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A. K. Hangal, Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 3, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 February 1914

Age97 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceSialkot, Punjab, British India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseManorma Dar

FamilySon - Vijay Hangal

A. K. Hangal, Biography

A. K. Hangal was a veteran Indian actor whose long career in film and theatre began after a lifetime of political activism and stage work. Born in 1914 inS

Early life and background

Avtar Kishan Hangal was born on 1 February 1914 in Sialkot, Punjab, then part of British India. He belonged to a Kashmiri Pandit family that had settled in Peshawar, where his father worked as a government employee. Hangal attended Khalsa High School in Peshawar and developed an early interest in the theatre, often visiting the local Parsi theatrical company with his father.

After finishing his matriculation, he trained and worked as a tailor, a choice the excerpt notes differed from his father’s wishes. In the mid-1930s Hangal joined an amateur dramatic group called Shri Sangeet Priya Mandal. His formative years in Peshawar and later Karachi coincided with India’s struggle for independence, and those experiences shaped his political outlook. He was involved with leftist politics and spent time in prison for his Communist beliefs before moving to Bombay in 1949 following the partition.

Career

In Bombay Hangal became active in the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), working alongside prominent theatre figures of the time. He moved into films relatively late, making his cinematic debut in 1966 at about 40 years of age, appearing in Teesri Kasam as the elder brother of Raj Kapoor’s character. From that point he built a long screen career, appearing in more than 200 Hindi films and in television roles.

Hangal’s filmography includes memorable supporting turns in some of Hindi cinema’s best-known pictures. He is widely remembered for playing Rahim Chacha in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), a role that remains one of his signature performances. He also played a similarly named character in Khud-Daar (1982). Other notable later-career appearances include Lagaan (2001), Tere Mere Sapne (1997), and Shararat (2002). He worked frequently with Rajesh Khanna, appearing in sixteen films with the star, and earned applause for his role as the lecherous Inder Mohan in Shaukeen (1982).

Hangal remained active on television as well, with credits that include the 1986 TV production Darkness and later work. His final screen appearances came in 2012: the animated film Krishna Aur Kans (in which he voiced Ugrasen) and the television series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, where he appeared as Kendisi.

Public profile

Hangal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006 in recognition of his contribution to Hindi cinema. He wrote an autobiography titled Life & Times of A K Hangal, recounting his upbringing in Peshawar, his years in Karachi, and his work in Mumbai’s theatre and film circles.

His life intersected with public controversy in 1993 when his acceptance of an invitation from the Pakistan consulate to attend a Pakistan Day celebration led to criticism and hostile reaction from political elements in India. The episode became widely reported at the time and affected his public image.

Personal life

Hangal was married to Manorma Dar. The couple’s son Vijay Hangal worked as a photographer. He maintained interests outside his acting work, including painting and playing the flute. The excerpt identifies his religion as Hinduism and his political inclination as aligned with the Communist Party.

Later years and death

In his final years Hangal experienced health and financial difficulties. His wife predeceased him, and his son faced his own health problems. A. K. Hangal died in Mumbai on 26 August 2012 at the age of 97 after a prolonged illness.

Latest updates

Hangal’s last television appearance aired in 2012 on the series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon. Posthumously, his body of work continues to be referenced for its contributions to classic and contemporary Hindi cinema.
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Recent Work

Krishna Aur Kans

Film (voice role) as Ugrasen

2012
Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon

Television appearance as Kendisi

2012
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in film with Teesri Kasam (1966)
  2. Played Rahim Chacha in Sholay (1975)
  3. Acted in more than 200 films
  4. Awarded Padma Bhushan (2006)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was A. K. Hangal, born?

1 February 1914

What is A. K. Hangal, known for?

Actor

What is A. K. Hangal,’s marital status?

Married

Who is A. K. Hangal, married to?

Manorma Dar