Success in the film industry frequently leads to the establishment of patterns. Tom Cruise was initially recognized as a talented dramatic actor until the "Mission Impossible" franchise transformed him into a prominent action star. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan was often labeled the 'king of romance' for many years, despite his efforts to diversify his roles. While both actors have maintained their status at the top of their respective fields, there is one individual who became so strongly typecast that his entire career revolved around a single character, which he portrayed in over 100 films. This is the narrative of the individual who is arguably the most typecast actor in Bollywood. (Also read: Jagdish Raj consistently portrayed a lovable policeman: Mahesh Bhatt)

The man who played the same role in 144 films

Jagdish Raj Khurana, popularly recognized in the film industry as Jagdish Raj, was an actor who appeared in more than 200 films from the 1950s until the early 2000s. Throughout his nearly 50-year career, he portrayed a variety of characters, ranging from villains to supporting roles, but he truly excelled in the role of a police officer. Over a span of 46 years, Jagdish Raj portrayed a policeman in 144 films, a remarkable feat that earned him a place in the Limca Book of Records for the most portrayals of a single character. While some sources suggest he was also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, this claim has not been officially recognized. Nevertheless, Jagdish Raj embraced his typecasting and continued to play cop roles in numerous films, both major and minor.

Jagdish Raj's career

Born in Born in Punjab in 1928, Jagdish Raj embarked on his acting journey in 1955 with a minor role as a doctor in the film Seema. The following year marked his first portrayal of a police officer in CID, which significantly propelled his career forward. This success led to numerous opportunities, and he became known for his roles as a police inspector in several popular films, including Madhumati, Kala Bazar, Waqt, Bhoot Bungla, Johnny Mera Naam, and Bobby over the next 15 years. During the 1970s, he ventured into diverse characters, taking on the roles of a gangster in Deewar and a dacoit in Zameer.

He subsequently continued to portray police officers in popular films such as Trishul, Don, Kaala Patthar, and Shakti. Throughout his career, Jagdish Raj featured in more than a dozen major films along with several other successful projects. However, he was unable to fully enjoy the rewards of these achievements, as he was often limited to cameo appearances and minor roles.

By the 1980s and 1990s, Jagdish Raj had advanced to portray senior police officials, taking on roles as Deputy Superintendents and Deputy Inspectors General rather than merely Inspectors. His last performance was as a senior police officer in the 2001 film Kasam, after which he retired from the film industry. Jagdish Raj passed away in 2013 at the age of 84. His daughter, Anita Raj, is also a well-known actress.

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