Mr Prem Chopra ..The Great Actor And Humble Human Being, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.
Prem Chopra (Devanagari: प्रेम चोपड़ा) (born September 23, 1935)is an Indian actor in Hindi and Punjabi films. He has acted in 320 films. He has a soft spoken diction despite being a villain in most films.
Prem Chopra was born in a Punjabi Hindu family in Lahore on 23 September 1935 to Ranbirlal and Rooprani Chopra.[1] He graduated from Punjab University[disambiguation needed].[1] Chopra is married to Raj Kapoor's wife's sister Uma, and they have three daughters.[2]
The Hindi Cinema world is proud to have as one of its most luminous icons’, the enigmatic and legendary Prem Chopra. During his illustrious career, he has left an indelible mark that has been difficult to supersede or even emulate… and the journey continues with fervor.
Prem Chopra was the third of six children born to Ranbirlal and Rooprani Chopra in Lahore. After the partition, the family moved to Simla where he along with his four brothers and one sister did their education.
Destiny had hinted to him of its plans early on in life. Even before he graduated from the Punjab University, the actor in him had begun to surface. An active stage performer in college, his talent got recognition even then in the form of many Best actor felicitations. This encouraged him to spread his wings and try his luck in Bombay’s prolific Hindi Film Industry. However to get into films was no mean task. Struggle was the name of the game. But hardships bowed before his strong intent even as he battled hard to find his bearings.
In order to survive in the fast life of Bombay, he took up a job with the Times of India while trying to gain a foothold in the Film Industry. During his stint with the Times of India, he worked in Punjabi films including Chaudhary Karnail Singh and Sapni and Hindi films such as Woh Kaun Thi, Shaheed, Main Shaadi Karne Chala and Teesri Manzil. While doing Upkaar, a film in which he put in a remarkable performance, he gave up his job to concentrate solely on acting.
He went on to make his presence strongly felt as a 'bad man' and became an artist that the audience loved to hate- From Do Anjaane and Kati Patang to Phool Bane Angaarey and Bewaffa Se Waffa. In his life outside films however, he gained the respect of one and all and epitomized someone people loved to love. No wonder then, that his positive roles in films including Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Koi Mil Gaya were also welcomed with equal enthusiasm.
The name Prem Chopra is familiar to every Indian ear both within the country and abroad. Letters with just his name and no address reach safe and sound to his spacious house in Bombay. It has been ages since in real life he has felt the need to say his famous Bobby line "Prem Naam hai mera .....Prem Chopra." The celebrated face itself speaks volumes.
Today he has completed nearly 400 odd films over a span of over 50 years and continues working with zest. Recently, his sterling cameos in Rocket Singh-Salesman of the year and Delhi 6 earned him many accolades.
Awards have loved to belong to this gifted actor. He has been recognized by FilmFare, Lions and Punjabi Kala Sangam amongst many others for his powerful performances.
He has also created magic with live audiences displaying a special connect while participating in stage shows all over the UAE, Britain, America, Holland, Fiji Islands and Singapore.
Prem Chopra who married Uma in 1969 has three beautiful daughters - Rakita, Punita and Prerana. The three girls share a unique bond with their enigmatic father and if the feared screen baddie is bullied, it is by his daughters. They call him the 'baby' of the house as he is the first one to go to sleep at night. The role that the actor is currently enjoying is that of grand father to six adorable grand children, Sanchi, Khyana,Veer, Risha and twins Vaaryan and Vihaan.
This ' villain ' has a tender streak that those close to him are aware of. He has raised funds for many noble causes such as building hospitals, schools, temples etc. for cine artists and for the needy.
Truly, if Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have competition, it is with the villainous screen image of Prem Chopra vis a vis his humane real life persona. A family man, friend and humanitarian commanding much respect, Prem Chopra in every way, is someone worth emulating. It therefore would be in order to say that his biggest asset is the fact that he lives his life in congruence with the name his parents had thoughtfully bestowed on him………..P-R-E-M !
www.premchopra.com/profile.htm
