Bollywood icon Sanjeev Kumar entered films in his 20s and quickly became one of the most respected actors of his era. Known for his versatility, he chose meaningful, character-driven roles over glamour or action. Off-screen, Sanjeev loved food and nightly gatherings with friends. Despite being born into a vegetarian Gujarati family, he adored chicken—so much so that he bought a separate house in Pali Hill to enjoy it freely.
Sobriety came at a cost
Years of heavy drinking led to heart problems and surgery. Doctors ordered him to quit alcohol, and he did. But his sobriety left him heartbroken.“All of Sanjeev Kumar’s friends, who used to spend every evening with him over drinks, suddenly disappeared after he stopped drinking post-surgery,” revealed his niece Jigna Shah in an interview with Vickey Lalwani. She added, “None of them even came to check on him. It really hurt him. He was a genuine friend to them, but for them, he was only a source of alcohol and freebies.”
Generosity misunderstood
Veteran journalist Hanif Zaveri said, “There are people who called Sanjeev Kumar ‘kanjoos’ (stingy), but that’s far from the truth. He was incredibly generous—he gifted cars to friends, bought a house for Dilip Dutt and his manager Jamnadas. He lived for his friends, but nobody ever truly understood him.”
A millionaire in kindness
Jigna recalled, “I’ve never seen anyone like him in the industry. I was just 14 when he passed away, but I’ve always heard stories in my family that he gave away nearly Rs 1 crore to people from the industry—and this was in the 1980s.”The only friend to return any money? Boney Kapoor. “After Sanjeev Kumar passed away, Boney Kapoor came to us with Rs 3 lakh. He said, ‘I owe him more, but this is what I can return right now. Please keep it.’ Nobody else ever returned anything.”
Life cut short
Sanjeev Kumar died at 47 from a massive heart attack, leaving behind 150+ films. Known for his craft, generosity, and love for food, he remains a Bollywood legend whose kindness—and heartbreak—still resonates.
