{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/14082/kanhaiyalal-chaturvedi",
  "name": "Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/14082/kanhaiyalal-chaturvedi",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "Kanhaiyalal was born in Varanasi into a theatrical family. His father, Pandit Bhairodutt Choube, owned a drama company but disapproved of his son’s interest in acting. Undeterred, Kanhaiyalal began working backstage and gradually transitioned into small stage roles. After his father's death, he moved to Bombay to pursue a career in cinema—initially aspiring to become a writer and director. However, fate had other plans, and he made his screen debut as an extra in Sagar Ka Sher.\n\nHe rose to national and international fame for his iconic portrayal of the scheming moneylender Sukhilala in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), one of Indian cinema’s most legendary villains. He had originally played the same role in Aurat (1940), making him the first Indian actor to reprise a character in a remake 17 years later. Mother India also earned the distinction of being India’s first official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best International Feature Film—cementing Kanhaiyalal’s performance in global film history.\n\nKnown for his mastery of negative and elderly roles, Kanhaiyalal acted in over 100 films including Ganga Jamuna, Upkar, Apna Desh, Dushman, and Grahasti. He also wrote dialogues and lyrics for films like Sadhana. His cinematic legacy lives on through the 2022 documentary Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal, produced by his daughter Hemaa Singh.\n\nTMDB mini biography by: Ashvin Borad",
  "birthDate": "1910-01-01",
  "deathDate": "1982-08-14",
  "birthPlace": " Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India",
  "alternateName": [
    "Kanaiya Lal",
    "Lala",
    "Munim",
    "Sukhilala",
    "Kanhaiyalal"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4Ac7Th8qfLvGdx0eIxI0LU1gV43.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437688"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "12 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 917,
      "title": "Mother India",
      "year": "1957",
      "role": "as Sukhilala",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.048,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/AlfM9yLcK1rhv73iNbDiOU9vnnu.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/917/mother-india-1957"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 143975,
      "title": "Satyam Shivam Sundaram",
      "year": "1978",
      "role": "as Pandit Shyam Sunder",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.042,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5k5owbottAeIk7gPjFnnkmO94wQ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/143975/satyam-shivam-sundaram-1978"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 884805,
      "title": "Heera",
      "year": "1973",
      "role": "as Dhaniram",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sm9StbddRcvS81cOUJcsQKexFbB.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/884805/heera-1973"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 444988,
      "title": "Biradari",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "as Rammurthy 'Dudhwala'",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/jN97csce4sLiDcYIOvP8EJacKjy.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/444988/biradari-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 121594,
      "title": "Upkar",
      "year": "1967",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/omhgmcfkBUG9GI85eGgevpZCHwu.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/121594/upkar-1967"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 653632,
      "title": "Dulhan Ek Raat Ki",
      "year": "1967",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sT49UlcpBdyAO7DP6jX7a3bwMGg.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/653632/dulhan-ek-raat-ki-1967"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 319955,
      "title": "Jeevan Mrityu",
      "year": "1970",
      "role": "as Jagat Narayan",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.875,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/d3OqfmBgz0zkzR5cfQbbcwlWgot.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/319955/jeevan-mrityu-1970"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 304221,
      "title": "Grahasti",
      "year": "1963",
      "role": "as Station Master Ram Swarup",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5o8PDlwOIxe29KNGssXERgEi9sP.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/304221/grahasti-1963"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 306370,
      "title": "Ram Aur Shyam",
      "year": "1967",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/w9ysdKXWIF1sqoZJnidrSK7qOp5.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/306370/ram-aur-shyam-1967"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 400451,
      "title": "Dost",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "as Gadibabu",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1zHpNGzXJ3u1dtnsVfcvJkMJPId.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/400451/dost-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 285753,
      "title": "Hum Paanch",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "as Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.85,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vkCzZZGeC4YkZ6YFjaeZaBYeC4a.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/285753/hum-paanch-1980"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 617831,
      "title": "Sitara",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rFLiQVNNDlPEOlEnD4XCEemrLMm.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/617831/sitara-1980"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 318174,
      "title": "Chirag",
      "year": "1969",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3jP8maYRFawgKcBexDKgcZsumeY.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/318174/chirag-1969"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 54510,
      "title": "Gunga Jumna",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "as Kallu",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.167,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7DRWnqQ5P8PfvfYh8sbTAsnA4Ez.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/54510/gunga-jumna-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 795740,
      "title": "Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein",
      "year": "1977",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/wLOoGQChbDeFXT0osw4BDOB0Azt.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/795740/palkon-ki-chhaon-mein-1977"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 324796,
      "title": "Oonche Log",
      "year": "1965",
      "role": "as Master Gunichand",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zcI0RYhYVOIxN8wouKLgwMoCFUD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/324796/oonche-log-1965"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 172662,
      "title": "Himalay Ki Godmein",
      "year": "1965",
      "role": "as Ghoghar Baba",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2QWqkTJFxcIZvigfG2VWpcRO3y1.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/172662/himalay-ki-godmein-1965"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 303966,
      "title": "Jadu Tona",
      "year": "1977",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/72Cshw2fkGpohUdjhZrn6eSmIcD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/303966/jadu-tona-1977"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 670664,
      "title": "Ghunghat",
      "year": "1960",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/mvtUr5EDIkDj4KptE4ZvzPGeIIF.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/670664/ghunghat-1960"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 790673,
      "title": "Daadi Maa",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8Q0jUITPk5alLT2Yr8xvR3QtmQD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/790673/daadi-maa-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 310782,
      "title": "Apna Desh",
      "year": "1972",
      "role": "as Sevaram",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 4.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/caaHifsAmulriEjtFSPODM27e7s.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/310782/apna-desh-1972"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 933470,
      "title": "Samaj Ko Badal Dalo",
      "year": "1970",
      "role": "as Kundanlal",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/933470/samaj-ko-badal-dalo-1970"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 307452,
      "title": "Doli",
      "year": "1969",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ts8SrbuWf98cahZwXgkC7D9tD7h.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/307452/doli-1969"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 895470,
      "title": "Zindagi",
      "year": "1964",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2EfRcRib7VgQf3hR2K9CdQn1Vfs.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/895470/zindagi-1964"
    }
  ]
}