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:Year | Film | Cast | Director | Studio/Producer | - |
1933 | Insan Ya Shaitan | Jaddanbai, Dixit | Moti Gidwani | Eastern Arts Production | - |
1934 | Prem Pariksha | Jaddanbai, Hari Shivdasani, Rajkumari | G. R. Sethi | Eastern Arts Production | - |
1935 | Dharam Ki Devi | Sardar Akhtar, Kumar, Hari Shivdasani, Anant Marathe | Hiren Bose | Eastern Arts Production | - |
1935 | Bharat Ki Beti | Rattan Bai, Gul Hamid, Yasmin, Amirbai Karnataki | Premankur Atorthy | Eastern Arts Production | - |
1936 | Pratima | Sardar Akhtar, Nazir, Omkar Devaskar | Ram Daryani | Daryani Productions | - |
1937 | Gentleman Daku | Leela Chitnis, Yusuf Effendi, Kokila | Ram Daryani | Daryani Productions | - |
1938 | Rajkumari | Lalita Pawar, Nazir, Ameena, O. K. Dar | Dwarka Khosla | Krishna Movies | - |
1939 | Kaun Kisi Ka | Shobhana Samarth, Nazir, Padma Devi, Khurshid, Mubarak, K. N. Singh | C. M. Luhar | Hindustan Cinetone | - |
1940 | Laxmi | Bibbo, Kumar, Jeevan, Maya Devi | Mohan Sinha | Circo Productions | - |
1940 | Hindustan Hamara | Jamuna Barua, Nandrekar, Padma Devi, Hari Shivdasani | Ram Daryani | Film Corporation of India | - |
1941 | Laheri Jeevan | Husn Banu, Harishchandra Rao, W. M. Khan | S. M. Yusuf | Harishchandra Pictures | - |
1942 | Society | Sitara Devi, Rajkumari Shukal, Nazir, Majid | S. Nazir | Hind Pics | - |
1942 | Umar Marvi | Mazhar Khan, Kaushalya, Ashiq Hussain, Hari Shivdasani | Mazhar Khan | National Artists | - |
1942 | Duniya Ek Tamasha | Sardar Akhtar, W. M. Khan, Shyam, Urmila | Dwarka Khosla | Saubhagya Pictures | - |
1943 | Jhankar | Chandra Mohan, Pramila, Kumar, Azurie | S. Khalil | Silver Films | - |
1943 | Muskurahat | Motilal, Vanmala, Hari Shivdasani, Leela Mishra | Dwarka Khosla | Saubhagya Pictures | - |
1943 | Nai Zindagi | Sheikh Mukhtar, Anees Khatoon, Yakub | S. Khalil | United Films | - |
1943 | School Master | Karan Dewan, Kaushalya, Maya Bannerji, Rajkumari Shukal | C. M. Luhar | Sun Art Pictures | - |
1944 | Biswi Sadi | Motilal, Nargis, Mazhar Khan | M. D. Bhavnani | Bhavnani Productions | - |
1944 | Aaina | Trilok Kapoor, Husn Banu, Yakub | - | ||
1944 | Krishna Bhakta Bodana | Sheikh Mukhtar, Meera, Ranjit Kumari, Rani Premlata | J. B. H. Wadia | Wadia Movietone | - |
1945 | Khiladi | E. Billimoria, Agha, Rajkumari | A. H. Essa | Empire Pictures | - |
1946 | Chalis Karod | Nirmala Devi, Yakub, Arun, Agha | Nanabhai Bhatt | Chandra Art | - |
1946 | Laat Saheb | Latika, Harishchandra Rao, Anees Ktoon, Dalpat | K. P. Bhave | Harishchandra Pictures | - |
1947 | Dak Bangla | Suraiya, Wasti, Kamal Kapoor | M. Sadiq | Indian National Pictures | - |
1948 | Ghar Ki Izzat | Dilip Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti, Manorama, Jeevan | Ram Daryani | Murli Movietone | - |
1948 | Pugree | Kamini Kaushal, Wasti, Gope, Dixit, Ram Avatar, Jeevan | Anant Thakur | All India Pictures | - |
1948 | Pyar Ki Jeet | Suraiya, Rehman, Raj Mehra, Manorama, Leela Mishra | O. P. Dutta | Famous Pictures | - |
1949 | Patanga | Nigar Sultana, Shyam, Yakub, Purnima, Randhir | H. S. Rawail | Varma Films | - |
1949 | Bazaar | Shyam, Nigar Sultana, Yakub, Cuckoo | K. Amarnath | K. Amarnath | - |
1950 | Bhai Bahen | Geeta Bali, Nirupa Roy, Prem Adib, Bharat Bhushan | Ram Daryani | Krishna Movies | - |
1950 | Beqasoor | Madhubala, Ajit, Yakub | K. Amarnath | Madhukar Pictures | - |
1950 | Anmol Ratan | Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey, Nirmala, Madan Puri | M. Sadiq | Jaimini Dewan for Dewan Productions | - |
1951 | Tarana | Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama, Jeevan | Ram Daryani | K. S. Daryani | - |
1951 | Nagina | Nutan, Nasir Khan, Bipin Gupta | Ravindra Dave | Pancholi Productions | - |
1951 | Sagaai | Rehana, Premnath, Yakub | H. S. Rawail | Varma Films | - |
1951 | Sanam | Suraiya, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, K. N. Singh | Nandlal Jaswantlal | United Technicians | - |
1956 | Chori Chori | Raj Kapoor Nargis |