
Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
Born
January 1, 1910
Died
August 14, 1982 (72 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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.
He 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.
Known 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.
TMDB mini biography by: Ashvin Borad

Hum Paanch
Lala Nainsukh Prasad Srivastav
1980

Sitara
1980

Daku Aur Jawan
1978

Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Pandit Shyam Sunder
1978

Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein
1977
Duniyadari
Mevalal Sahukar
1977

Jadu Tona
1977

Dost
Gadibabu
1974

Heera
Dhaniram
1973

Apna Desh
Sevaram
1972

Banphool
Muninji
1971

Jeevan Mrityu
Jagat Narayan
1970
Samaj Ko Badal Dalo
Kundanlal
1970

Chirag
1969

Meri Bhabhi
1969

Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke
1969

Bandhan
1969

Doli
1969

Aurat
1967

Ram Aur Shyam
1967

Diwana
Kaka
1967

Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
1967

Upkar
1967

Biradari
Rammurthy 'Dudhwala'
1966
Gaban
1966

Daadi Maa
1966

Oonche Log
Master Gunichand
1965

Noor Mahal
1965

Himalay Ki Godmein
Ghoghar Baba
1965

Rishte Naate
1965

Zindagi
1964

Bharosa
Raunaklal
1963

Grahasti
Station Master Ram Swarup
1963

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen
Rahmat
1963

Son of India
Paro's dad
1962

Gunga Jumna
Kallu
1961

The Test
Pandit Tarkalankar
1960

Ghunghat
1960

Sahara
Chaudhary Gaman Singh
1958

Mother India
Sukhilala
1957

Naata
1955

Naukari
Hari
1954

Bahut Din Hue
Pujari
1954

Mr. Sampat
Seth Makhanlal Jhaverimull Gheewala
1952

Daag
1952

Hum Log
Lalaji / Haricharandas
1951

Jeet
Thakur Kalyan Singh
1949

Ramayani
1945

Lal Haveli
Chacha
1944

Gaali
1944

Dost
Lobhi Chand
1944

Nai Roshni
Mohan
1941

Aurat
Sukhilala
1940