Pradeep Kumar (4 January 1925 – 27 October 2001) was an Indian actor who is recognized for his work in

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

and English-language films. (Dinesh Raheja
Ever the royal
Rediff.com website, Published 2 June 2003, Retrieved 16 February 2023

Career

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

Debaki Bose Debaki Bose (1898–1971), also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was an Indian director, writer, and actor who is recognized for his contribution in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalposh, (now East Burdwan), Bu ...

, and in ''42'' (1951). Pradeep Kumar Batabayal then shifted to

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

and

Filmistan Filmistan is an Indian film studio based in Goregaon, Mumbai. Spread over five acres, near Patkar College on S.V. Road, the studio has seven shooting floors, and a temple and garden for outdoor locations. Patkar College's reputation has incre ...

studios, and had an important role in the film ''

Anand Math ''Anand Math'' is a 1952 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film directed by Hemen Gupta, based on the famous Bengali novel '' Anandamath'', written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1882. The novel and film are set in the events of the Sann ...

'' (1952). He played the lead role with

Bina Rai Bina Rai (13 July 1931 – 6 December 2009), sometimes referred to as Beena Rai, was an Indian actress, primarily of the black and white era of Hindi cinema. She is most known for her roles in classics such as '' Anarkali'' (1953), '' Ghunghat ...

in ''Anarkali'' (1953) and with

Vyjayanthimala Vyjayanthimala Bali ( Raman; born 13 August 1933), known mononymously as Vyjayanthimala, is an Indian parliamentarian, dancer and former actress. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's greatest actresses and dancers, she is the recipient of sever ...

in ''Nagin'' (1954). Both films were very popular and had songs that added to the movies' success. He worked with

Madhubala Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. She is considered as one of the greatest and finest actresses in the history of Indian cinema. One of the country ...

in eight films, of which '' Raj Hath'' (1956), ''

Shirin Farhad Shirin Farhad or Shirin Farhaad may refer to: * A version of the classic Persian story of Khosrow and Shirin * Shirin Farhad (1931 film), ''Shirin Farhad'' (1931 film), an Indian musical film directed by J.J. Madan, the second Indian film with soun ...

'' (1956), ''

Gateway of India The Gateway of India is an arch-monument completed in 1924 on the waterfront of Mumbai (Bombay), India. It was erected to commemorate the landing of George V for his coronation as the Emperor of India in December 1911 at Strand Road near We ...

'' (1957), ''

Yahudi Ki Ladki ''Yahudi Ki Ladki'' (The Jew's Daughter) is a historical Urdu play by Agha Hashar Kashmiri, on the theme of persecution of Jews by the Romans. It was first published in 1913. The play became his best known work, and a classic in Parsi-Urdu theat ...

'' (1957) and ''

Passport A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that certifies a person's identity and nationality for international travel. A passport allows its bearer to enter and temporarily reside in a foreign country, access local aid ...

'' (1961) were massive hits. He had a spate of releases in the second half of the 1950s. He did not enjoy as much success in the 1960s, though ''

Ghoonghat A ghoonghat (''ghunghat'', ''ghunghta'', ''ghomta'', ''orhni'', ''odani'', ''laaj'', ''chunari'', ''jhund'', ''kundh'') is a headcovering or headscarf, worn primarily in the Indian subcontinent, by some married Hindu, Jain, and Sikh women to co ...

'' (1960), ''

Aarti ''Arti'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate Hindu deities, deities. ''Arti'' also refers t ...

'' (1962) & ''

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...

'' (1963) were successful. He worked with

Meena Kumari Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; 1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Known as "The Tragedy Queen", she is regarded among the finest and greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinem ...

in seven films; '' Adil-E-Jahangir'', ''Bandhan (1956 film)'', '' Chitralekha'', ''

Bahu Begum ''Bahu Begum'' is a 1967 Hindi film directed by M. Sadiq, and starring Pradeep Kumar, Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar. The film has music by Roshan and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. This film is known for songs, "Hum Intezaar Karenge Tera Qayamat ...

'' (1967), ''

Bheegi Raat ''Bheegi Raat'' () is a 1965 in film, 1965 Bollywood film produced and directed by Kalidas. The film was a semi hit at the box office. Roshan (music director), Roshan was the music director. Hit songs from the movie include'' 'Dil Jo Na Keh Sa ...

'', ''

'' and ''Noorjehan''; and with Mala Sinha in eight films; ''

Naya Zamana ''Naya Zamana'' () is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language film produced and directed by Pramod Chakrovorty. The film stars included Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Ashok Kumar, Mehmood, Pran, Lalita Pawar and Aruna Irani. The music is by S. D. Burman. It ...

'', ''Hamlet'', '' Baadshah'', ''Detective (1958 movie)'', ''Fashion (1959 film)'', ''

Ek Shola ''Ek Shola'' is a 1958 Hindi film starring Pradeep Kumar and Mala Sinha. Soundtrack External links * 1956 films 1950s Hindi-language films Films scored by Madan Mohan Indian black-and-white films Indian romantic comedy films 1956 roma ...

'', ''Duniya Na Maane'', and ''Mitti Mein Sona''. He also worked with the legendary Bengali actor and matinee idol

Uttam Kumar Uttam Kumar (born Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay; 3 September 1926 – 24 July 1980), widely known as Mahanayak (), was an Indian film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema ...

in ''Grihadaha'' in 1967 which was produced by Uttam himself and then he worked in '' Plot No 5.'' He did not get to act with the newer heroines of the 1960s such as Sadhana,

Saira Banu Saira Banu (born 23 August 1944) is an Indian actress who mainly worked in Hindi films. Regarded amongst the finest actors of Hindi cinema, she was among the most popular actresses of the 1960s and early 1970s. Banu received four Filmfare Award ...

Babita Babita Shivdasani Kapoor (née Babita Hari Shivdasani; born 20 April 1947),

Sharmila Tagore Sharmila Tagore (; born 8 December 1944) also known by her married name Begum Ayesha Sultana, is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi cinema, Hindi and Cinema of West Bengal, Bengali films. Widely recognized as one of the gre ...

, though he did work with

Asha Parekh Asha Parekh (born 2 October 1942) is an Indian actress, film director, and producer who worked in Hindi films. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses of Hindi cinema, Parekh has worked in more than 85 films, in a career spanning over four d ...

in ''

'' and ''Meri Surat Teri Aankhen'' and with Waheeda Rehman in ''Rakhi'' (1962). In 1969, he moved to character roles with ''Sambandh'' and ''

Mehboob Ki Mehndi ''Mehboob Ki Mehndi'' is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film produced and directed by H. S. Rawail. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Leena Chandavarkar. The music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. It was b ...

'', but did not have many visible roles until ''

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...

'', which won several

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

and was his debut Hollywood movie. Some of his later films include '' Jaanwar'' and ''

Razia Sultan Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din ( Hindustani (Hindi): रज़िय्यत उद दुन्या व उद दीन, ; 1205 – 15 October 1240, ), popularly known as Razia Sultan, was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the northern part ...

'' in 1983.

Awards

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

Death

Pradeep Kumar died in

Calcutta Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...

on 27 October 2001, at the age of 76. His daughter

Beena Banerjee Beena Banerjee (born 19 February 1943), also known as Beena or Bina, is an Indian actress in Bengali and Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustan ...

plays character roles in movies and TV serials including ''

Uttaran ''Uttaran'' () is an Indian soap opera that aired on Colors TV from 1 December 2008 to 16 January 2015. The third longest-running Indian television series of Colors TV, it was produced under Film Farm India. It stars Tina Datta, Rashami Desai ...

''; her son Siddharth Banerjee worked as assistant director in

Sajid Khan Sajid Khan (28 December 1951 – 22 December 2023) was an Indian actor and singer. Born into poverty in the Bombay slums, he became the adopted son of Bollywood filmmaker Mehboob Khan, founder of Mehboob Studios. He worked in a handful of Indi ...

's ''

Housefull 2 ''Housefull 2'', sometimes called ''Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen'', is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film written and directed by Sajid Khan. Brothers Sajid Samji and Farhad Samji co-wrote the film under their duo Sajid-Farhad, ...

'' (2012) and '' Himmatwala'' (2013).

Filmography

Hindi

Bengali

References

External links

An article from rediff.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Pradeep 1925 births 2001 deaths 20th-century Indian male actors Indian male film actors Male actors in Bengali cinema Male actors in Hindi cinema Male actors from Kolkata