Keshav Rana – Character artist of Bollywood yesterdays with negative shades

by Sandy · May 3, 2019

Keshav Rana was a popular character artist of Bollywood during the classic era of 1950s – 1970s. He mostly played negative characters of stalker, pimp, henchman, greedy person etc on Bollywood screen. He is mostly seen with smiling face but an evil and wicked heart on Bollywood screen, and has played numerous roles belonging to this category. This signature style makes him different from other character artists among his contemporaries. Sharafat, Johny Mera Naam, Yaadon Ki Baarat, Dillagi, Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, Amar Prem, Be-Imaan, Dastaan, Jeet, Rampur ka Laxman, Nasihat, Suraj, Shankar Shambhu, Gambler, Naya Zamana, Blackmail, Rakhwale, Aan Milo Sajna, Seeta Aur Geeta, Katilon Ke Kaatil etc are among his famous character roles.

A scene from 1966 film Dillagi where Keshav Rana played a full-fledged villain role

Keshav Rana hailed from Faizabad, and was a member of royal family. He joined film industry in the 1950s and played bit roles in movies like Insaan Jaag Uda. He rose to prominence in the second half of 1960s. Though he played numerous character roles, he got side-lined as a stalker or villain or a man with crookedness. But the truth that he excelled in handling negative roles carrying a positive smile on his face, and we can rarely find such artists in Bollywood, like we say “Chehre Mein Kuch and Mann Mein Kuch Or”. It can be said his acting potential was not fully exploited by filmmakers of yesterdays who followed a strict formula in filmmaking.

Keshav Rana – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He is a member of a royal family of Faizabad.

2. His full name is Keshav Singh Faizabadi.

3. He played villain in 1966 film Dillagi, and it was one of his full-fledged roles throughout his career.

4. He has been credited to 124 films as an actor, and was most active in the 1960s and 1970s.

5. He has played cameo yet memorable roles in many Bollywood films.

6. His cameo role as Police Inspector in Seeta Aur Geeta is memorable. This iconic comedy scene (where Hema Malini creates a lot of problems in the police station) is still loved by Bollywood fans.