Dripping with megalomaniacal coolth, Ajit brought immense sophistication to the Bollywood villain.
He might be mimicked now, but he approached his craft with all the dedication of a Bela Lugosi or a Vincent Price, and the results were laudable.
He retired in the 80s after heart trouble, but came back in 1992 to act in what were unfortunately rather mediocre films.
He ended his career with inappropriate obscurity with a small role in Mahesh Bhatt's disappointing Fugitive remake, Criminal.