Avtar Kishan Hangal, popularly known as A. K. Hangal, was an Indian freedom fighter and actor. He was born on 1 February 1914 in Sialkot, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan) and died on 26 August 2012 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India at the age of 98.

He participated in the Indian freedom struggle from 1929 to 1947 and was jailed for two years in Pakistan. He moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1949 and joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), a theatre group with Marxist leanings. He acted in many plays from 1936 to 1965.

He made his Hindi film debut in 1966 with the film Teesri Kasam and went on to play many memorable roles in films such as Heer Raanjha, Namak Haraam, Shaukeen, Sholay, Aaina, Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi and Naram Garam. He acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career spanning from 1966 to 2005. He also appeared in some television shows such as Tamas, Chimanrao, and Madhubala.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in 2006 for his contribution to Indian cinema. He was also honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

He was married to Manorma Dar from Agra and had a son named Vijay Hangal, who is also an actor.