Jagdish Sethi

Actor · Director

January 15, 1903

Biography

Jagdish Sethi (15 January 1903 – 12 June 1969) was an Indian actor and film director born in Punjab, India, whose prolific career spanned nearly four decades and included over 80 appearances in Hindi and regional cinema. He is best remembered for his character‑driven performances in key early sound‑era films such as Draupadi (1931), where he portrayed Duryodhana in one of India's first mythological talkies, Anath Ashram (1937), and Insaan (1952), a socially conscious drama which he also directed. Jagdish Sethi directed several films including Do Dil (1947), Insaan (1952), and Jaggu (1952), and contributed as a screenwriter, lyricist, and producer in industry collaborations with major studios such as New Theatres, Imperial, and Filmistan. Recognized for his versatility in both performance and filmmaking, he remained one of the notable figures of early Indian cinema until his passing in Bombay on 12 June 1969.