Veteran star Raaj Kumar allegedly hit a man on Juhu beach who died with his injuries, fought legal battle like a 'lion', reveals co-actor

Veteran star Raaj Kumar allegedly hit a man on Juhu beach who died with his injuries, fought legal battle like a 'lion', reveals co-actor

Before Raaj Kumar became one of Hindi cinema’s most magnetic screen presences, he wore a khaki uniform. In the late 1940s, he served as a sub-inspector at the Mahim police station in Mumbai. The job brought him into regular contact with producers, technicians, and actors, many of whom frequented the station for various permits or disputes. One such visitor, filmmaker Baldev Dubey, noticed the officer’s baritone voice and natural gravitas. Dubey didn’t see a cop that day; he saw a star.

Encouraged by peers and his own cinematic ambitions, Raaj Kumar left the police force and joined films, debuting in Shahi Bazaar. But success didn’t arrive overnight. From 1952 to 1957, he endured years of anonymity and rejections, surviving on small roles and persistence.

Rise to Stardom

His big break came with Paigam (1959), where he held his ground opposite Dilip Kumar. The film’s success proved that his voice and intensity could command attention. Then came Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Godaan, and Dil Ek Mandir—films that made him a household name. His regal screen persona, calm defiance, and clipped dialogue style became his trademark. By the mid-60s, Kajal sealed his stardom; Raaj Kumar was no longer the policeman who quit his job for movies—he was the man whose very tone could silence a room.

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The Beach Incident and Legal Battle

But even as fame surrounded him, controversy wasn’t far behind. In an interview with ANI, veteran actor Raza Murad recalled a shocking episode from Raaj Kumar’s early life. Murad claimed that the actor once got into a violent altercation at Juhu Beach after a man reportedly insulted a woman nearby. The confrontation escalated, and Raaj Kumar allegedly struck the man, who later died from his injuries.

A murder case was filed. Murad revealed that his father, a close friend of Raaj Kumar, stood by him throughout the trial. The hearings stretched on for months, but eventually, the court acquitted Raaj Kumar of all charges. “He fought like a lion,” Murad said, describing the ordeal as a test of the actor’s courage and conscience.

Legacy of a Fearless Man

Raaj Kumar’s last film, God and Gun (1995), reunited him with stars like Jackie Shroff and Raj Babbar. A year later, he passed away after a battle with throat cancer. Yet decades later, the man who spoke less and meant every word still looms large over Hindi cinema—a reminder that legends are not born perfect; they’re forged in fire.