Veteran actor Jankidas passes away

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Veteran actor of Hindi cinema, Jankidas Mehra died of cardiac failure at his Juhu residence on Wednesday morning, his family sources said. He was 93.<br /><br />Jankidas, as he was popularly known, was suffering from heart ailment for quite some time and was discharged from a local hospital two days ago.<br /><br />The veteran actor had acted in more than 1,000 films since the silent era. He was the first production designer in the Indian film industry and had designed several films including <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Pathar aur Payal</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Warrant</span>.<br /><br />He was recipient of many national and international awards. In May 1996, he received lifetime achievement award instituted by Indian Motion Pictures Producers'' Association.<br /><br />As production designer, Jankidas introduced Madhubala in Sohrab Modi''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Daulat</span> in 1947. He also introduced Meena Kumari in Nanabhai Bhatt''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hamara Ghar</span> and Mala Sinha in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hamlet</span>, produced and directed by Kishore Sahu. Jankidas also introduced Khusboo in Sunil Dutt''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dard Ka Rishta</span>.<br /><br />Jankidas also wrote several books on the film industry. His popular books are <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">My misadventures in filmland</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Acting for beginners</span>. <br /><br />As a sportsman, Jankidas was the only Indian to have broken world record in cycling between 1934 to 1942. He was also the only Indian member of International Olympic Committee at the World Olympic Games in 1936 at Berlin.<br /><br />In 1986, he undertook a fast unto death to seek tax benefits for the film industry and gave up his agitation after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray intervened.<br /><br />Jankidas is survived by his two sons and two daughters.</div> </div>