Meet Master Raju worked with Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan Anil Kapoor
Meet Master Raju worked with
Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan Anil Kapoor
In Bollywood, not all child artistes emerge successful and rise to be a Star.
But’its not the case with child artiste, Master Raju who was loved by the film fraternity and the audience.
He was inarguably the most popular child artiste of his time, and even if he couldn’t succeed in becoming a lead actor, he went on to develop a career for himself by playing good supporting roles. Raju was one actor to receive Rs. 1 in the 70’s.
In a career spanning five decades, Master Raju has done over 200 films. In the 60’s 70’s and 80’s he was very popular. In an interview, he claimed that in 1977, he received more than
Rs 1 lakh for a role.
Born as Fahim Ajani, Master Raju hailed from Dongri, Mumbai. He started his film career at the age of five.
Notedly, it was the late actor Sanjeev Kumar, who named him Master Raju amid working with him in his debut movie Gulzar’s Parichay. From that day onwards, he went on to retain the name even after growing up. In the interview, Raju confessed that Master Raju was a bigger identity than him, and he realised the worth of it lately. Master Raju even won the Best Child Actor National Award for his performance in Chitchor.
Some of Raju’s popular titles from his filmography include Amar Prem, Daag-The Poem of Love, Deewaar, Inkaar, Khud-Daar, and Woh Saat Din.
In his recent media interaction Raju revealed that in 1977, he was paid ‘more than Rs 1 lakh’. And In 1973, he received
Rs 10,000 per film.
Amidst the interview with Raju further revealed that while shooting Deewangi with Shashi Kapoor, he got his face and arms burnt because of his miscordination in an action scene. During the shoot of Mamta, he almost drowned because he didn’t know how to swim.
Raju did a few notable works as an adult as well. This includes Baaghi, Anari, Balwaan, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Diljale. However, he failed to become a popular actor.
When Master Raju failed as an adult actor, he switched to television. After venturing into TV, Raju played Narad in almost 3000 episodes. He played the mythological character in different serials including Jai Hanuman, Navgrah Puran, Darshan do Bhagwan, Jai Maa Durgaa, and Shani Mahima.
For a decade, Raju played Narad and gained recognition. Raju also did a few episodes of CID and Ssshhh… Koi Hai. Raju was last seen in TV series Ziddi Dil Maane Na and OTT film Ardh.
News Edit K.V.Raman
