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Jeevan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth24 October 1915

Age71 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKiran

FamilyChildren: Kiran Kumar, Bhushan Jeevan (died 1997), Nikki Jeevan, Rikki Ugra

Jeevan Biography

Jeevan, born Omkar Nath Dhar in Srinagar in 1915, was a prolific Indian actor best known for his portrayals of Narad Muni and a long career playing villain

Early life and background

Omkar Nath Dhar, who became widely known by his screen name Jeevan, was born on 24 October 1915 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, then part of British India. He lost his mother soon after birth and his father when he was three, which left him with a difficult childhood. He came from a Kashmiri Pandit family; his father Durga Prasad Dhar held administrative positions in the region. As a young man he showed an early interest in photography and dreamed of opening a studio in Kashmir.

At 18, despite family disapproval of an acting career, Jeevan left home with a small sum of money and went to Bombay to pursue work in films. He began at studio level performing tasks such as applying silver foil to reflectors. A chance audition led to his first film role and the start of a career in cinema.

Career

Jeevan made his film debut in 1935 with Fashionable India. Over a career that spanned nearly five decades he became known for his versatility, appearing in mythological roles, comic parts and memorable villainous turns. He played Narad Muni in dozens of productions and is noted for having portrayed that single role in as many as 60 films.

Though he spoke only Urdu, English and Hindi, Jeevan also worked in films in other regional languages, including Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. His filmography includes long-running popular titles across many eras of Indian cinema. Some of the films singled out in his career are Mela (1948), Anuradha (1940), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Kanoon (1960), Teen Chor (1973), Roti (1974), and the blockbuster Amar Akbar Anthony (1977). His last released film credit was Insaaf Ki Manzil in 1986.

Jeevan was committed to his craft and embraced a wide range of parts — from mythological saints to ruthless villains and comic roles — and earned strong audience recognition for the naturalism of his performances. He also appeared on stage and in productions where his singing of a line or mannerism could create a powerful audience reaction.

Public profile

Jeevan married Kiran and the couple named their home Jeevan-Kiran. They had children, including sons Kiran Kumar and Bhushan Jeevan (who died in 1997), and daughters Nikki Jeevan and Rikki Ugra. His family remembered him as a disciplinarian who also taught practical lessons about respect on set and professionalism in the film industry.

Off screen, Jeevan practised charity and supported the education of children. He had interests beyond acting: hunting, cooking, gambling and travel were among his hobbies, and he was known to favour London as a vacation destination. Accounts note personal habits such as smoking and drinking. He could moderate his behaviour for a role; for example, he would give up non-vegetarian food while portraying the ascetic Narad.

Anecdotes from his career illustrate both his dedication and humility. On one occasion after a tour appearance, a woman in the crowd hurled a shoe at him, mistaking his on-screen character for reality. Jeevan met the incident with calm, later visiting the woman to explain and clear her misunderstanding.

Latest updates

In early June 1987 Jeevan fell into a coma on 7 June. Although he briefly regained his eyes, he died on 10 June 1987 in Bombay, Maharashtra, at the age of 71. His final years saw him continue to work in film; he even shared the screen with his younger son Bhushan in Laparwah (1981). His legacy is that of a dedicated character actor whose career spanned nearly half a century and who left a distinct mark through recurring mythological portrayals and memorable villain roles.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Jeevan, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Insaaf Ki Manzil

Listed as his last film credit

1986
Laparwah

Film in which he appeared with his younger son Bhushan Jeevan

1981
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Career Highlights

  1. Screen debut in Fashionable India (1935)
  2. Portrayed Narad Muni in around 60 films
  3. Long career spanning nearly 50 years with roles in notable films such as Mela, Kanoon, Nau Do Gyarah and Amar Akbar Anthony
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Jeevan born?

24 October 1915

What is Jeevan known for?

Actor

What is Jeevan’s marital status?

Married

Who is Jeevan married to?

Kiran