Prem Chopra worked with TOI and emerged as top villain in Bollywood
Prem Chopra worked with TOI and emerged as top villain in Bollywood
Unquestionably Bollywood is Mumbai’s ‘Mecca’ for talented aspirants for stardom.
No doubt, their journey to emerge as top actors and win name and fame is one of the most challenging paths.
One such actor is Prem Chopra. From his on-screen personality to his dialogue delivery, the actor captivated the audience with some unforgettable villainous roles.
Prem Chopra is hailed as one of the super villains in the history of Hindi cinema. He gained fame by proving his acting prowess, but very few know that his father wanted him to become a doctor. Even veteran villain Pran appreciated Prem Chopra for his performance as a ‘bad man’.
His most popular dialogue “Prem naam hai mera, Prem Chopra,” to Dimple in Raj Kapoor’s directorial is still remembered.
Born in Lahore on Sept 23, 1935 the third of six children of Ranbir Lal and Rooprani Chopra, he and his family moved to Shimla after the partition.
In the midst of his study days, his father wanted him to become a doctor, but he was more interested in cinema and wanted to shift base to Mumbai the ‘Mecca’ of Hindi films Bollywood to become an actor. .
On reaching Bombay (Mumbai) Prem Chopra got a job in the circulation department of Times of India. He was responsible for looking after Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar and was required to travel 20 days a month.
He managed to shorten his visit by calling his agents to meet him at the station so that he could return quickly. A tour that normally takes 20 days would end in 12, and the actor would spend the rest of the time going from one studio to another. He also received support from his boss.
In an interview, he once revealed that amidst one such train journey, he was offered his first Punjabi film, Chaudhary Karnail Singh, as the lead actor.
However, before Chaudhary Karnail Singh was released, Prem Ji lost his mother. However, he had his mother’s blessings as the film won a National Award for Best Feature Film in Punjabi. After this film, actor was flooded with offers from Bollywood.
While he was getting film offers, Prem Chopra didn’t quit the newspaper job. While working on Main Shadi Karne Chala, someone suggested him that he play a villain. After the release of Teesri Manzil and Upkaar, he received several film offers as a villain. After Upkaar in 1967, he left the newspaper job.
In an interview with Times of India, the veteran actor once shared his father’s reactions to his aspirations, that when he landed in Mumbai from Shimla, his father said, he doesn’t want to be an obstruction, but he wanted him to know that this acting is not a secure profession, so he must find employment in case wants to go to Mumbai.
In his 60-year career, Prem Chopra has done over 380 films and holds the record of playing the main antagonist in 19 Rajesh Khanna films. He also worked with Salman Khan in films such as Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Salaam-E-Ishq, and many more.
The 88-year-old actor’s recent work is Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal. He made a guest appearance in the Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s directorial and was lauded for his short yet remarkable presence. In multiple interviews, he said the film has done a tremendous business.
News Edit K.V.Raman
