Hiten Kumar

Hiten Kumar, originally named Hiten Mehta, hails from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and has become an iconic figure in Gujarati cinema. Born to Ishwarlal and Urmila Mehta, he is the middle child in a family of three, with an elder brother, Pankaj, and a younger sister, Bhavna. His passion for acting ignited during his college years in the early 1980s, where he participated in intercollegiate drama competitions and earned accolades as Best Actor while studying at Mumbai University.

While Hiten spent a decade working as a Development Officer at LIC, his heart remained in the arts, leading him to perform in over 45 plays across Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, and English. His persistence in the industry paid off when he gained significant recognition in 1995-96 with the film *Unchi Medina Uncha Mol*, which earned him the Gujarat State Award for Best Villain.

Kumar's career reached new heights with the blockbuster *Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya* in 1997, directed by Govind Patel, which shattered records by grossing ₹22 crore at a time when ticket prices were just ₹7 to ₹11. He continued his success with *Maiyar Ma Mandu Nathi Lagtu* in 2001, winning 11 State Awards.

With over 27 years in the industry, Hiten has appeared in more than 130 Gujarati films and has received nine Gujarat State Awards along with over 90 accolades from various organizations. His ability to portray a wide range of characters, from heroes to villains and complex psychological roles, is exemplified in his performance in *Vash*, which was later remade by Ajay Devgn as *Black Magic*. Hiten has also ventured into Hindi cinema with films like *Jayate*, *Raakh*, and *Simran*. Currently, he is focused on upcoming Gujarati projects set for 2024 while also exploring opportunities in other