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Happy Birthday Prem Chopra: The Man Behind Bollywood's Most Iconic Villains
On September 23, 1935, in Lahore, which was part of undivided Hindustan and is now in Pakistan, Prem Chopra was born, a name that requires no introduction. His visage is indelibly etched in the annals of Bollywood's formidable antagonists, a recognition that endures even today for his nefarious character portrayals. In this special tribute on his birthday, we delve into several episodes from Prem Chopra's life.
Embracing the Role of a Villain out of Fear of Missed Opportunities
It may come as a surprise that, like many other actors, Prem Chopra initially aspired to be a hero in the film industry. However, this journey was not without its share of challenges. During this period, he crossed paths with the renowned filmmaker of that era, Mahboob Khan. Mahboob Khan not only pledged to cast Prem Chopra as a leading character in one of his films but also urged him to exercise patience. In the interim, Prem Chopra was offered a villainous role in the movie "Who Kaun Thi," a role he promptly embraced. In reality, Prem Chopra was apprehensive that relinquishing this role might jeopardize the launch of his career.
The Inaugural Role That Catapulted Him to Stardom
It might astonish you to learn that "Who Kaun Thi" emerged as one of the biggest blockbuster films of its era. Furthermore, Prem Chopra's portrayal of the malevolent character received considerable acclaim. Some time after this success, Prem Chopra had a confrontational meeting with Mahboob Khan. During this encounter, Mahboob Khan chastised Prem Chopra, berating him for spoiling everything. However, he also commended Prem for his exceptional rendition of the villainous role and encouraged him to pursue this path. From that point onward, Prem Chopra never looked back, amassing a portfolio of more than 400 films in his illustrious career.
Real-Life Repercussions
It is worth noting that while his portrayal of villains on screen brought success to Prem Chopra, it also had real-life consequences. He recounted an incident during an interview where he took his daughter to a film premiere. After watching the entire film, she became so frightened that she couldn't help but gaze at him in fear. Her distress was so profound that she refrained from speaking to Prem Chopra for several days.
- PTC PUNJABI
