Agha (21 March 1914 – 30 April 1992) was an Indian actor of Bollywood films. He was known for comic roles and modeled himself on Bob Hope's style of acting. He appeared in over 300 Hindi films in his career between 1935 and 1986. His son, Jalal Agha, also became an actor, mostly known for the song Mehbooba Mehbooba in Sholay (1975).
Early life Aghajan Baig was born on 21 March 1914 at Fatima Nagar, Pune, British India. His father was originally from Iran and had settled in Pune but had to leave Pune for Bombay in search of employment. Agha confessed that he went to school for just three days, "that was as long as I could stand it". He spent time "mooching" around the Poona Race Course as he wanted to become a jockey and loved horses. Agha came to Bombay and joined his neighbourhood drama group. His interest in acting took him to films where in 1933 he started as a production manager in Kanwal Movietone.
Career His first film was Kanwal Movietone's Stree Dharma, also called Painted Sin (1935), starring Mehtab and Nazir. However, his films Karwan-e-Husn (1935), Wadia Movietone's Rangila Mazdoor (1938) and Anuradha (1940) helped him gain recognition as a comic actor. He acted in Kikubhai Desai's (Manmohan Desai's father) Circus Ki Sundari (1941), which was popular and this helped in getting lead roles in films such as Muqabala (1942), Laheri Cameraman (1944) and Taxi Driver (1944). His most active years were from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Partial Filmography Selected list. Year Film RoleNotes 1935 Stree Dharma Karwan-e-Husn 1936 Berozgaar 1937 Daulat 1938 Rangila Mazdoor 1939 Kahan Hai Manzil Teri 1940 Anuradha Captain Kishori 1941 Circus Ki Sundari Nai Roshni Safed Sawar 1942 Apna Paraya Mera GaonMuqabalaRoti 1943 Amanat Mohabbat Ki Jeet 1944Bhagya LakshmiDostJwar BhataNarendraDebut film of Dilip Kumar Laheri Cameraman Taxi Driver1945 Bhagya LaxmiMeghdoot1946Chalis KarodDhokhebaaz Khush Naseeb Devar 1947 Elan1948GajreSohan Jadui Bansuri Shikayat 1949 Balam Bhool Bhulaiyan 1950 Hamari Beti Hamara Ghar 1951 Badal HimmatNazneenSansarSitaram Ustad Pedro1952Ajeeb LadkiAmberVeenu BilasiAnhoneeVidyasagar Do Raha1953Aagosh Chandirani (Hindi) MukundHazaar RaatenPatitaMastram1954BaratiSundar Bahut Din Huwe Tarang Sen Chandni Chowk YousufPilpili SahebGolconda Ka Qaidi (Hindi) alias Prisoner of Golconda (English)AshfaqueThe English version remained unreleased until it was finally released on 16 January 2021 in YouTube by Prem Nath's and Bina Rai's younger son Kailash "Monty" Nath in his channel Major Mood Entertainment excluding the songs (which will be in Hindi).1955Chhora ChhoriInsaniyatBholaJashanMastaniOot PataangSabse Bada RupaiyaTees Maar Khan Udan Khatola Heera 1956 Parivar 1957 Bade Sarkar Ajay SinghBhabhiChampaklalGarma Garam Nausherwan-E-Adil AltafSharadaGanesh1958Dulhan Kala Pani BadruSwarna Sundari1959ArdhanginiMurariKali Topi Lal RumalRaja Navrang Leelu Rangbaaz1960Gambler Ghunghat Ram SwaroopMitti Mein SonaNache Nagin Baje BeenRajuZameen Ke TareDetective Damru 1961 Gharana SarangHum Matwale NaujawanMayaBankePyase PanchhiKiran KumarTel Malish Boot Polish Zindagi aur Khwab Rasiya1963Akeli Mat JaiyoRam SinghHamrahiShambhunathJab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai Nartakee AzaadPyaar Kiya Toh Darna KyaBanke1964Beti BeteSaroj's father Daal Mein Kaala Rajaram "Raja" Dulha Dulhan Bansi 1968 Aadmi Prem Padosan Bindu's father Teen Bahuraniyan Shankar 1969 Jigri Dost Advocate Narayan Das 1971 Tere Mere Sapne Dr. Bhutani Dher Chalaki JinkaraBhojpuri film 1972 Bombay To Goa RamlalDil Daulat DuniyaRajuPiya Ka Ghar Girdharilal Sharma 1973 Honeymoon RamakantMere Gharib Nawaz 1974 Prem Nagar 1976 Charas Head Police Constable1977Hum Kisise Kum NahinHotel Manager Aadmi Sadak Ka Bus Driver 1981 Kranti One of the members of Sanga's Kranti group1982Main Intaquam LoongaColonel Bajpayi1983 Andhaa Kanoon Police ConstableUlta Sidha1986Baat Ban Jaaye Love And God Adam 1989 Eeshwar Tolaram's father-in-lawSoorma Bhopali
Death Agha died on 30 April 1992 of a heart attack in Pune, Maharashtra, India, at the age of 78. He was survived by three daughters, one son Jalal Agha and son-in-law actor Tinnu Anand.Profile of Agha Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation website, Retrieved 11 February 2022
Awards He was nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for the 1960 film Ghunghat, but did not win the award.
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