Sanjeev Kumar was born as Harihar Jethalal Jariwala on 9 July 1938 in Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India, now Gujarat, India. Fondly known as Haribhai, he moved with his family to Mumbai during his childhood, where his interest in acting developed.
He began his acting career on the stage, working with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Indian National Theatre. Even at a young age, he demonstrated his versatility by portraying much older characters in theatrical productions.
Sanjeev Kumar made his film debut with a small role in Hum Hindustani (1960). His first film as a protagonist was Nishan (1965). He gradually established himself as a serious and versatile actor, working across romantic dramas, comedies, thrillers, and character-driven films.
His career included remarkable performances in Khilona, Koshish, Seeta Aur Geeta, Angoor, Aandhi, Sholay, Mausam, and Naya Din Nayi Raat. In Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974), he famously portrayed nine different characters, demonstrating his extraordinary range as a performer.
His portrayal of Thakur Baldev Singh in Sholay became one of his most iconic performances. He also received widespread critical appreciation for Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam, Angoor, and Shatranj Ke Khilari. His ability to play older characters with authenticity became one of the defining features of his career.
Sanjeev Kumar received two National Film Awards for Best Actor, for Dastak (1970) and Koshish (1972). He also received several Filmfare honours during his career.
Sanjeev Kumar died on 6 November 1985 in Bombay, Maharashtra, at the age of 47. IMDb records the cause of death as a heart attack.