Gulzar Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Bio
Real Name	Sampooran Singh Kalra
Pen Name	Gulzar Deenvi (Later Simply "Gulzar")
Profession	Poet, Lyricist and Film Director
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 168 cm in meters- 1.68 m in feet inches- 5’ 6”
Weight (approx.)	in kilograms- 65 kg in pounds- 143 lbs
Eye Colour	Dark Brown
Hair Colour	White
Personal Life
Date of Birth	18 August 1934
Age (as in 2019)	83 Years
Birthplace	Dina, Punjab, British India (Now in Pakistan)
Zodiac sign	Leo
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Mumbai, India
Educational Qualification	Not Known
Debut	Lyricist: for the film Bandini (1963) Film Director: Mere Apne (1971) TV Director: Mirza Ghalib (1988)
Family	Father- Makhan Singh Kalra Mother- Sujan Kaur Brother- Not Known Sister- Not Known
Religion	Sikhism
Address	Panchsheel Society, Nargis Dutt Road, Pali Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050
Hobbies	Reading, Writing, Travelling
Major Awards/Honors	1972: National Film Awards for Best Screenplay for the film Koshish 1975: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie for the film Aandhi. 1976: Filmfare Awards for Best Director for the film Mausam. 1978: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Do Deewaane Shehar Mein" from film Gharaonda. 1980: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Aanewala Pal Jaane Wala Hain" from film Gol Maal. 1981: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Hazaar Raahen Mud Ke Dekhi" from film Thodisi Bewafaii. 1984: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Tujhse Naraaz Nahin Zindagi" from film Masoom. 1988: National Film Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Mera Kuchh Saamaan" from film Ijaazat. 1990: Filmfare Awards for Best Documentary Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. 1991: National Film Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Yaara Silli Silli" from film Lekin... 1992: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Yaara Silli Silli" from film Lekin... 1996: National Film Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the film Maachis. 1999: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from film Dil Se.. 2002: Sahitya Akademi Award for "Dhuan" ("Smoke"); short stories in Urdu. 2003: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Saathiya" from film Saathiya. 2004: Honoured with the Padma Bhushan. 2006: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Kajra Re" from film Bunty Aur Babli. 2008: Academy Awards for Best Original Song for "Jai Ho" from film Slumdog Millionaire. 2010: Grammy Awards for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for "Jai Ho" from film Slumdog Millionaire. 2011: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Dil To Bachcha Hain Ji" from film Ishqiya. 2013: Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist for the song "Challa" from film Jab Tak Hai Jaan. 2013: Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to the Film Industry as Poet, Lyricist and Film director.
Controversies	• In the mid-70s, during the time of Emergency, his film Aandhi became controversial as the protagonist's character had striking similarities with the then ruling Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. • During an event in 2010, Gulazar lashed out at Chetan Bhagat. Chetan had taken up the role of an emcee and was supposed to introduce the panelists and that was when he made a costly mistake. As part of his introductory note for the Academy Award-winning lyricist, Chetan said, “I have really liked the song Kajra Re which was penned by Gulzar-saab. It was a very good piece of poetry.” Apparently, Gulzar didn’t like the way Chetan said and took up the microphone and said “Chetan, I am glad that an author like you has liked the song. But I don’t think you have understood the poetry that you are trying to talk about here. If you still insist, I will recite two lines from the song. Tell me the meaning of those- Teri baaton main kimam ki khusbu hain/ Tera aana bhi garmiyon ki lu hain." Gulzar said as he looked straight at Chetan. A blank look from Chetan followed and then Gulzar chided him for passing ‘expert comments’ on his poetry. “Please don’t say things you don’t know about. Comment about things you know,” Gulzar said holding the mike as Chetan was left looking at him, bewildered.
Favourite Things
Favourite Writer	Rabindra Nath Tagore
Favourite Book	"The Gardener" by Rabindra Nath Tagore
Favourite Actress	Rakhee
Favourite Singer(s)	Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohit Chauhan, Rekha Bhardwaj
Favourite Lyricist(s)	Shailendra, Sahir Ludhianvi
Favourite Filmmaker	Bimal Roy
Favourite Music Director(s)	S. D. Burman, R. D. Burman, A. R. Rahman, Vishal Bhardwaj
Girls, Affairs and More
Marital Status	Separated
Affairs/Girlfriends	Meena Kumari
Wife/Spouse	Rakhee (Actress)
Marriage Date	15 May 1973
Children	Son- Not Known Daughter- Meghna Gulzar (Bosky)
Money Factor
Net Worth	Not Known

Some Lesser Known Facts About Gulzar

• He was born into a Sikh Family in British India.

• After India’s partition, he moved to Delhi.

• Before becoming a writer, he took up many odd jobs in Bombay (now, Mumbai) including a small work at a motor garage in Bombay where he used to create shades of paints to touch up the accidental cars.

• He was always fond of reading. In an interview, he narrated that once someone gave him a book titled “The Gardener” by Rabindranath Tagore and the impact of the book on him was such that he decided to become a writer.
  

  The Gardener by Rabindranath Tagore

• Initially, his father rebuked him for being a writer.

• He took the pen name “Gulzar Deenvi.” However, later he changed it to simply “Gulzar.”

• He started his Bollywood career with the film directors Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

• It was S. D. Burman who gave him a break as a songwriter for the film Bandini (1963).

• Most of the songs of Bandini (1963) were penned by Shailendra. However, he requested Gulzar to write the song “Mora Gora Ang Layle,” which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

• He became popular in the Film Industry after his song “Humne Dekhi Hai Un Aankhon Ki Mehekti Khushboo” from the film Khamoshi (1969).

• He penned two songs for the 1971 Bollywood film ‘Guddi’ one of which “Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena” was a prayer, which is still being recited in many schools in India.

• Gulzar was very close to the Bengali Culture since his childhood. In an interview, he revealed that his love for Bengali Culture was through Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee to whom he considered his gurus.

• In 1973, he got married to Rakhee. At the time of their marriage, both were at the peak of their careers.

• Gulzar was very close to the renowned Music Director R. D. Burman.

• Gulzar has a great interest in Lawn Tennis and whenever he gets time, he enjoys playing the game.
  

  Gulzar With a Tennis Racket

• He has worked with many renowned music directors such as S. D. Burman, Hemant Kumar, Shankar Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan, A. R. Rahman, and Vishal Bhardwaj.

• To write “Ay Hairathe Aashiqui” for Mani Ratnam‘s 2007 Hindi film Guru, Gulzar took inspiration from Amir Khusrow’s “Ay Sarbathe Aashiqui.”

• His popular song “Chaiyya Chaiyya” from the film Dil Se.. is based on the Sufi folk song “Thaiyya Thaiyya” by poet Bulle Shah.

• Gulzar also penned down dialogues for many films like Anand, Ashirwad, Khamoshi, etc.

• He has also directed a number of films including Angoor (1982), which was based on Shakespeare’s play “The Comedy of Errors.”

• He also directed a few TV series including Mirza Ghalib (starring Naseeruddin Shah), Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki (about the novels of Premchand), etc.

• Many of his popular songs were sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Asha Bhosle.

• The language of his poetry is basically in Urdu and Punjabi. However, he also writes in several dialects of Hindi such as Khariboli, Braj Bhasha, Marwari and Haryanvi.

• His poetries are in characteristic Triveni type of stanza.

• Gulzar’s poems have been published in 3 compilations- Raat Pashminey Ki, Chand Pukhraaj Ka, and Pandrah Paanch Pachattar.

• Gulzar wrote the anthem “Nazar Main Rehte Ho” for the peace campaign (Aman ki Asha) jointly started by India’s and Pakistan’s leading media houses. The song was recorded by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shankar Mahadevan.

• Gulzar has also written Ghazals for Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh‘s albums Marasim (1999) and Koi Baat Chale (2006).

• He has written dialogues and lyrics for a number of TV series such as Alice in Wonderland, Guchche, Hello Zindagi, Potli Baba Ki, etc.

• He also penned the famous song “Chaddi Pahen Ke Phool Khila Hai” for ‘The Jungle Book.’

• Here’s a glimpse of Gulzar’s life and his poetry: