# Jalal Agha
**Jalal Agha** (11 July 1945 – 5 March 1995) was an Indian actor and director in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), the son of the veteran comedian Agha, who worked in more than 60 films from the late 1960s until his death and is best remembered as the banjo-playing dancer in the song "Mehbooba Mehbooba" in *Sholay* (1975).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) A contemporary press report put his age at death at 49.[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Family | Son of the Hindi film comedian Agha (21 March 1914 – 30 April 1992), who appeared in over 300 Hindi films between 1935 and 1986[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21392890/) |
| First screen role | Child artist as the young Jehangir in *Mughal-e-Azam* (1960), cast after Dilip Kumar saw him[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) |
| Signature appearance | The free-spirited banjo player in "Mehbooba Mehbooba" in *Sholay* (1975)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) |
| Output | Over 60 films from the late 1960s to 1995 by IMDb's count; Indian Film History lists 82 titles[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) • [4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jalal-agha) |
| Directing | Directed and wrote the screenplay of *Goonj* (1989), in which he also acted[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jalal-agha/credits/3030582656/) |
| Television | Produced and directed the serial *Mr Ya Mrs* (1987–1988) and hosted *Ek Duje Ke Liye* on Zee TV[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) |
| Death | 5 March 1995, New Delhi, of a heart attack, while in the city for a shooting schedule[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk) |
## Early life and start in films
Jalal Agha was born in 1946 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, according to one biographical profile, and studied acting at the [Film and Television Institute of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/film-and-television-institute-of-india) (FTII) in Pune.[6](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/jalal-agha) His acting career began well before that training. The veteran actor [Dilip Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/dilip-kumar) came across the child and judged him the right choice for the role of the young Jehangir in [K. Asif](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-asif)'s epic *Mughal-e-Azam* (1960); a contemporary news report describes him starting as a child star in the film at the age of 12.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) • [2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk)
His first film as an adult was *Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein* (1967), made when he was 21.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) Early credits followed quickly, including *Saat Hindustani* (1969), the film that also marked [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan)'s debut, and *[Sara Akash](https://www.edgepedia.org/sara-akash)* (1969).[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jalal-agha) • [7](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9788132347774_A34074860/preview-9788132347774_A34074860.pdf)
## Career in the 1970s and 1980s
Agha worked mostly in supporting roles but remained a familiar and well-regarded face in the industry.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) Among his most popular roles were Salim in *Yaadon Ki Baraat* (1973), Julie's lover Richard in *Julie* (1975), and the brother of the female lead in *Thodi Si Bewafai* (1980).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) He also appeared in films by directors of the art-cinema circuit, including M. S. Sathyu's *Garm Hava* (1973) and *[Do Boond Pani](https://www.edgepedia.org/do-boond-pani)* (1971).[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk)
**The Sholay song.** His best-known screen moment came in [Ramesh Sippy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramesh-sippy)'s *Sholay* (1975), where he appeared as the free-spirited banjo player in "Mehbooba Mehbooba", R. D. Burman's hit song performed during the heroes' raid on a camp of gypsies.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) • [8](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14746680500234462) A contemporary report credits this gyrating dance number with his rise to national prominence.[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk) Decades later, the filmmaker [Anubhav Sinha](https://www.edgepedia.org/anubhav-sinha) singled out his work in the song alongside Helen's as "extraordinary".[9](https://www.filmfare.com/interviews/exclusive-anubhav-sinha-on-50-years-of-sholay-the-film-is-made-with-so-much-love-76726.amp)
**English-language films.** Agha also worked in English-language productions: *Bombay Talkie* (1970), [Richard Attenborough](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-attenborough)'s *[Gandhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/gandhi-film)* (1982), in which he played a traveler on a train roof, *Kim* (1984), and *The Deceivers* (1988), in which he played the Nawab.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/)
## Directing and television
In 1989 Agha moved behind the camera with *Goonj*, which he directed and for which he wrote the screenplay; he also played Napolean Bonaparte Gonsalves in the film.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jalal-agha/credits/3030582656/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) His directing credits also include the film *Nirvana* (1983), on which he served as producer as well, and the television serials *Mr Ya Mrs* (1987–1988) and *Kahkashan* (1991–1992).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) • [4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jalal-agha)
With the arrival of satellite television he became a compere and host, producing popular serials and hosting *Ek Duje Ke Liye* on [Zee TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-tv), in which he interviewed couples and tested their compatibility.[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk)
## Death and later releases
Agha died on 5 March 1995 in New Delhi, where he was in connection with a shooting schedule, following a heart attack.[2](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk) The last film released in his lifetime in which he appeared was *Pehla Nasha* (1993).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/) Several films followed posthumously, including *Rock Dancer* and *Policewala Gunda* (both 1995), *Badmaash* (1998), and *Yaar Meri Zindagi* (2008).[10](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=5115)
## References
1. [Jalal Agha, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013026/)
2. [Noted Hindi Film Actor Jalal Agha Is Dead, PTI dispatch via misc.news.southasia (5 March 1995)](https://groups.google.com/g/misc.news.southasia/c/417K-kuTNJk)
3. [Blockbusters of Bollywood, short story about Agha and Jalal Agha (2021), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21392890/)
4. [Jalal Agha — Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jalal-agha)
5. [Jalal Agha, TV Guide credits](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jalal-agha/credits/3030582656/)
6. [Hindi Movie Actor Jalal Agha Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/jalal-agha)
7. [Amitabh Bachchan: career overview (World Technologies, revised edition 2014)](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9788132347774_A34074860/preview-9788132347774_A34074860.pdf)
8. ["Bollywood Flashback", Transformations (2005)](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14746680500234462)
9. [Anubhav Sinha on 50 Years of Sholay, Filmfare](https://www.filmfare.com/interviews/exclusive-anubhav-sinha-on-50-years-of-sholay-the-film-is-made-with-so-much-love-76726.amp)
10. [Jalal Agha Filmography, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=5115)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1970s–1980s › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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