Trivia

Father-in-law of Sharman Joshi.

Father in law to Vikas Bhalla.

Brother in law to Raj Kapoor. Chopra's wife is the younger sister of Raj Kapoors wife Krishna.

Hindi movie star of the 70s and 80s.

He continued working with TOI, when already he was part of box-office hits like Nishan, Bahu Beti ,Sikandar E Azam in 1965 and Sagaai, Mera Saaya in 1966.Before joining TOI he had done the Punjabji films National Award winning Chaudhary Karnail Singh and later Sapni(1963) - both of which were successful and flops like Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh , Poonam Ki Raat, Main Shadi Karne Chala ,Dr. Vidya.

Prem Chopra married Uma, who is the younger sister of Krishna Kapoor, Prem-Nath and Rajendranath., in 1969 and they have three daughters: Rakita, Punita and Prerana.

Prem Chopra was born in Lahore and brought up in Shimla. His father wanted him to be a doctor or be an IAS officer, but Chopra pursued Bachelors in arts in College and graduated from Punjab University.

In Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi (1964), starring Sadhna and Manoj Kumar in lead roles, Chopra gave an enthralling performance and this was turning point in his career.

After Who Kaun Thi, he also gave excellent performances in Prithviraj Kapoor starer Sikandar E Azam (1965), Manoj Kumar's Shaheed (1965) and Teesri Manzil (1966).

It was on sets of Woh Kaun Thi which had Manoj Kumar as lead hero where Prem met Manoj for the very first time. Manoj offered Prem a positive role in Shaheed, for which Manoj was the presenter.

Prem Chopra regards his best roles were in Chopra regards his best roles and costumes were in Shaheed (1965), Sikander-e-Azam (1965), Kunwari (1966), Upkaar (1967),Do Raaste (1969), Purab Aur Pachhim(1970), Kati Patang (1970), Keemat(1973), Ajanabee(1974),Prem Nagar(1974), Kaala Sona (1975), Mehbooba(1976), Do Anjaane (1976),Jaadu Tona (1977), Tyaag (1977), Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Souten(1983), Oonche Log (1985), Phool Bane Angaarey (1991), Bewaffa Se Waffa(1992).

After the partition of India, his family moved to Shimla, where he was brought up. His father desired that Prem be a doctor or otherwise a Indian Administrative officer.

Prem Chopra was born to a Hindu Punjabi family in Lahore on 23 September 1935 to Ranbirlal and Rooprani Chopra. He was the third of six children. His father worked at the attorney-general's office.

After Teesri Manzil and Upkaar, Prem Chopra was flooded with offers of films as a villain. After the success of Upkaar in 1967, he left The Times of India and decided to be an actor for rest of his life.He worked in TOI from 1965-66 while working in some films which would become hits after their release - like Nishan, Bahu Beti ,Sikandar E Azam in 1965 and Sagaai, Mera Saaya in 1966.

Prem Chopra was the regular in villainous role in the films with Superstar Rajesh Khanna in the lead role from 1969-1991 from Doli(1969) till Ghar Parivaar(1991). The duo of Prem and Rajesh Khanna acted in 19 films together and had 15 of them as box office hits and were very close friends in real life till Khanna's death.

Prem Chopra's debut film was Punjabi movie Chaudhari Karnail Singh, was a box-office hit, where Prem Chopra played the lead hero and this movie won National Film Award for best Punjabi Film in 1961. The story was about a Muslim boy in love with a Hindu girl.

Prem Chopra was paid Rs 2500 for his role in Chaudhari Karnail Singh. The movie took almost three years to complete.

Shimla had a strong theater movement in the period 1957-1961 and Chopra reveled in it. He watched a lot of Hindi and English movies and, after graduation, came to Bombay in the early 1960's and joined the Times of India's circulation department.

Prem Chopra considers his favorite actors to be Balraj Sahni, Pran, Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor.

Right from the late 60's his closest friends from film industry were Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Ranjeet, Sujith Kumar, Asrani whereas Rakesh Roshan and Jeetendra became his close friends since early 80s.

Jagjit Sethi, a Punjabi producer, gave him the break as Jabeen's hero in Chaudhary Karnail Singh, Punjabi Film, which won the National award. A stranger saw Prem Chopra, while traveling by the suburban train, and asked Prem if he was interested in joining films and Prem replied casually yes after which the stranger took Prem to Ranjit Studios where the producers of Chaudhari Karnail Singh was in search of a hero.

In late 60's as the reigning villain Pran was shifting to character roles, demand for Prem Chopra as the main villain grew from 1965-67 onwards and increased resulting in Prem Chopra's peak period as a villain, which lasted from 1969-1994.

From late 60's, after Teesri Manzil and Who Kaun Thi, covers of many magazine came with a heading next to Prem Chopra's image --Man with a hero's face becomes villain.

Prem Chopra was among the first to herald the concept of good-looking villains and also was among the few who set a trend of the villain being not just one who spews the stereotype venom or mouths the expected dialogs, seething with anger and grinding his teeth.

After completing his graduation he came to Mumbai and stayed at various guest-houses in Colaba,after-which he got a job in circulation department of a publication house TOI.

Prem Chopra was also honored with the "Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award" in 1998, the "Lions Club Award", "Ashoka Award", "Ashirwad Award" and the "Punjabi Kala Sangam Award". In 2004, Prem Chopra won the "Legend of Indian Cinema" Award at Atlantic City (United States).

A Bachelor's degree in arts fetched Prem Chopra a job in circulation department at "Times of India" in the early 60's at Bombay. Simultaneously, he kept visiting studios and tried to get a break in films.

In 1961, he finally got his break in a Punjabi film Chaudhary Karnail Singh , which won a National Award and got Prem the recognition he wanted. He then gave a commendable performance in another Punjabi film Sapni (1963).

Prem Chopra made his debut in Bollywood with the Bharat Bhushan-starer Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh in 1960, which didn't do well.

Prem did not consider acting as a full time profession in the early 60's and he kept trying to get roles for him in films due to his passion for acting. Prem had done 6 movies before Woh Kaun Thi, a box-office hit of 1964, had released.Those 6 movies included 2 Punjabi hit films Chaudhry Karnail Singh and Sapni and rest 4 flop Hindi films.

Prem has since 1966 been a leading villain in Hindi films and his peak period as main villain in Hindi films was from 1967-1994. In 70's he got plum roles as a villain often with Sujith Kumar and Ranjeet.

Prem Chopra's daughter Punita is married to actor Vikas Bhalla while Prerana Chopra is married to actor Sharman Joshi and Rakita is married to publicity designer Rahul Nanda.

Prem Chopra represented India as Grand Marshall in Chicago on August 15th, 1993 during the Independence Day Parade. There he was honored by the Chicago Mayor as the 'Honarary Citizen of Chicago' and felicitated by the Federation of Indian Association with an award for outstanding contribution to humanitarian causes and enriching the Indian community in India and abroad.

Prem Chopra married Uma, who is the sister of actor Raj Kapoor's wife Krishna and Uma is also sister of actors Prem Nath and Rajendranath. They have three daughters: Rakita, Punita and Prerana.

Prem also mouthed dialogs in the song Lo Mera Pyar Lelo from Nafrat in 1973 with Asha Bhosle and Kab Se Ye Dil Hai Pyaasa from Mera Muqaddar in 1988.

Prem Chopra married Uma in 1969, who is the younger sister of Krishna Kapoor, Prem Nath and Rajendra Nath and they have three daughters: Rakita, Punita and Prerana.

After 1999, he appeared as a villain in very few films. He took up positive character roles from 1999 and started getting more positive roles from 2005. His screen space was reduced in the films after 2005.

Prem Chopra worked with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero in 19 films - Doli, Do Raaste, Kati Patang, Daag, Ajanabee, Prem Nagar, Maha Chor, Mehbooba, Tyaag, Bebus, Aanchal, Jaanwar, Souten, Maqsad, Awaaz, Shatru , Oonche Log, Waapsi, Ghar Parivaar.15 of 17 released were hits and 2 film Waapsi and Bebus are unreleased.

Prem Chopra was born to a Hindu Punjabi family in Lahore on 23 September 1935 to Ranbirlal and Rooprani Chopra. He was was the third of six children. His father worked at the attorney-general's office. After the partition of India, his family moved to Shimla, where he was raised. His father wanted Prem to be either an Indian Adminitrative Service Officer or a doctor.

Brother of Bollywood producer/actor Kailash Chopra.

Prem Chopra took part in college dramatics.

During shooting of Main Shadi Karne Chala, director said Prem that he become a villain, as fewer people wanted to play the nasty and competition faded beyond Pran and Jeevan.

Following foot-steps of villainous characters played earlier by Pran and Jeevan in 1960's, both of whom had habit of to introduce some subtle humor into their evil roles, Prem Chopra from 1966, decided to follow concept of a villain who makes you laugh without losing the actual depth of his evil designs.

Prem played positive roles with large screen space in few films in 60's to 90's like in Shaheed, Kuwari, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo, Hulchul, Jadu Tona, Prem Pratigya. Later after 1999 Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Koi Mil Gaya, Bunty aur Bubli, Virrudh, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, Dhamaal, Rocket Singh, Delhi 6, Daddy Cool had him in positive roles.

His Hindi films debut was with Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh starring Bharat Bhushan in the lead which was a flop. But he got recognition with Punjabi hit films like his own debut Punjabi film the National Award Winner Chaudhry Karnail Singh in 1960 and the hit film Sapni in 1963. But Prem Chopra became famous all over India only from his 7th film Woh Kaun Thi and post Teesri Manzl(his 13th film) he decided to be an actor for whole his life.

Even in 1990's he played the role of main villain to younger generation heroes like in Jagriti to Salman Khan, in Aflatoon to Akshay Kumar, in Anari no. 1, Dulhe Raja to Govinda and later played villain in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! In 2005 where Shahid Kapoor was the hero.

Prem Chopra after success of his lead Punjabi role in Chaudhry Karnail Singh, Sapni and then tasting success in character roles in Hindi in Woh Kaun Thi, Nishan,Sikandar E Azam, with positive roles in Shaheed and then started becoming more and more popular as the 'bad' guy with Sunil Dutt-Sadhna starer Mera Saaya (1966), Teesri Manzil, Manoj Kumar's Upkar (1967), becoming hits.Only from 1966, he became popular as bad guy in films among the producers and directors who decided that for bad man's role Prem must be regularly preferred from 1967.

In very few films in 70s and 80s Prem Chopra played secondary villain to main villainous characters of Ajit, Madan Puri, Pran, Jeevan and in late 80's he played second fiddle to Amrish Puri only in few films like Awaaz, Shahenshah. After Mr. India in 1987, Prem Chopra was asked in few films like Shahenshah, Aaj Ka Arjun to play Amirsh Puri's henchman but Prem Chopra accepted it without ego-hassles. Amirsh Puri had played Prem Chopra's henchman in Dostana, Imman Dharam and minuscule role in Naseeb. Otherwise in majority of the films from 1969-1991 - Prem Chopra was the main villain.Infact in Rajesh Khanna's films from 1969-1991, Prem Chopra was always the main villain and was never given henchman's role except in Awaaz.

Prem Chopra played the main lead in 1970 box-office hit small budget comedy film Samaj Ko Badal Dalo as lead hero and was paired opposite Tamil actresses Kanchana and Shardha. The song sung by Rafi and pictured on Prem Chopra -Tum Apni Saheli Ko Itna Bata Do Ki Usse Koi Pyar Karne Laga Hai from this 1970 film continues to be popular.

Starred in Dinesh Raaja Combine Films " CBI Officer"( 1997) Starring Prem Chopra, Johnny Lever, Kiran Kumar,Pramod Moutho, Ishrat Ali, Music by Dalip Sen Sameer Sen, Directed by K. Arjuna.