/|title=Guest post: KN Singh|date=6 November 2008}}</ref> His last appearance was in Woh Din Aayega (1986).

==Personal life==
Singh was the eldest among 6 siblings: a sister and five brothers. Because he was unable to have any children naturally, he adopted Pushkar, the son of his brother Bikram (who was once the editor of [[Filmfare]] magazine) as their son.

Singh became completely blind in his last years. He died in Mumbai on 31 January 2000 aged 91 and was survived by his adopted son Pushkar, who is a producer of television serials.

==Selected filmography ==
{{Div col}}
* ''Sonar Sansar'' (1936)
* ''Sunehra Sansar'' (1936)
* ''Karodpati'' (1936)
* ''[[Mukti (1937 film)|Mukti]]'' (1937) as Guest at party of Chitra's father
* ''Bidyapati'' (1937)
* ''Sitara'' (1938)
* ''Nirala Hindustan'' (1938)
* ''[[Baghban (1938 film)|Baghban]]'' (1938) as Ranjit
* ''[[Thokar]]'' (1939) as Doctor
* ''[[Aap Ki Marzi]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Sikandar (1941 film)|Sikandar]]'' (1941) as Raja Ambhi (Maharaja Amphis)
* ''[[Phir Milenge (1942 film)|Phir Milenge]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Ek Raat]]'' (1942)
* ''Shahenshah Akbar'' (1943)
* ''[[Prithvi Vallabh]]'' (1943) as Bhillam
* ''[[Prarthana (1943 film)|Prarthana]]'' (1943) as Doctor
* ''[[Taqdeer (1943 film)|Taqdeer]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Maharathi Karna]]'' (1944) as Duryodhan
* ''[[Jwar Bhata (1944 film)|Jwar Bhata]]'' (1944)
* ''Draupadi'' (1944)
* ''Ratnavali'' (1945)
* ''Mazdoor'' (1945)
* ''Laila Majnu'' (1945)
* ''[[Humayun (film)|Humayun]]'' (1945) as Jai Singh
* ''Room No. 9'' (1946)
* ''Rangbhoomi'' (1946)
* ''Zanjeer'' (1947)
* ''[[Parwana (1947 film)|Parwana]]'' (1947) as Kishan
* ''Chalte Chalte'' (1947)
* ''[[Barsaat (1949 film)|Barsaat]]'' (1949) as Bholu
* ''[[Singaar]]'' (1949) as Kishan's Father
* ''[[Paras (1949 film)|Paras]]'' (1949)
* ''Nirdosh'' (1950)
* ''Banwra'' (1950)
* ''[[Sazaa (1951 film)|Sazaa]]'' (1951) as Major Dhurjan Singh
* ''[[Awara (1951 film)|Awara]]'' (1951) as Jagga
* ''[[Sanam (1951 film)|Sanam]]'' (1951) as Advocate-Sadhna's Father
* ''Saagar'' (1951)
* ''[[Hulchul (1951 film)|Hulchul]]'' (1951) as Asha's brother
* ''[[Baazi (1951 film)|Baazi]]'' (1951) as Rajani's Father
* ''[[Parbat (film)|Parbat]]'' (1952) as Parbat's obsessive lover
* ''[[Jaal (1952 film)|Jaal]]'' (1952) as Carlo
* ''Insaan'' (1952)
* ''Ghungroo'' (1952)
* ''Do Raha'' (1952)
* ''[[Aandhiyan (1952 film)|Aandhiyan]]'' (1952) as Kuber Das
* ''[[Armaan (1953 film)|Armaan]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Shahenshah (1953 film)|Shahenshah]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Shikast]]'' (1953) as Madho
* ''[[Baaz (1953 film)|Baaz]]'' (1953) as General Barborosa
* ''[[Sangham]]'' (1954)
* ''Ehsan'' (1954)
* ''[[Badshah (1954 film)|Badshah]]'' (1954)
* ''[[Angarey]]'' (1954) as Dozila
* ''[[Marine Drive (film)|Marine Drive]]'' (1955) as Khanna
* ''[[Milap (1955 film)|Milap]]'' (1955) as Seth Karamchand
* ''[[House No. 44]]'' (1955) as Captain
* ''[[C.I.D. (1956 film)|C.I.D.]]'' (1956) as Superintendent of Police
* ''Zindagi Ke Mele'' (1956)
* ''[[Funtoosh]]'' (1956) as Karodi Lal
* ''Beti'' (1957)
* ''[[Inspector (1956 film)|Inspector]]'' (1957) as Badri Prasad
* ''Ustad'' (1957)
* ''Mera Salaam'' (1957)
* ''Hill Station'' (1957)
* ''[[Bade Sarkar]]'' (1957) as Thakur Maan Singh
* ''[[Chandan (film)|Chandan]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi]]'' (1958) as Raja Hardayal Singh
* ''Taxi Stand'' (1958)
* ''[[Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Howrah Bridge]]'' (1958) as Pyarelal
* ''[[Detective (1958 film)|Detective]]'' (1958) as Gonsalves
* ''[[Chaubees Ghante]]'' (1958)
* ''Chaalbaaz'' (1958)
* ''Keechak Vadha'' (1959)
* ''Kali Topi Lal Rumal'' (1959)
* ''Forty Days'' (1959) as Bholanath
* ''Bank Manager'' (1959) as Ranjeet
* ''Nache Nagin Baje Been'' (1960)
* ''[[Singapore (1960 film)|Singapore]]'' (1960) as Shivdas
* ''Road No. 303'' (1960)
* ''Mehlon Ke Khwab'' (1960) as Motilal / CID Police Inspector
* ''[[Manzil (1960 film)|Manzil]]'' (1960) as Mr. Mehta
* ''Gambler'' (1960)
* ''[[Chhabili]]'' (1960)
* ''[[Barsaat Ki Raat]]'' (1960) as Police Commissioner Khan Bahadur
* ''Miss Chalbaaz'' (1961)
* ''Senapati'' (1961)
* ''Sapne Suhane'' (1961) as Baldev
* ''Salaam Memsaab'' (1961)
* ''Reshmi Rumal'' (1961) as Rai Saheb
* ''[[Passport (1961 film)|Passport]]'' (1961) as Shamsher Singh / Shyamlal
* ''[[Opera House (1961 film)|Opera House]]'' (1961) as Danial
* ''Krorepati'' (1961) as Diwan Hukumat Rai
* ''Dark Street'' (1961)
* ''Hong Kong'' (1962)
* ''[[Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai]]'' (1962) as Varma
* ''Vallah Kya Baat Hai'' (1962) as Firoz Singh
* ''[[Soorat Aur Seerat]]'' (1962)
* ''Raaz Ki Baat'' (1962) as Police Commissioner Singh
* ''Naqli Nawab'' (1962) as Nawab Sharafat Ali
* ''[[Shikari (1963 film)|Shikari]]'' (1963) as Dr. Cyclops
* ''Lado Rani'' (1963)
* ''[[Woh Kaun Thi?]]'' (1964) as Dr. Singh
* ''[[Dulha Dulhan]]'' (1964) as Thakur Dharam Singh
* ''Rustom-E-Hind'' (1965)
* ''Raaka'' (1965) as Vishal
* ''Faraar'' (1965) as Public Prosecutor
* ''Ek Saal Pehle'' (1965)
* ''Bombay Race Course'' (1965)
* ''[[Mera Saaya]]'' (1966) as Prosecuting Lawyer
* ''Street Singer'' (1966)
* ''[[Amrapali (film)|Amrapali]]'' (1966) as Badbadhra Singh
* ''Teesri Manzil'' (1966)
* ''[[Raat Aur Din]]'' (1967) as Varuna's Father
* ''Johar in Bombay'' (1967)
* ''[[An Evening in Paris]]'' (1967) as Jack
* ''Dil Aur Mohabbat'' (1968) as Singh
* ''Teri Talash Mein'' (1968) (uncredited)
* ''Spy in Rome'' (1968) as Dr. Chang
* ''[[Mere Huzoor]]'' (1968) as Hakim
* ''[[Ek Phool Ek Bhool]]'' (1968) as Dr. Rakesh's Father
* ''Sapna'' (1969)
* ''Simla Road'' (1969)
* ''Shart'' (1969) as Singh
* ''Nateeja'' (1969) as Boss
* ''[[Jigri Dost]]'' (1969) as Chairman Neelkanth
* ''The Revenger'' (1970)
* ''Tarzan 303'' (1970)
* ''[[Suhana Safar]]'' (1970) as Dr. Singh
* ''Mangu Dada'' (1970)
* ''Dagabaaz'' (1970)
* ''[[Pagla Kahin Ka]]'' (1970) as Max
* ''[[Himmat (1970 film)|Himmat]]'' (1970) as Inspector Mathur
* ''[[Ehsan]]'' (1970) as Dinanath / Vishwanath Prasad
* ''[[Meeting (1970 film)|Meeting]]'' (1970) as Mahendranath
* ''[[Haathi Mere Saathi (1971 film)|Haathi Mere Saathi]]'' (1971) as Sarwan Kumar
* ''[[Pyar Ki Kahani (1971 film)|Pyar Ki Kahani]]'' (1971) as Ram's boss
* ''[[Jaane-Anjaane (1971 film)|Jaane-Anjaane]]'' (1971) as Poonamchand
* ''[[Reshma and Shera (1972 film)|Reshma and Shera]]'' (1971) as Chowdhary
* ''[[Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971 film)|Hum Tum Aur Woh]]'' (1971) as Advocate (Vakil Saheb)
* ''[[Dushmun (1971 film)|Dushmun]]'' (1971) as Public Prosecutor Saxena
* ''Bansi Birju'' (1972)
* ''[[Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972 film)|Mere Jeevan Saathi]]'' (1972) as Gobindram (Prakash's dad)
* ''[[Do Chor (1972 film)|Do Chor]]'' (1972) as Tribhuvan Singh
* ''[[Do Bachche Dus Haath]]'' (1972) as Girdhari
* ''[[Loafer (1973 film)|Loafer]]'' (1973) as Mr. Singh 'Uncle'
* ''[[Kuahhe Dhaage (1973 film)|Kachhe Dhaage]]'' (1973) as Sona's father
* ''Sabak'' (1973) as Ajit
* ''[[Keemat (1973 film)|Keemat]]'' (1973) as Chief of Secret Services
* ''[[Hanste Zakhm (1973 film)|Hanste Zakhm]]'' (1973) as Chanda's patron
* ''[[Daaman Aur Aag (1973 film)|Daaman Aur Aag]]'' (1973) as Mr. Singh
* ''[[Sagina (1974 film)|Sagina]]'' (1974) as Factory Owner
* ''[[Majboor (1974 film)|Majboor]]'' (1974) as Prosecuting Attorney
* ''[[Vachan (1974 film)|Vachan]]'' (1974)
* ''Jeevan Rekha'' (1974)
* ''[[Hamrahi (1974 film)|Hamrahi]]'' (1974) as Boss V.K.
* ''[[Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974 film)|Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi]]'' (1974) as Khadak Singh
* ''Romeo in Sikkim'' (1975)
* ''Dimple'' (1975)
* ''[[Rafoo Chakkar (1975 film)|Rafoo Chakkar]]'' (1975) as #3 Duo
* ''[[Qaid (1975 film)|Qaid]]'' (1975) as Dr. Trivedi
* ''[[Kala Sona (1975 film)|Kala Sona]]'' (1975) as Police Commissioner
* ''[[Prem Kahani (1975 film)|Prem Kahani]]'' (1975) as Rai Bahadur Shrikant Sinha
* ''Meera Shyam'' (1976)
* ''[[Harfan Maulaa (1976 film)|Harfan Maulaa]]'' (1976) as Police Inspector
* ''[[Adalat (1976 film)|Adalat]]'' (1976) as Singh
* ''Mamta'' (1977)
* ''[[Jadu Tona (1977 film)|Jadu Tona]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Saheb Bahadur (1977 film)|Saheb Bahadur]]'' (1977) as Police Supdt. Pasupathi
* ''Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam'' (1977) as Khan Bahadur
* ''[[Agent Vinod (1977 film)|Agent Vinod]]'' (1977) as Chief of Agent Vinod
* ''[[Guru Ho Jaa Shuru (1979 film)|Guru Ho Jaa Shuru]]'' (1979) as CBI Chief (uncredited)
* ''[[Zulm Ki Pukar]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Do Premee (1980 film)|Do Premee]]'' (1980) as Shivlal / Mahayogi
* ''[[Dostana (1980 film)|Dostana]]'' (1980) as Judge
* ''[[Farz Aur Pyar]]'' (1981) as Senior Air Force Officer
* ''[[Shradhanjali (1981 film)|Shradhanjali]]'' (1981) as Amit's Diwanji
* ''[[Kaalia]]'' (1981) as Convict
* ''[[Professor Pyarelal (1981 film)|Professor Pyarelal]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982 film)|Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon]]'' (1982) as Nataraj Seth
* ''Bekhabar'' (1983)
* ''Sardaar'' (1984) as Advocate Mathur
* ''The Gold Medal'' (1984) as Singh
* ''[[Woh Din Aayega (1987 film)|Woh Din Aayega]]'' (1987) as Police Commissioner hukumat
* ''[[Hukumat]]'' (1987) as DBDN's Friend
* ''Soorma Bhopali'' (1988)
* ''[[Laat Saab]]'' (1992) as K.N. Singh
* ''[[Laila (1994 film)|Laila]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Daanveer]]'' (1996) (final film role)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0802144}}
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000204/art-trib.htm#1 Sophisticated villain of Hindi films]
* [http://www.upperstall.com/people/kn-singh K.N. Singh]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, K.N.}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Dehradun]]

K. N. Singh - Revision history

imported>Scholar165 at 21:52, 22 July 2021