| Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi was an Indian actor known for his role as Sukhilala in the film ‘Mother India’ (1957). |
| Since childhood, he dreamt of a film career, convincing his father to join a theater group despite initial disapproval. |
| At 16, he began writing for plays and taking minor acting roles. |
| After his father’s death, he and his brother could not manage the family drama company and had to close it. |
| Moving to Bombay, he started with theatrical productions before entering films as an extra artist. |
| Initially wanting to write and direct, he became an actor, debuting in ‘Sagar Ka Sher’ (1937). |
| In ‘Sadhana’ (1938), he played the protagonist's grandfather at 28 and contributed to the film's dialogues and songs. |
| As Banke in 'Ek Hi Raasta' (1939), he portrayed his first villain role. |
| After ‘Ek Hi Raasta,’ he left Bombay but returned to assist in ‘Sanskar’ (1940) without success. |
| His breakthrough came with ‘Aurat’ (1940) as Sukhilala, eventually reprised in 'Mother India'. |
| While filming 'Aurat,' he sustained injuries but continued without makeup as Sukhilala. |
| In ‘Bahen’ (1941), his role as Moti was expanded due to his impressive performance. |
| Throughout his 45-year career, he appeared in over 150 films, including 'Devdas,' 'Upkar,' and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram.' |
| Kanhaiyalal often portrayed elderly characters in his films. |
| Apart from acting and writing, he had a passion for music. |
| He was fond of paan and always carried a paan box, enjoying it more than regular food. |
| In 2021, his daughter Hemaa Singh produced a documentary titled ‘Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal’ showcasing his life. |
| In an interview, Hemaa Singh advocated for her father to receive the ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award.’ |
