Gulzar - Actor Profile

Gulzar

Writing
Freshness: Jan 21, 2026
10Total Films
7.2 Highest Rated
Born: Aug 18, 1934
Birth Place: Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan

About Gulzar

Sampooran Singh Kalra known popularly by his pen name Gulzar, is an Indian poet, lyricist, musician, composer and film director. Born in Jhelum District in British India (now in Pakistan) his family moved to India after partition. He started his career with music director S.D. Burman as a lyricist in the 1963 film Bandini and worked with many music directors including R. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Vishal Bhardwaj and A. R. Rahman. He directed films such as Aandhi and Mausam during the 1970s and the TV series Mirza Ghalib in the 1980s. He also directed Kirdaar in 1993. He also wrote the theme song for Motu Patlu, an Indian animated sitcom. Gulzar also wrote poetry, dialogues and scripts. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004, the third-highest civilian award in India, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — the highest award in Indian cinema. He has won several Indian National Film Awards, 20 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award and one Grammy Award.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Gulzar reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 10 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Documentary

The majority of Gulzar's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 20% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Gulzar remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Raincoat, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Gulzar Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Gulzar's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Gulzar.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2017 Roots - Flop Similar →
2016 Kaagaz Ki Kashti Himself Flop Similar →
2014 Jai Ho self Average Similar →
2012 Celluloid Man Self Hit Similar →
2004 Raincoat Poetry (voice) Hit Similar →
1979 Griha Pravesh Guest Appearance in song Flop Similar →
1977 Jallian Wala Bagh Suneel Flop Similar →
1977 Chala Murari Hero Banne Self Flop Similar →
1949 Parda Salma Flop Similar →
1940 Prem Nagar Gangi Flop Similar →

Gulzar - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Gulzar?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Gulzar is "Raincoat" with a rating of 7.2/10.

How many movies has Gulzar acted in?

Gulzar has been featured in at least 10 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Gulzar?

Other notable films include "Celluloid Man", "Jai Ho", and "Griha Pravesh".