Did you know the legendary actor used to sell jewelry before entering showbiz?
Jeetendra — lovingly known as Bollywood’s “Jumping Jack” — ruled the silver screen from the ’60s to the early ’90s, carving out a legacy that’s as energetic as his iconic dance moves. With his unmistakable style, all-white outfits, and charming smile, he was a phenomenon that still leaves us awestruck. The kind of hero who didn’t need dramatic dialogues or intense brooding stares to grab your attention; just his presence could light up the screen. Women swooned, men copied his style, and kids tried to match his moves, especially those fast-paced, almost aerobic dance steps that became his trademark.
But here’s what makes his story even more fascinating — acting wasn’t even part of his original plan. It was a twist of fate, or perhaps a little bit of filmy destiny that pulled him into the world of lights, camera, and action. And once he was in, there was no looking back.
(Credit: jeetendra_kapoor)
Today, on the legendary actor's 83rd birthday, let's learn about how he entered showbiz.
Before dazzling audiences with his on-screen charisma, Jeetendra—born Ravi Kapoor in a Punjabi Khatri family—was involved in his family's imitation jewelry business. His father, Amarnath Kapoor, supplied artificial jewelry to Bollywood film studios. Young Ravi often helped out by delivering these ornaments to sets, getting a firsthand glimpse into the world behind the camera. Though it was a humble business, it taught him the value of hard work and gave him a unique window into the film industry. At the time, it was just a way to earn a living—but little did he know, it would unknowingly set the stage for something much bigger.
(Credit: ieentertainment)
Jeetendra had no plans of becoming an actor. But one day, while delivering jewelry to the set of V. Shantaram’s film, the young Ravi Kapoor (his real name) caught the filmmaker’s attention. Shantaram noticed something striking about him and offered him a small opportunity — to appear as a body double for actress Sandhya in the 1959 film 'Navrang'. Jeetendra agreed, not knowing that this would be the first step into a world he had never imagined for himself. That one chance encounter, born out of pure coincidence, would eventually launch one of the most vibrant careers in Bollywood.
In 1964, he made his debut as a lead actor in V. Shantaram's 'Geet Gaya Patharon Ne' alongside Rajshree. The film was a commercial failure, and his acting also failed to impress audiences. Later, in 1967, with Ravikant Nagaich's spy thriller 'Farz', he established himself as a star, becoming a heartthrob of one and all. The songs from the film – "Mast Baharon Ka Main Aashiq", "Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye – Happy Birthday To You", both solos by Mohammed Rafi and "Hum To Tere Aashiq Hain", a duet by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar became hugely popular at that time. The rest, as they say, is history!
(Credit: Goldmines Gaane Sune Ansune)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Jeetendra. Thanks For All The Amazing Films!
