Mangal Dhillon
Mangal Singh Dhillon was an Indian actor, writer, director and film producer, born in Wander Jatana near Kotkapura in Faridkot district, Punjab.
Early life
Mangal Dhillon was born into a Sikh family in the village of Wander Jatana, in Faridkot district of the Indian state of Punjab. He studied in Panj Graayin Kalan Government school until 4th Standard. He then moved to Uttar Pradesh near his father's farm. He graduated from Zila Parishad High School in Nighasan, Lakhimpur Kheri district. He then returned to Punjab where he completed his higher secondary from Kotkapura. He graduated from Muktsar Government College.Dhillon worked in theatre in Delhi and joined Indian Theatre department at Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1979 and completed his post-graduate diploma course in acting in 1980.
Personal life and death
Mangal Singh Dhillon married artist Ritu Dhillon in 1994. The couple have one son and a daughter.Dhillon died after long suffering from cancer in Ludhiana, Punjab, on 11 June 2023. He was 65.
Production house
Dhillon formed a production company and released a well-received historical film entitled Khalsa. His other productions include A Day at the Golden Temple-", Prakash Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh Ate Dastaar, The Inseparable-A Sikh and his Turban, Sarvnash – Gurbani De Kautak Part-1 and Part-2 ''Toshakhana Sri Darbar Sahib and Ḧarinam Ke Chamatkar.Forthcoming projects included Shahadat, Ä Western Salutation to Sikhism Saaka-Sarhind, and Gurbani De Kautak Parts 3, 4 and 5'' and many others.
Awards
- For his role in television serial Junoon, he won the RAPA award for best actor in 1998.
- He was honored with Baba Farid Award by Punjab Government for the film Khalsa
- An outstanding achievement award from Chief Minister Punjab in 2006 as well as various other recognitions from organizations all over Punjab and abroad.
- He was awarded the Mohan Rakesh Gold Medal for best actor.