Early Life and Family Background
Bhudo Advani was born as Daulatram Advani on 17 August 1905 in Hyderabad, Sindh, then part of British India (now in Pakistan). He belonged to a Sindhi family and was the eldest among ten siblings, having four sisters and six brothers.
His father, Kundanmal Advani, served as a police inspector, while his mother, Uttambai, was a homemaker who looked after the large family. Budho completed his early education in Hyderabad.
His fascination with acting began at a very young age. At the age of ten, he appeared in an English play during a school function. The performance caught the attention of renowned Sindhi theatre personality Hemandas Gangadas, who immediately recognized the young boy's exceptional talent.
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From Theatre to Becoming "Budho"
Unfortunately, Daulatram failed his matriculation examination and decided to discontinue his formal education. Seeing his passion for acting, Hemandas Gangadas invited him to join his theatre company.
This marked the beginning of an extraordinary theatrical career.
During those days, female actors were rarely available for stage productions. As a result, Budho frequently portrayed women's roles. His convincing performances and expressive acting earned him tremendous appreciation from audiences, and several theatre companies competed to cast him.
The turning point came when he played the role of an old man in the play Harif, produced by the Navalram Hirachand Academy.
His portrayal was so convincing that audiences began calling him "Buddho", meaning "old man." Over time, the nickname gradually transformed into "Budho," and it eventually became his permanent screen identity.
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Moving to Karachi
During this period, the Advani family shifted from Hyderabad to Karachi. Budho continued working actively in theatre.
Unlike many commercial productions of the time, the plays he performed often addressed social problems and challenged prevailing social evils. His theatre work established him as one of the respected performers of the Sindhi stage.
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Balancing Acting and Employment
Alongside theatre, Bhudo secured employment as a manager at J.B. Advani & Company with a monthly salary of ₹40, considered a respectable income during the 1930s.
However, his commitment to theatre frequently forced him to miss office work, ultimately costing him his job.
A devoted admirer later helped him secure another position at the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation. Yet destiny had different plans.
Within a month of joining, Budho resigned after receiving an invitation from a friend to move to Bombay—the city that would shape his cinematic future.
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Entry into Hindi Films
In 1933, Budho Advani arrived in Bombay and met filmmaker Mohan Bhavnani, owner of Ajanta Cinetone.
Like Budho, Mohan Bhavnani also hailed from Hyderabad-Sindh. Impressed by his personality and acting experience, Bhavnani offered him a small role in the 1933 film Afzal Urf Hoor-e-Haram.
Although the role was brief, it marked Budho Advani's official debut in Hindi cinema.
Over the next few years, he appeared in eleven more productions under the Ajanta Cinetone banner, including:
Dard-e-Dil
Dukhtare Hind
The Mill
Sair-e-Paristan
Pyar Ki Maar
Sher Dil Aurat
These films helped establish him as a dependable supporting actor.
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Success at Sagar Movietone
When Ajanta Cinetone shut down in 1934, producer Chimanlal Desai invited Budho Advani to join Sagar Movietone, one of the leading film studios of the era.
Here, Budho had the opportunity to work under celebrated filmmakers such as:
Mehboob Khan
K.P. Ghosh
Sarvottam Badami
Between 1933 and 1940, Budho appeared in nearly 35 Hindi films, twenty of which were produced by Sagar Movietone.
Some of his notable films from this period include:
Dr. Madhurika
Deccan Queen
Do Diwane
Jagirdar
Manmohan
Hum Tum Aur Woh
Mahageet
Postman
His comic timing and expressive facial acting gradually made him one of the industry's most recognizable character actors.
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Working with Mehboob Khan
When Sagar Movietone merged into National Studios in 1940, many employees, including Budho Advani, lost their contracts.
Nevertheless, his acting career continued successfully.
In 1941, he played an important role in Darshan, produced by Prakash Pictures.
Interestingly, Budho also displayed his singing ability. Under the music direction of Naushad, he sang the song:
"Koi Kab Tak Rahe Akela, Mausam Aaya Albela"
alongside Jyoti and Prem Adib.
During the 1940s, Budho worked in another 35 films, including productions by Mehboob Productions, founded by Mehboob Khan in 1943.
Notable films included:
Anmol Ghadi
Anokhi Ada
Meri Kahani
Amanat
Beesvin Sadi
Dukhiyari
Ismat
Pooja
Shauhar
Master of Screen Comedy
Budho Advani earned immense popularity as a comedian.
Unlike slapstick comedians, he relied on subtle expressions, impeccable timing, and naturally humorous body language.
During the 1950s, he appeared in around 20 films, many of which became classics of Hindi cinema.
Among them were:
Boot Polish
Shree 420
Jagte Raho
Ab Dilli Door Nahin
Madhumati
Aadmi
Meena Bazaar
Madhur Milan
Miss Coca Cola
Qaidi No. 911
Aankhen
Aakhri Dao
One of his most appreciated performances came in Boot Polish, especially in the comic song:
"Lapak Jhapak Tu Aa Re Badarwa, Sar Ki Kheti Sookh Rahi Hai."
His humorous expressions during the sequence remain memorable even today.
Final Years in Cinema
By the 1960s, Budho Advani reduced his workload.
He appeared in only a handful of films, including:
Anuradha
Khamoshi
Across a remarkable career spanning 44 years, Budho acted in:
102 Hindi films
2 Gujarati films
4 Sindhi films
Two of his Sindhi films, Insaf Kitthe Aa and Rai Diyach, also featured his wife. In Rai Diyach, the couple portrayed the hero's parents.
His final screen appearance came in Satyajit Ray's acclaimed 1977 film Shatranj Ke Khilari, bringing an extraordinary cinematic journey to a graceful close.
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Personal Life
Budho Advani married Sushila Mirchandani in 1939.
The couple had seven children—five daughters and two sons.
Tragedy struck the family in 1968, when their younger son died at the age of sixteen after falling from a Mumbai local train while returning from college. The youngest daughter also passed away at a young age, and years later, the eldest daughter also died.
Despite these heartbreaking losses, Budho remained deeply devoted to his family.
For many years, he lived in a spacious apartment within the Central Studio compound at Tardeo, South Mumbai. In 1977, he moved to Shantiniketan Building in Seven Bungalows, Andheri West.
Death and Legacy
Budho Advani's wife passed away in 1979.
Six years later, on 25 July 1985, Budho Advani passed away at the age of 80.
Although his name is not as widely remembered today as many of his contemporaries, his contribution to early Hindi cinema remains invaluable. Through more than a hundred films, Budho Advani entertained generations of audiences with his natural comic talent, expressive performances, and remarkable versatility.
He was among the pioneers who helped establish the tradition of character comedy in Indian cinema—a legacy that continues to influence Bollywood even today.