27 Facts About Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema.

Guru Dutt directed a total of 8 Hindi films, several of which have gained a cult following internationally.

Guru Dutt was included among CNN's "Top 25 Asian Actors" in 2012.

Guru Dutt's name was changed to Gurudatta Padukone following a childhood accident, the belief being that it was an auspicious choice.

Guru Dutt's father, Shivashanker Rao Padukone, was a headmaster and a banker; his mother was Vasanthi, a teacher and writer.

Guru Dutt spent his early childhood in Bhowanipore, Kolkata, and spoke fluent Bengali.

Guru Dutt's second cousin Shyam Benegal was a director and screenwriter.

Guru Dutt is a second cousin twice removed of Amrita Rao, whose grandfather and Dutt were second cousins.

Guru Dutt briefly returned to his parents in Bombay before his uncle found him a job under a 3-year contract with the Prabhat Film Company in Pune later that year.

In 1945, Guru Dutt made his acting debut in Vishram Bedekar's Lakhrani, as Lachman, a minor role.

Guru Dutt lost his job after getting involved with the assistant dancer, Vidya, whom he eloped with as she already had a fiance.

Baazi, which was an immediate success, was followed by Jaal, directed by Guru Dutt and starring Anand, and was again successful at the box office.

Guru Dutt played the lead role in three of these five films.

All subsequent films from his studio were, thereafter, officially headed by other directors, since Guru Dutt felt that his name was anathema to the box office.

In 1964, Guru Dutt acted opposite Meena Kumari in his last film, Sanjh Aur Savera, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Guru Dutt was working opposite Sadhana in Picnic which was left incomplete and shelved.

Guru Dutt was set to produce and star in Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi but was replaced as the lead by Dharmendra and the film released in 1966 as his team's last production.

In 1953, Guru Dutt married Geeta Roy Chowdhuri, a well-known playback singer whom he met during the making of Baazi.

Geeta Guru Dutt died in 1972 at age 41, after excessive drinking, which resulted in liver damage.

On 10 October 1964, Guru Dutt was found dead in his bed in his rented apartment at Pedder Road in Bombay.

Guru Dutt is said to have been mixing alcohol and sleeping pills.

Guru Dutt had scheduled appointments for the next day with actress Mala Sinha and actor Raj Kapoor for his movie Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi, to discuss the making of colour films.

At the time of his death, Dutt was involved in two other projects: Picnic, starring actress Sadhana; and director K Asif's epic, Love and God.

The only film produced by Guru Dutt that was considered a box office disaster was Kaagaz Ke Phool, which is a cult classic.

Guru Dutt is known as a director who used his imagination in relation to light and shade, his evocative imagery, and a striking ability to weave multiple thematic layers into his narratives.

Guru Dutt was inducted into the Walk of the Stars, at Bandra Bandstand, where his autograph was preserved.

In 2010, Guru Dutt was included among CNN's "Top 25 Asian Actors of all time".