Remembering Jalal Agha 1945-95

Jalal Agha (1945 or 1946 – 5 March 1995, New Delhi, India) was an Indian actor and director in Bollywood films. He was the son of the popular comedian actor Agha, Jalal studied acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

He made his debut as a child actor playing the young version of Jehangir (who was played by Dilip Kumar as an adult) in the historical epic Mughal-E-Azam, which released in 1960. He made his debut in an adult role in K.A. Abbas's Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1967), and went on to appear in over 60 Bollywood films from the late 1960s through to the early 1990s, mostly playing supporting roles. His most famous role was in the blockbuster hit Sholay, where he played the Rubab player in the popular song Mehbooba O' Mehbooba. His other roles to mention are Julie (Julie's silent lover), the singer of Sama Hai Suhana Suhana from the film Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, Shabana Azmi's brother in Thodi Si Bewafai and Naseeruddin Shah's friend in Dil Akhir Dil Hai.

He also made appearances in English-language films such as Bombay Talkie (1970), Gandhi (1982), Kim (1984) and The Deceivers (1988). He wrote and directed a Bollywood film titled Goonj, which released in 1989.

He died of a heart attack on 5 March 1995 at the age of 49. He is survived by his son, Saleem Christopher Agha Bee and daughter, Vanessa Feuerstein.

Selected filmography
Mughal E Azam (1960) .... Young Jehangir (child artist)
Taqdeer (1967) .... Suresh
Majhli Didi (1967) .... Kamal - Hemangini's brother
Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1968) .... Johnny / Joseph
Sara Akash (1969) .... Diwakar
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969) .... Deepak
Saat Hindustani (1969) .... Shakram Shinde
Bombay Talkie (1970) .... Young Man
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970) .... College student
Aisa Bhi Hota Hai (1971)
Lakhon Mein Ek (1971) .... Jeevan - Makhanlal's son
Kathputli (1971) .... Murli
Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971) .... Charan Das
Do Boond Pani (1971) .... Ganga Singh
Gomti Ke Kinare (1972) .... Dhobi
Zindagi Zindagi (1972) .... Ratan
Man Jaiye (1972) .... Ashok
Do Chor (1972) .... Badhru
Mere Gharib Nawaz (1973) .... Yusuf's friend
Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) ... Salim
Honeymoon (1973)
Garam Hawa (1974) ... Shamshad
Jab Andhera Hota Hai (1974) .... Ramesh
Call Girl (1974)
Us Paar (1974) .... Bhairo
Shikwa (1974)
Jeevan Sangram (1974)
Do Nambar Ke Amir (1974)
Anjaan Raahen (1974) .... Rakesh Kapoor
Ang Se Ang Lagaley (1974) .... Drunker
Mrig Trishna (1975)
Julie (1975) .... Richard
Sholay (1975) .... Banjo Player in the song "Mehbooba O' Mehbooba"
Badnaam (1975) .... Suresh
Khemro Lodan (1976)
Aaj Ka Ye Ghar (1976) .... Nutan Chandra
Taxi Taxie (1977) .... RV
Shankar Hussain (1977)
Saheb Bahadur (1977) .... Judge
Gharaonda (1977)
Adha Din Adhi Raat (1977) .... Raju
Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
Hamara Sansar (1978) .... Bhimsen
Gaman (1978) .... Lalulal
Shyamla (1979)
Junoon (1979) .... Kader Khan
Nauker (1979)
Dooriyaan (1979) .... News Paper Vendor
Deen Aur Imaan (1979)
Dam Maro Dam (1980)
Thodisi Bewafai (1980) .... Narendra Deshmukh
Man Pasand (1980)
Karz (1980) .... Dr Dayal