Pradeep Kumar Biography

Pradeep Kumar (Pradeep Batabyal) born in early 1925 in West Bengal, was an actor of Bengali and Hindi films.

When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. His started his film career in Bengali films. His notable roles Bengali films were in Alaknanda(1947) directed by renowned filmmaker Debaki Bose and in '42 (1951).

He shifted to Bombay and Filmistan studios, and had an important role in the film Anand Math (1952). He played the lead role with Bina Rai in Anarkali (1953) and with Vyjayanthimala in Nagin (1954). Both films were very popular and had songs that added to the movies success.

He had an array of releases in the second half of the 1950's. In 1960's, though Ghunghat (1960) , Taj Mahal (1963) and Aarti were successful, he enjoyed meagre success.

He worked with Meena Kumari in 7 films i.e. Adal-E-Jahangir, Bandhan, Chitralekha, Bahu Begum, Bheegi Raat, Aarti & Noor Jahan & with Mala
Sinha in 8 films i.e. Naya Zamana, Hemlet, Badshah, Detective, Faishon, Ek Shola, Duniya Na Maane, Mitti Mein Sona.

He did not get to act in lead roles with the newer heroines of the1960s like Sadhana, Saira Banu, Babita or Sharmila Tagore, though he did work with Asha Parekh in Ghunghat and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen & with Waheeda Rehman in Raakhi(1963).

In 1969, he moved to character roles with Sambandh, but did not have many visible roles till Razia Sultan in 1983.

He won the Kalakar Award-Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).

Pradeep Kumar took his last breath in Calcutta on October 28, 2001, at the age of 76.