Arjun Hingorani – Filmmaker who launched Dharmendra and Sadhana Shivdasani to movies

Arjun Hingorani (1926 – 2018) was a Bollywood filmmaker of yesterdays who was most active in the golden era of 1960s and 1970s. He produced and directed Hindi films, apart from doing brief roles in his ventures. He has done only less number of movies in Bollywood, but most of his films remain memorable. Arjun is also known for introducing two big stars to silver screen – Dharmendra and Sadhana Shivdasani. Dharmendra marked his film debut through Arjun’s directorial venture Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960, while Arjun introduced Sadhana Shivdasani to silver screen through Abana in 1958, which is also credited as the first Sindhi film. He frequently worked with Dharmendra.

Arjun Hingorani marked his film career with the first ever Sindhi film Abana in 1958. He joined Bollywood in 1960 introducing Dharmendra to silver screen through Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. He made his second film only in 1970 – Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, and since then casted Dharmendra in all his films such as Kahani Kismat Ki, Karishma Kudrat Kaa, Kaun Kare Kurbanie, Khel Khilari Ka and Katilon Ke Kaatil. Kalyanji Anandji composed music for all his films.

Arjun Hingorani – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. The first ever Sindhi film he made – Abana happened to be his directorial debut too. Sadhana who was earlier seen in the song sequence of Shree 420 – “Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh” made her screen debut with this film playing Sheila Ramani’s younger sister.

2. He made his film debut through Abana and Bollywood debut through Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere – interestingly both with new actors (introducing Sadhana and Dharmendra to silver screen). Interestingly both these actors went on to become huge stars of Bollywood. Sadhana and Dharmendra later worked together in a single movie – Ishq Par Zor Nahin in 1970.

3. After making his Bollywood debut in 1960, it took 10 years for him to make next film, and both these films hade Dharmendra in the lead role. Arjun also made his screen debut with his comeback film, film Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?

4. Right from his first Bollywood film, all his films starred Dharmendra in the lead role. But most of them belonging to action genre were not so successful at box office.

5. Likewise Kalyanji Anandji composed music for all his films, which is a very rare phenomenon.

6. He pioneered the idea of numerology in film titles in Bollywood, followed by many filmmakers later. Except his first two films, all his movie titles started with letter ‘K’.

7. He launched his son Armit Hingorani in a lead role through his last work, Kaise Kahoon Ke… Pyaar Hai. He was the producer of the film, and it was for the last time he worked with Dharmendra. Dharmendra’s son Sunny Deol also acted in the film.

8. He played a cameo role in Sultanat – the first time when Dharmendra and Sunny Deol worked together.  

9. He released a book titled – How To Be Happy and Realise Your Dreams in 2005.

Top hit songs of Arjun Hingorani’s films

1. Mujhko Is Raat Ki Tanhai Mein from Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere

2. Ho Gaye Tere Ho Gaya from Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?

3. Dil To Dil Hai from Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?

4. Pyar Se Dil Bhar De from Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?

5. Rafta Rafta from Kahani Kismat Ki

6. Dal Chola Dhabal from Abana