Who was Guru Dutt? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In July

Also Known As: Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone

Died At Age: 39

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Geeta Dutt, Suvarna, Vijaya

father: Shivashanker Rao Padukone

mother: Vasanthi Padukone

siblings: Atma Ram, Devi Dutt, Lalita Lajmi, Shashidhar, Vijay

children: Arun Dutt, Nina Dutt, Tarun Dutt

Actors Directors

Died on: October 10, 1964

place of death: Mumbai

City: Bengaluru, India

Cause of Death: Drug Overdose

Founder/Co-Founder: Guru Dutt Movies Pvt. Ltd.

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1

What were some of Guru Dutt's most famous films?

Some of Guru Dutt's most famous films include "Pyaasa," "Kaagaz Ke Phool," and "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam."
2

How did Guru Dutt contribute to Indian cinema?

Guru Dutt was a prominent filmmaker, actor, and producer known for his innovative storytelling techniques and influential contributions to Indian cinema's Golden Age.
3

What was Guru Dutt's directorial style known for?

Guru Dutt's directorial style was known for its poignant storytelling, nuanced characterizations, and visually striking cinematography that often explored themes of human emotions and societal issues.
4

Did Guru Dutt face any challenges in his career?

Yes, Guru Dutt faced personal and professional challenges throughout his career, including struggles with depression and creative differences with the film industry.
5

How did Guru Dutt's films impact Indian cinema?

Guru Dutt's films had a lasting impact on Indian cinema by pushing boundaries, inspiring future filmmakers, and setting new standards for storytelling and visual aesthetics in Bollywood.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on July 9, 1925 in Bangalore, India, to Shivashanker Rao Padukone and his wife, Vasanthi Padukone. He had three younger brothers, Atmaram, Devidas and Vijay and a younger sister, Lalitha.

His father used to work as a headmaster and later became a bank employee. His mother was a homemaker who gave private tuition and also wrote short stories. He spent his early childhood in Bhowanipore area of Calcutta where Bengali culture and intellect became a part of his personality.

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Career

He started his career as a telephone operator at a Lever Brothers factory in Kolkata. But soon he left the job and returned to his parents in Mumbai in 1944.

Later he was hired as a choreographer to work under a three-year contract with ‘Prabhat Film Company’ in Pune. He later went on to become an actor in the company and also served as an assistant director.

In 1944, he acted in a small role as Sri Krishna in the movie ‘Chand’. The next year he worked as an actor and an assistant director in the movie ‘Lakhrani’. In 1946, he served as an assistant director and choreographed dances for the film ‘Hum Ek Hain’.

In 1947, the contract with the film company ended and he was given the job of a freelance assistant with Baburao Pai, the CEO of the Prabhat Film Company and Studio. But soon he was rendered unemployed and wrote short stories for ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’, a local weekly English magazine.

The turning point in his life came, when Dev Anand asked him to direct the movie ‘Baazi’ under Dev Anand’s production company. The film released in 1951 and became an instant hit.

He went on to direct two more films, ‘Jaal’ (1952) and ‘Baaz’ (1953), but none of them proved to be successful at the box office. In 1954, he directed, produced as well as acted in the movie ‘Aar Paar’ which was an immediate success.

Later, he directed several other movies such as ‘Mr. and Mrs. 55’ (1955), ‘Sailaab’ (1956) and ‘Pyaasa’ (1957). He was also the leading actor in ‘Mr. and Mrs.55’ and ‘Pyaasa’, both of which received commercial as well as critical appreciation.

In 1959, he made his most ambitious project ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’ but it proved to be a bitter disappointment at the box office and he lost over 1.7 million producing the film.

Later, he acted in a couple of movies under his production: ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’ (1960) and ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ (1962). Both the movies proved to be commercially and critically very successful.

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He also acted in some movies outside his production such as ‘12 O' Clock’ (1958), ‘Bharosa’ (1963), ‘Bahurani’ (1963),‘Suhagan’ (1964), and his last project ‘Sanjh Aur Savera’ (1964).

Major Works

In 1957, he produced, directed as well as acted in the movie ‘Pyaasa’ which was an immediate success and is considered one of his most celebrated works. It is the story of a poet, rejected by an uncaring world, who achieves success only after his apparent death.

In 1959, another one of his classics ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’ was released. It was a self-absorbed tale of a famous director who falls in love with an actress. The film was a box office disaster in its time but later became a world cinema cult classic in the 1980s.

Awards & Achievements

In 2002, Sight & Sound critics' and directors' poll ranked him at #73 in its list of all-time greatest directors, making him the eighth highest-ranking Asian filmmaker in the poll.

In 2010, he was included among CNN's "top 25 Asian actors of all time".

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1953, he married Geeta Dutt, a professional playback singer, despite strong family opposition. They were blessed with three children: Tarun, Arun, and Nina. But the couple had an unhappy married life and later separated because of his workaholic nature and partly because of his relationship with actress Waheeda Rehman.

He had attempted suicide a couple of times before his death but was rescued by friends. He died on October 10, 1964 from an over consumption of alcohol and sleeping pills. It is still a mystery whether his death was a suicide or an accidental overdose.

Facts About Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt was known for his meticulous attention to detail in his films, often personally involving himself in every aspect of production, from writing and directing to acting and editing.

Despite his serious on-screen persona, Guru Dutt had a playful side off-screen and was known for his witty sense of humor among friends and colleagues.

Guru Dutt was a talented painter and had a keen eye for visual aesthetics, which is evident in the stunning compositions and cinematography of his films.

He was one of the first Indian filmmakers to explore complex themes such as existentialism and societal issues in his movies, pushing the boundaries of traditional Bollywood cinema.

Guru Dutt had a deep appreciation for music and dance, often incorporating soulful songs and choreography to enhance the emotional impact of his films.

Guru Dutt Biography

You wanted to know

What were some of Guru Dutt's most famous films?

How did Guru Dutt contribute to Indian cinema?

What was Guru Dutt's directorial style known for?

Did Guru Dutt face any challenges in his career?

How did Guru Dutt's films impact Indian cinema?