Gope (actor)


Gope was an Indian actor of Hindi 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 role of films along with the main cast. He became famous after lip-syncing the popular number "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" from Patanga, given playback 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 Bishandas 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, Mirza Sahiban, 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 until his premature death in 1957 on the set of Kundan Kumar's Teesri Gali, which was eventually released in 1958.

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. According to a Filmindia magazine report, "a grand reception was given to the newly wedded couple at the Shree Sound Studios in which many film people participated. There was also a moonlight party later on the Juhu sands." Gope born a Hindu became a Jehovah's Witness. He had two sons with Latika. After his death, his widow Latika relocated to the United Kingdom with their two young sons.

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
1941Pyaas Ishwarlal, Sneh Prabha
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
1947Mirza SahibanNoorjahan, Trilok Kapoor--
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,Khairati,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
1950Hanste AansooMadhubala, Motilal, Manorama
1950Anmol Ratan Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey, Nirmala, Madan PuriM. SadiqJaimini Dewan for Dewan Productions
1951Tarana Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama, JeevanRam DaryaniK. S. Daryani
1951SazaaDev Anand, Shyama, Nimmi, Durga KhoteFali MistryG. P. Productions
1951Nagina Nutan, Nasir Khan, Bipin GuptaRavindra DavePancholi Productions
1951Sagai Rehana, Premnath, YakubH. S. RawailVarma Films
1951Sanam Suraiya, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, K. N. SinghNandlal JaswantlalUnited Technicians
1956Chori Chori Raj Kapoor NargisAnant Thakur L.B. Lachman
1958Teesri Gali, Gope died on the movie setPram Adib Abhi Bhattacharya Shyama Mohan ChotiKundan KumarRadiant Movies