Remembering Pradeep Kumar on his Death Anniversary

Hindi film actor Pradeep Kumar was born on 4 January 1925. He is remembered in Hindi cinema as an actor who entertained the audience with his historical characters in the 1950s and 60s.

In those days, whenever the filmmakers needed the role of a king, maharaja, prince or nawab for their films, they used to remember Pradeep Kumar.

The audience has not forgotten films like 'Anarkali', 'Taj Mahal', 'Bahu Begum' and 'Chitralekha' adorned with her excellent acting.

Born on January 4, 1925 in a Brahmin family in West Bengal, Sheetal Batawali alias Pradeep Kumar dreamed of becoming a film actor since childhood.

To fulfill this dream, he joined theater. However, his father did not agree to this. In 1944, he met director Devaki Bose who was impressed by Pradeep Kumar's performance in a play.

She saw a rising star in Pradeep Kumar and she offered him a chance to work in his Bengali film 'Alakh Nanda'.

Pradeep Kumar may not have been successful in making his mark as a hero from the film 'Alakh Nanda' but he started the journey of cine career as an actor. Meanwhile Pradeep Kumar acted in another Bangla film 'Bhuli Nai'.

The film celebrated Silver Jubilee. After this he also took his turn towards Hindi cinema.

In the year 1949, Pradeep Kumar came to Mumbai to fulfill his dream and started working as an assistant to cameraman Dhiren Dey.

From 1949 to 1952, he struggled to make his place in the film industry. Pradeep Kumar was so addicted to becoming a hero in films that he started getting education in Hindi and Urdu languages.

After the film 'Alakh Nanda', he went on accepting whatever role he got. Meanwhile, he acted in several films like Krishnaleela, Swami, Vishnupriya and Sandhya Belar Roopkatha but none of these films were successful at the box office.

Pradeep Kumar appeared in the role of lead actor for the first time in the film 'Anand Math' released in the year 1952.

Although there were also great actors like Prithviraj Kapoor in this film. Yet he managed to leave his acting mark on the audience.

After the success of this film, Pradeep Kumar was able to make his mark in the film industry as an actor.

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award-Artist Award in 1999. In 2001, Pradeep Kumar left the world at the age of 76 in Kolkata.