This superstar gave tough competition to Raj Kapoor, was once India’s richest actor, but lost all his money and bungalows to…, his name is…

This actor once rose to fame and earned money like anything. However, his popularity declined and in no time he went bankrupt. His name is...

Bharat Bhushan was a big name in the Bollywood industry during the 50s. He was known for his power-packed performances and was even called one of the best actors of his time. Because of his impressive acting skills and excellent choice of projects, Bharat Bhushan emerged as the romantic heartthrob of India and enjoyed a massive fan following. However, as the saying goes, “nothing remains constant,” the same was true for Bhushan’s charm and stardom. As quickly as the actor climbed the ladder of success, he came rolling down.

After working in over 30 movies during his career, he delivered several hit films like Baiju Bawra (1952), Anand Math (1952), Mirza Ghalib (1954), and Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh (1960), among others. However, despite earning an immense reputation, name, and fame, Bhushan was unable to handle success. From being one of the biggest and richest actors, earning huge amounts, the actor went bankrupt. Not only that, but he also lost all his bungalows to gambling and eventually died in abject poverty.

Bharat Bhushan’s Career Peak

Bharat Bhushan was born in 1920 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. After completing his studies in Aligarh, he moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. He made his debut in 1941 with Chitralekha, and his first major success came with Baiju Bawra, where he starred opposite Meena Kumari.

Bhushan’s career spanned over five decades, during which he worked in various movies. However, the turning point came when Bhushan appeared in Baiju Bawra, which gave him both name and fame. In the film, the actor played the role of a musician who challenged ‘Tansen’.

According to Scroll, “In his celluloid avatar, he melted marble with the ardour of his music, wooed the ascetic guru Swami Haridas with Man Tarpat in Malkauns, and romanced Meena Kumari with Tu Ganga Ki Mauj in Bhairavi.”

Bharat Bhushan’s Failure

After reaching the pinnacle of success, Bharat Bhushan’s popularity started to decline. The actor took his brother’s advice and entered into production, which resulted in massive monetary losses.

Reports suggest that Bharat Bhushan was among the wealthiest actors in Bollywood during the peak of his career. However, he eventually went bankrupt. His career declined with the rise of stars like Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, and Dharmendra. Facing financial difficulties, Bhushan sold most of his property and moved to live in a chawl.

Later, to make ends meet, the actor even worked as a junior artist. A report by the Times of India claimed that Bharat Bhushan lost a significant amount of money and property in gambling. He later passed away at the age of 72 in an impoverished state.