indian cinema heritage foundation

C S Dubey

Artists
  • Real Name: Chandrashekhar Dubey
  • Born: 4th September, 1924 (Kannod, Madhya Pradesh)
  • Died: 28th September, 1993
Share
1528 views

Actor, director, and radio personality Chandrashekhar Dubey, or C S Dubey as he was better known, featured in more than 150 films in the course of his career, essaying character roles in Seema (1955), Teesri Kasam (1966), Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki (1978), Raja Jani (1972) and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974). He also directed Kismet Palat Ke Dekh (1961), starring Anoop Kumar and Preeti Bala in the lead roles. He remains particularly memorable for his famous dialogue “Dhakkan khole ke” from Zinda Dil (1975). Dubey was mostly cast in negative roles, essaying them in an oily, smarmy, ingratiating manner. 

He was born Chandrashekhar Dubey on 4 September, 1924 in Kannod. Moving to Bombay to work as an actor, he started work with producer-director Amiya Chakravarty as an office boy. Graduating to production manager and assistant director, he also went on to appear in the Amiya Chakravarty directorials Patita (1980) which starred Dev Anand and Usha Kiran, and Seema (1955) featuring Balraj Sahni and Nutan. Among his earliest appearances onscreen was Chakravarty’s Daag (1952) starring Dilip Kumar, Nimmi, and Usha Kiran. 

C S Dubey was cast mostly in negative roles, playing characters such as money lenders or pimps. He featured in a slew of films such as Kath Putli (1957), Ardhangini (1959), Bin Badal Barsaat (1963), Teesri Kasam (1966), Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968), Aradhana (1969), Khilona (1970), Humjoli (1970), Lagan (1971), Piya Ka Ghar (1972), Saudagar (1973), Imtihan (1974), Aandhi (1975), Chhoti Si Baat (1976), Chitchor (1976), Dream Girl (1977), Damaad (1978), Manzil (1979), Do Premee (1980), Kala Pani (1980), Bulundi (1981), Angoor (1982), Taqdeer (1983), Mard (1985), Karma (1986), and Aag Ka Gola (1990). 

His work on radio included programmes such as Hawa Mahal, and Fauji Bhaiyon as well as radio plays. Interestingly, his career received a surprise boost after he went on to use a line he had delivered in Zinda Dil (1975), namely “Dhakkan khol ke”, in a programme he hosted on radio. While presenting the programme he used the term as a suffix to almost every sentence he uttered, injecting humour into the show.  

C S Dubey passed away on 28 September, 1993.