Born: 4 January 1925, West Bengal
Died: 27 October 2001, Kolkata
Pradeep Kumar was the first choice to play prince/king in numerous Hindi films.
Born to orthodox brahmin parents in West Bengal, Pradeep bided his time till he was 17 years old before he announced his decision to pursue an acting career. Despite his father's disapproval, Pradeep began acting on stage. During one of his performances, renowned filmmaker Debaki Bose spotted him and cast him in a Bengali film, Alaknanda (1947).
Encouraged, Pradeep moved to Mumbai and found a job in Filmistan Studio. He brushed up on his Hindi and learnt Urdu in a bid to make an impression in his first Hindi film, Anand Math (1952). In the next two years, Pradeep's career escalated to the top with two hugely successful musical hits -- the Bina Rai-starrer Anarkali (1953) and the Vyjayanthimala-starrer Nagin (1954). The songs of both films (Nagin had as many as 12) had audiences transfixed.
He went on a signing spree (in 1956, he had 10 releases) and inked deals with V Shantaram (Subah Ka Tara) and Raj Kapoor (Jagte Raho).
All the top-notch heroines of the 1950s -- Nimmi (Jayshree), Nargis (Adalat), Nutan (Heer), Meena Kumari (Bandhan) -- were paired with Pradeep.
After Rajhath (1956), the actor tried desperately to make a hit pair with the beauteous Madhubala. They did as many as five other films together --- Yahudi Ki Ladki (1957), Gateway Of India (1957), Police (1958), Mahlon Ke Khwaab (1960) and Passport (1961)
His pairing with Bina Rai was very successful, first with Ghunghat (1960) and more decisively with Taj Mahal (1963). Pradeep's career got a further fillip with Rajshri's social, Aarti. Meena Kumari and Pradeep played lovers who bond together because of their common desire to serve the poor. But their love story comes under a cloud when a rich, unscrupulous doctor (played by the late Ashok Kumar) is irretrievably drawn towards Meena Kumari. Aarti's success ensured that Pradeep and Meena worked unceasingly in a series of films.
Pradeep had not signed a single film with the new breed of successful heroines of the 1960s like Sadhana, Saira Banu and Sharmila Tagore and this was his biggest mistake. He suddenly found himself without a rudder.
He lived a life removed from the spotlight and died a quiet death on October 28, 2001, at the age of 76.
Pradeep Kumar's famous songs
Died: 27 October 2001, Kolkata
Pradeep Kumar was the first choice to play prince/king in numerous Hindi films.
Born to orthodox brahmin parents in West Bengal, Pradeep bided his time till he was 17 years old before he announced his decision to pursue an acting career. Despite his father's disapproval, Pradeep began acting on stage. During one of his performances, renowned filmmaker Debaki Bose spotted him and cast him in a Bengali film, Alaknanda (1947).
Encouraged, Pradeep moved to Mumbai and found a job in Filmistan Studio. He brushed up on his Hindi and learnt Urdu in a bid to make an impression in his first Hindi film, Anand Math (1952). In the next two years, Pradeep's career escalated to the top with two hugely successful musical hits -- the Bina Rai-starrer Anarkali (1953) and the Vyjayanthimala-starrer Nagin (1954). The songs of both films (Nagin had as many as 12) had audiences transfixed.
He went on a signing spree (in 1956, he had 10 releases) and inked deals with V Shantaram (Subah Ka Tara) and Raj Kapoor (Jagte Raho).
All the top-notch heroines of the 1950s -- Nimmi (Jayshree), Nargis (Adalat), Nutan (Heer), Meena Kumari (Bandhan) -- were paired with Pradeep.
After Rajhath (1956), the actor tried desperately to make a hit pair with the beauteous Madhubala. They did as many as five other films together --- Yahudi Ki Ladki (1957), Gateway Of India (1957), Police (1958), Mahlon Ke Khwaab (1960) and Passport (1961)
His pairing with Bina Rai was very successful, first with Ghunghat (1960) and more decisively with Taj Mahal (1963). Pradeep's career got a further fillip with Rajshri's social, Aarti. Meena Kumari and Pradeep played lovers who bond together because of their common desire to serve the poor. But their love story comes under a cloud when a rich, unscrupulous doctor (played by the late Ashok Kumar) is irretrievably drawn towards Meena Kumari. Aarti's success ensured that Pradeep and Meena worked unceasingly in a series of films.
Pradeep had not signed a single film with the new breed of successful heroines of the 1960s like Sadhana, Saira Banu and Sharmila Tagore and this was his biggest mistake. He suddenly found himself without a rudder.
He lived a life removed from the spotlight and died a quiet death on October 28, 2001, at the age of 76.
Pradeep Kumar's famous songs
Yeh vaada karo chaand
Ab kya misaal doon
Jo vaada kiya
Dil jo na keh saka
Jis dil mein basa tha
Hum intezaar karenge
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