Prem Chopra

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Prem Chopra
Prem Chopra in 2013
Born (1935-09-23) 23 September 1935 (age 88)
Lahore, Punjab, British India
(present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
OccupationActor
Years active1960–present
Spouse
Uma Malhotra
​
(m. 1969)​
Children3
RelativesSharman Joshi (son-in-law)
Vikas Bhalla (son-in-law)
Prem Nath (brother-in-law)
Rajendra Nath (brother-in-law)
Narendra Nath (brother-in-law)
Raj Kapoor (co-brother-in-law)
WebsiteOfficial website

Prem Chopra (born 23 September 1935) is an Indian actor in Hindi films. He has acted in 380 films over a span of over 60 years. He has a soft-spoken diction despite playing a villain in most films. His 19 films, with him as antagonist and Rajesh Khanna in the lead role remain popular with audiences and critics. He has 3 children (Rakita, Prerna, and Punita), and 7 grandchildren (Risha Nanda, Vir, Veryen, Vehon, Saanchi, Khaana).[1]

Life and education

Chopra, the third of six children of Ranbir Lal and Rooprani Chopra, a Punjabi Hindu family, was born on 23 September 1935, in Lahore.[2] After the partition of India, his family moved to Shimla, where he was brought up. He has studied in S.D. Senior Secondary School, Shimla.[3] His father desired for him to be a doctor or an Indian Administrative Services Officer.[4]

Chopra completed his schooling and college from Shimla after his father, who was a government servant, got transferred there. He graduated from Panjab University.

Rajendranath.[4] The couple have three daughters, Rakita, Punita and Prerna Chopra.[7] Rakita is married to film publicity designer Rahul Nanda, the son of author and screenwriter Gulshan Nanda. Punita owns a pre-school called Wind Chimes in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, and is married to singer and television actor Vikas Bhalla. Prerna is married to Bollywood actor Sharman Joshi.[8] Chopra resides in a duplex apartment in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai.[4]

He became estranged with two of his four brothers in the late 1980s. Chopra had bought a bungalow in 1980 in Delhi, which was jointly owned by him and his father, and his father and one brother used to stay there. Chopra had gotten his brother a job in Delhi, and made him stay at the bungalow. But his father, a day before his death, was made to sign a will favouring one of his brothers, taking away Chopra's rights to the bungalow.[6] Later, an income tax raid happened in that same house, and his brother said in the raid that Chopra had given them the bungalow, but the house still was in name of Prem Chopra.[6] Chopra had two other houses in Bombay as well, which were sold off cheaply by his other brothers without telling him, as they needed the money.[6]

His biography titled Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra, written by his daughter Rakita Nanda, was released in April 2014.[9]

Career

Beginnings (1960–1967)

In Simla, Chopra developed an interest in acting as he had begun to take part in many plays in his college days. Despite stiff opposition from his parents, he managed to go to

Bollywood films. In his initial days he stayed at guest-houses in Colaba, Bombay.[4] He started visiting film studios to display his portfolio: The response was not encouraging.[10]

To survive in the fast life of

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Punjabi.[11] He was paid Rs 2500 for his debut film.[10]

During his stint with the Times of India, he worked in Punjabi films including Sapani and Hindi films such as

Upkaar
, he was flooded with films as a villain.

After

Upkaar in 1967, he left The Times of India to concentrate solely on acting.[11]

Established actor (1969–1995)

Since 1967, he has been a leading villain in Hindi films and his peak period as main villain was from 1967 to 1995. In the 1970s he got plum roles as villains often with Sujit Kumar and Ranjeet. In a few films he played secondary villain to villainous characters of Ajit, Madan Puri, Pran, Prem Nath, Jeevan in the 1970s and 1980s and to Amrish Puri and Amjad Khan in the late 1980s.[citation needed]

In the critically acclaimed comedy film

Nafrat (1973), a box office flop, continues to be popular. The dialogue "Prem naam hai mera, Prem Chopra" (My name is Prem, Prem Chopra) from the film Bobby has been very popular. Another famous Prem Chopra dialogue is from the film Souten – "Main wo bala hoon jo sheshay se pathar ko todte hai", which closely translates to "I am that trouble which crushes stones with glass". Another dialogue from Souten was – "Jinke Ghar Sheeshe Ke Hote Hain Woh Batti Bhujakar Kapde Badalte Hai". "Main jo aag lagata hoon use boojhana bhi jaanta hoon" from Kati Patang.[citation needed
]

He was the regular in villainous roles in the films with

Nafrat in 1973 with Asha Bhosle
and "Kab Se Ye Dil Hai Pyaasa" from Mera Muqaddar in 1988.

He played son to villainous character of actor Ajit in films like Azaad, Chhupa Rustom, Jugnu and co-starred with him in Des Pardes, Ram Balram and Barood. In the late 80s, he played second fiddle to Amrish Puri only in a few films such as Awaaz, Shahenshah and Aaj Ka Arjun. Amrish Puri had played Prem Chopra's henchman in Dostana, Immaan Dharam and a minuscule role in Naseeb. Otherwise in majority of the films from 1969 to 1991 – Prem Chopra was the main villain. In fact, in Rajesh Khanna's films from 1969 to 1991, Prem Chopra was always the main villain and was never given a henchman's role except in Awaaz. He was main villain in all films starring Manoj Kumar from Upkar (1967) to Santosh (1989).

He was paired opposite actress Bindu regularly in films such as Lagan (1971),

Nafrat, Gehri Chaal and Daastan
.

Unlike other villains, Chopra's on-screen evil didn't rely on gizmos, his characters didn't rely on henchmen to do the dirty work and he never needed wicked names.

Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992), "Rajneeti ki bhains ke liye daulat ki lathi ki zaroorat hoti hai" from Khiladi (1992), "Kar bhala to ho bhala" from Raja Babu (1994) and "Nanga nahayega kya aur nichodega kya" from Dulhe Raja
(1998).

Late career (1996–present)

After 1996, he appeared as a villain in very few films. He took up positive character roles from 1996 and started getting more positive roles from 2007. His screen space got reduced in the films after 2007.

Prem Chopra considers that his best roles were in

Kala Sona, Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Jaanwar(1982),Oonche Log (1985), Indira (1989), Phool Bane Angaarey (1991), Bewaffa Se Waffa and the 19 films with Rajesh Khanna.[12][14][15][16] He considers that his best performances in positive roles came in Sikander-e-Azam, Kunwari, Shaheed, Jaadu Tona and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.[12] He disclosed in an interview that "My films with Rajesh Khanna are very special to me. Right from Doli then Do Raaste, Kati Patang, Daag, Ajnabee, Prem Nagar, Maha Chor, Mehbooba, Tyaag, Bebus, Aanchal, Jaanwar, Souten, Maqsad, Awaaz, Shatru, Oonche Log, Waapsi and Ghar Parivaar. 15 of 17 released were hits. Each of those films showed different shades of my personality in villainous role." When asked how he could continue so long in a cinematic career, he quoted "Although I came to be a hero, my films as a leading man flopped. Which was good in a way because a whole new world opened in front of me. There were so many more roles I could do. When I established myself as a villain it could continue for years."[12]

Filmography

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Awards

Bibliography

  • Chopra, Prem; Nanda, Rakita (2014). Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra.
    ISBN 9788129131188
    .

References

  1. ^ Ravi Sharma (16 December 2017). "Prem Chopra is an Exceptional Human Being - Sharman Joshi". Bollywood Helpline. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Prem Chopraa: Official site". Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  3. ^ "आखिर क्यों नम हुईं प्रेम चोपड़ा की आंखें?". Amar Ujala. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Official website of actor Prem Chopra". Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Official Website of Panjab University ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, पंजाब विश्वविद्यालय, पंजाब यूनिवर्सिटी, Chandigarh India".
  6. ^ a b c d e [1] Archived 6 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Uma". Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Seeing Dad in negative roles affected us badly". Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Book Review: Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d [2] Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  11. ^ a b Chopra, Prem (18 October 2023). "'I reigned as a khalnayak'" (Interview). Interviewed by Roshmila Bhattacharya. Mumbai: Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d [3] Archived 5 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Once there was a Bollywood villain. His name was Prem Chopra". Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Official website of actor Prem Chopra". Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Prem Chopra : Official site". Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  16. ^ "Prem Chopra : Official site". Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Paanch Paapi Story and Cast". Cinemaazi.
  18. ^ [4] Archived 8 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Prem Chopra : Official site". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2007.

External links

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