Pradeep Kumar-Biography

Pradeep Kumar was born in early 1925 in West Bengal He was an Bengali and Hindi film actor. When Pradeep Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. Pradeep 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).




Kumar then shifted to Bombay and Filmistan studios, and had an important role in the film Anand Math (1952). Kumar 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. Pradeep Kumar had a spate of releases in the second half of the 1950s. He did not enjoy as much success in the 1960s, though Ghunghat (1960) , Taj Mahal (1963) and Aarti were successful.

Pradeep Kumar also worked with Meena Kumari in seven films that were Adal-E-Jahangir, Bandhan, Chitralekha, Bahu Begum, Bheegi Raat, Aarti and Noor Jahan and with Mala Sinha in eight films - Naya Zamana, Hemlet, Badshah, Detective, Faishon, Ek Shola, Duniya Na Maane, Mitti Mein Sona.

Kumar did not get to act in lead roles with the newer heroines of the 1960s like Sadhana, Saira Banu, Babita or Sharmila Tagore, though he did work with Asha Parekh in Ghunghat and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen and 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. Pradeep also won the Kalakar Award-Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 1999. This royal actor died in Calcutta on October 28, 2001, at the age of 76.

Prem Nath Biography

Premnath Malhotra born on November 21, 1926 is a legendary Hindi film actor.

Born in Peshawar, the family moved to Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh after partition, he then had moved to Bombay.

He married the actress Bina Rai with whom he fathered actor Prem Krishen and Kailash Nath (Monty). They are also the grandparents of actress Akanksha Malhotra. His sister Krishna married Raj Kapoor and his brothers Rajindernath and Narendranath were also actors mostly in
comic and supporting roles. He was also a family friend of the actress Asha Parekh.

Premnath made his film debut in Ajit. He got major roles in Raj Kapoor's first directorial film Aag and Barsaat (1949) which were his first major commercial successes. Premnath went on to appear in many films for the next three decades, some of which were the biggest blockbusters in Indian film history. The films in which he played the leading role failed to do well but the films in which he played the central villain role or supporting role were some of the biggest blockbusters in Indian film history.

Some of his most note-worthy films were Aan (1952), Teesri Manzil (1966), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Dharmatma (1975), Kalicharan (1976) and Desh Premee (1982). He also starred in the religious Punjabi film Sat Sri Akal (1977).

He fell in love with actress Bina Rai during the filming of Aurat. They married and formed a production company together called P.N. films. They pinned high hopes for their films, which didn't become hits, such as "Shagufa," "Prisoner of Golconda," "Samunder" and "Watan." Thus, the Premnath-Bina Rai pairing never clicked on the screen.[1]

He earned Filmfare Nominations as Best Supporting Actor for following films- Shor (1972), Bobby (1973), Amir Garib (1974), and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974).

Apart from Bollywood films, he also appeared in an episode of the American television series Maya in 1967 and a 1969 American film titled Kenner opposite former football player turned actor Jim Brown.

His last film appearance was in Hum Dono (1985) after which he retired from acting. He died in 1992 of a heart attack at the age of sixty-six

Selected Films of the great actor are catalogued below here-

Hum Dono (1985) Desh Premee (1982) Krodhi (1981) Karz (1980) Guest House (film) (1980) Jaani Dushman (1979) Shalimar (1978) Chandi Sona (1977) Dus Numbri (1976) Kabeela (1976) Kalicharan (1976) Aap Beati (1976) Nagin (1976) Dharmatma (1975) Dharam Karam (1975) Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) Amir Garib (1974) Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974) Chhupa Rustam (1973) Bobby (1973) Shor (1972) Be-Imaan (1972) Mom Ki Gudiya (1972) Raja Jani (1972) Tere Mere Sapne (1971) Gora Aur Kala (1971) Johny Mera Naam (1970) Maya TV series (1 episode, 1967) Baharon Ke Sapne (1967) Teesri Manzil (1966) Aurat (1953) Aan (1952) Awaara (1951) Barsaat (1949) Aag (1948) Sanyasi ( 1979 ) Ajit (1948)

He died on November 3, 1992 owing to a heart attack.