Gope (actor)


Gope was a Hindi film actor of Indian cinema. Starting his career with a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan, directed by Moti Gidwani and produced by Eastern Arts Production, Gope went on to act in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. Several of his films were released following his death. Best known for his comedy roles, he is stated to be one of Hindi cinema's "most popular comedians". His acting in comic roles won him "critical and popular acclaim" and he soon became "the leading comedian of his time". His popularity assured him of being mentioned in the credit roll of films along with the main cast. He became famous for lip-syncing the popular number "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" from Patanga, playbacked by C. Ramchandra for Gope and by Shamshad Begum for Nigar Sultana.
He formed a popular comic pairing with Yakub, in the "Laurel-and-Hardy" style, and the producers used them in several films. Their most famous films together were Patanga, followed by Bazar, Beqasoor and Sagai

Early years

Gope was born Gope Vishandas Kamlani, on 11 April 1913, in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. He was one of nine children. With K. S. Daryani's help, Gope moved to Mumbai and started his acting career in a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan, which starred Jaddanbai, Ermeline and the then reigning comedian, Dixit.

Career

Gope acted in other memorable roles in films such as Hindustan Hamara, Patanga and Chori Chori. Gope also tried playing negative roles. In the 1951 Dilip Kumar-Madhubala starrer film Taraana, he teamed up with Jeevan to play the villain's role in comic style. He started Gope Productions in the 1950s, which made films such as Hangama and Biradari. Some of these films were directed by Gope's brother, Ram Kamlani. Gope married actress Latika and continued to act in films till his death in 1957.

Personal life

Gope married actress Latika on 5 February 1949 under the Civil Marriages Act. Latika had earlier acted in the film Gopinath opposite Raj Kapoor. They do not have any child after marriage.

Filmography

Gope acted in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. A partial list:
YearFilmCastDirectorStudio/Producer-
1933Insan Ya ShaitanJaddanbai, DixitMoti GidwaniEastern Arts Production-
1934Prem ParikshaJaddanbai, Hari Shivdasani, RajkumariG. R. SethiEastern Arts Production-
1935Dharam Ki Devi Sardar Akhtar, Kumar, Hari Shivdasani, Anant MaratheHiren BoseEastern Arts Production-
1935Bharat Ki Beti Rattan Bai, Gul Hamid, Yasmin, Amirbai KarnatakiPremankur AtorthyEastern Arts Production-
1936Pratima Sardar Akhtar, Nazir, Omkar DevaskarRam DaryaniDaryani Productions-
1937Gentleman Daku Leela Chitnis, Yusuf Effendi, KokilaRam DaryaniDaryani Productions-
1938Rajkumari Lalita Pawar, Nazir, Ameena, O. K. DarDwarka KhoslaKrishna Movies-
1939Kaun Kisi Ka Shobhana Samarth, Nazir, Padma Devi, Khurshid, Mubarak, K. N. SinghC. M. Luhar Hindustan Cinetone-
1940Laxmi Bibbo, Kumar, Jeevan, Maya DeviMohan SinhaCirco Productions-
1940Hindustan Hamara Jamuna Barua, Nandrekar, Padma Devi, Hari ShivdasaniRam DaryaniFilm Corporation of India-
1941Laheri Jeevan Husn Banu, Harishchandra Rao, W. M. KhanS. M. YusufHarishchandra Pictures-
1942SocietySitara Devi, Rajkumari Shukal, Nazir, MajidS. NazirHind Pics-
1942Umar Marvi Mazhar Khan, Kaushalya, Ashiq Hussain, Hari ShivdasaniMazhar KhanNational Artists-
1942Duniya Ek Tamasha Sardar Akhtar, W. M. Khan, Shyam, UrmilaDwarka KhoslaSaubhagya Pictures-
1943JhankarChandra Mohan, Pramila, Kumar, AzurieS. KhalilSilver Films-
1943Muskurahat Motilal, Vanmala, Hari Shivdasani, Leela MishraDwarka KhoslaSaubhagya Pictures-
1943Nai Zindagi Sheikh Mukhtar, Anees Khatoon, YakubS. KhalilUnited Films-
1943School MasterKaran Dewan, Kaushalya, Maya Bannerji, Rajkumari ShukalC. M. LuharSun Art Pictures-
1944Biswi SadiMotilal, Nargis, Mazhar KhanM. D. Bhavnani Bhavnani Productions-
1944Aaina Trilok Kapoor, Husn Banu, Yakub-
1944Krishna Bhakta Bodana Sheikh Mukhtar, Meera, Ranjit Kumari, Rani PremlataJ. B. H. WadiaWadia Movietone-
1945KhiladiE. Billimoria, Agha, RajkumariA. H. EssaEmpire Pictures-
1946Chalis Karod Nirmala Devi, Yakub, Arun, AghaNanabhai BhattChandra Art-
1946Laat Saheb Latika, Harishchandra Rao, Anees Ktoon, DalpatK. P. BhaveHarishchandra Pictures-
1947Dak Bangla Suraiya, Wasti, Kamal KapoorM. SadiqIndian National Pictures-
1948Ghar Ki Izzat Dilip Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti, Manorama, JeevanRam DaryaniMurli Movietone-
1948PugreeKamini Kaushal, Wasti, Gope, Dixit, Ram Avatar, JeevanAnant ThakurAll India Pictures-
1948Pyar Ki Jeet Suraiya, Rehman, Raj Mehra, Manorama, Leela MishraO. P. DuttaFamous Pictures-
1949Patanga Nigar Sultana, Shyam, Yakub, Purnima, RandhirH. S. RawailVarma Films-
1949BazaarShyam, Nigar Sultana, Yakub, CuckooK. AmarnathK. Amarnath-
1950Bhai BahenGeeta Bali, Nirupa Roy, Prem Adib, Bharat BhushanRam DaryaniKrishna Movies-
1950BeqasoorMadhubala, Ajit, YakubK. AmarnathMadhukar Pictures-
1950Anmol Ratan Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey, Nirmala, Madan PuriM. SadiqJaimini Dewan for Dewan Productions-
1951Tarana Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama, JeevanRam DaryaniK. S. Daryani-
1951Nagina Nutan, Nasir Khan, Bipin GuptaRavindra DavePancholi Productions-
1951Sagaai Rehana, Premnath, YakubH. S. RawailVarma Films-
1951Sanam Suraiya, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, K. N. SinghNandlal JaswantlalUnited Technicians-
1956Chori Chori Raj Kapoor Nargis