The Indian cinema saw a major shift during the 90s era. Actors during that time were ageing, and new faces in Bollywood started growing their popularity.
Among them was a young star who made a grand entry in Bollywood and soon got the tag of hero at just 15. We are not talking about Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, or Saif Ali Khan. The forgotten star, which we are talking about, is none other than Harish Kumar. Let us tell you more about this teenage star.
Who is Harish Kumar?
Harish Kumar became an overnight sensation and was seen as the next big name in Bollywood. However, just an accident took all of his fame away from him. Harish began his acting career as a child artist in the late 1970s.
He worked mainly in Telugu films and also appeared in a few Hindi and Kannada films over his eight years in the film fraternity. It was in 1988, he made his debut at 13 as a lead actor. After a string of hits and flops, he found success with the 1990 Telugu hit Prem Qaidi. The very next year, the film was remade in Hindi, and it yet again proved to be a massive success. The film’s young cast, with Harish Kumar and Karisma Kapoor, both 16 years old, became an instant hit in Bollywood. The duo were immensely praised for their acting. Harish then appeared in films like Tiranga and College Bullodu.
How did Harish Kumar’s fame grow?
During this time, Harism Kumar became a popular name in the film industry. He was considered one of the most sought-after young stars in both Hindi and Telugu cinema. You won’t believe his name was compared with newcomers like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and even Akshay Kumar. Soon, Harish Kumar saw huge success; he appeared in blockbuster films like The Gentleman, Coolie No. 1, and Hero No. 1.
Why did Harish Kumar suddenly disappear from Bollywood? Where is he now?
You might be wondering why an actor like Harish Kumar, who saw a huge success in cinema, suddenly disappeared from films. What came next in Harish Kumar’s life was nothing less than a shocker. His sudden departure from films after 2001 left everyone wondering. ‘Where did Harism Kumar disappear?’ After the release of the Hindi film Inteqam, Harish retired from films at 26. Many were taken aback by his decision to quit films. Harish remained silent at the time, leading to further speculation.
Why did Harish Kumar quit Bollywood?
While Harish Kumar silently faded from films, it was in 2021 that Harish Kumar, in conversation with HT City, revealed the real reason for quitting films. He mentioned that an accident during his childhood left him with an untreatable injury that caused him deep pain.
Harish revealed, “I suffered a severe back injury that left me bedridden, and that was the reason I left showbiz. It was a major slipped disc that affected my L3 and L5 discs. The condition was so bad that I couldn’t even go to the washroom. I was very careless when I was young, and I didn’t even realise when I got the injury. But I didn’t want to undergo any surgery.”
The actor further added that he was advised not to work for several months due to his lower back injury. Harish said, “First, the doctor forbade me from working for two years; after that, I did not know where I was lost.”
Harish Kumar’s failed comeback in cinema
It is not that Harish Kumar didn’t try to make a comeback in Bollywood. By the time Harishm decided to make his comeback, it was too late. In 2011-12, Harish Kumar starred in films like Naughty@40 and Chaar Din Ki Chandni.
However, he didn’t get to see any immediate success. It was as if the audience had already forgotten the teenage actor. Harish once again, in 2018, starred in the film Aa Gaya Hero, which turned out to be a huge flop. Despite starring alongside Govinda, Harish failed to impress the audience. The actor then decided to try his luck in OTT, where he was cast in the epic ON show Gruha Lakshmi.