Om Prakash

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Name	Om Prakash
Birthname	Om Prakash Chibber
Birthdate	19 December 1919
Birthplace	Jammu
Deathdate	21 February 1998 (aged 78)
Deathplace	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor
Yearsactive	1942-1990

Om Prakash (19 December 1919 – 21 February 1998) was an Indian character actor. He was born in Jammu as Om Prakash Chibber. He used to play the role of kamla in stage play by the famous Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj koliwada. Starting his career in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of the elite of the film industry in the '50s, '60s, '70s, and to some extent '80s.Some of his performances were so memorable, the lead actor in the film attributed the success of the film to him.

Om Prakash played the leading man in films like Dus Lakh, Annadata and Charandas.His pivotal roles in the films Dil Daulat Duniya ,Chupke Chupke, Julie, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Pyar Kiye Jaa and Buddha Mil Gaya are considered to be among his best along with Daddu in Namak Halaal and De Silva in Zanjeer. He is known for his roles in comedy films. One of his best performances in his later years were Naukar Biwi Ka , Sharaabi(1984) and Chameli Ki Shaadi, where he played a role that was pivotal for the movie.

Early life and education

Om Prakash Chibber was born in Jammu on 19 December 1919. He was fascinated by theatre, music and films. He started taking lessons in classical music when he was just twelve and was recognised as a master in no time.

Career

He joined All India Radio some time in 1937 on a monthly salary of Rs 25. He was known as “Fateh Din”, a radio personality and his programmes made him popular all over Lahore and Punjab.

He was regaling people at a wedding one day when the well-known film-maker Dalsukh Pancholi spotted him and asked him to see him in his Lahore office. Pancholi gave Om Prakash his first break as an actor in a film called Daasi. He was paid only Rs 80 but the film earned him the kind of recognition that would give him a means of livelihood for a lifetime. It was his first major role but he had already played a bit role in Sharif Badmash, a silent film. He followed his good work in Daasi with Pancholi’s Dhamki and Aayee Bahar and became a force to reckon with.

Soon after the Partition he came to Delhi and then to Bombay (now Mumbai). It was Dr. BR Chopra who had noticed his talent when he (Dr Chopra) was a film journalist and critic who urged him to carry on with his acting career. He was sure Om Prakash had the talent to prove himself as a versatile actor. The actor had to face some struggle initially. He got his first big break in Bombay as a villain in a film called Lakhpati. It won him acclaim and got him more “meaty” roles in films like Lahore, Char Din and Raat Ki Rani. It was during this phase in his career that he did Azaad with Dilip Kumar, Sargam with Raj Kapoor and Miss Mary, Asha and Manmauji with Kishore Kumar followed by Howrah Bridge with Ashok Kumar and then Tere Ghar Ke Samne with Dev Anand. He was marked out for his performance in both films in spite of the presence of powerful star personas like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar and Dev Anand. He had developed a style of his own, a style which was going to take him places, make him a big name in the world of film entertainment for the next forty years.

Om Prakash soon became a household name. He was good in almost every character he played. He was the comedian, the family man burdened with problems, the munshi, the alcoholic fallen on bad days because of the evil designs of the villain, the nagged husband, the old man in love, the wily politician and the big brother with a heart of gold. He played an assortment of characters with the same ease and had some of the best directors opting for him every time they had a role which they felt only he could play.

A versatile actor like Om Prakash with 307 films to his credit. One can never forget his comic performances in Howrah Bridge, Dus Lakh (he won his first major award for this performance), Pyar Kiye Jaa, Padosan, Sadhu Aur Shaitaan, Dil Daulat Duniya, Chupke Chupke, Namak Halaal, Gol Maal and Chameli Ki Shaadi. His performance as Dilip Kumar’s elder brother in Gopi gave his career a new impetus. He proved that he could play mature roles with the same ease, the same depth — films like Chacha Zindabad, Khandan, Haryali Aur Raasta, Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraayi, Annadata, Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati, Amar Prem, Aankh Micholi, Ek Hasina Do Diwane, Anuraag, Zanjeer, Sagina, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Loafer, Roti, Julie, Bandish, Sharaabi and Laawaris.

Om Prakash was one of the most loved and respected father figures in the industry. His ready wit, his earthy humour, his lack of airs, his disdain for hypocrites and hypocrisy, his benevolent nature in helping others to make the best of life and his eternal optimism and romantic nature made him a man in a class by himself, a cut or rather several cuts above the rest.

Later years

He lived in Union Park, Chembur, a suburb of Mumbai. The actor who was always so full of life was still full of life till just two days before his death. He knew he was not well. He knew he was suffering from various complications but he never gave up his zest for life till his heart betrayed him. He kept calling friends to play a game of rummy or just chat. He had an office at the Roop Tara Studios which was only used for “rummy sessions” and “chat sessions”. Then, some years ago, he shifted his office to the suburbs to make it more convenient for his friends.

Family

His wife Prabha predeceased him. He had no biological children of his own. He lived with his younger brother Bakshi Ram Prakash Chibber who had five children who lived with Om Prakash in the same household and he treated them as his children.

Illness and death

He attended this office regularly till his health started failing him. He was confined to his bungalow (next to Ashok Kumar’s bungalow). He suffered his first heart attack in his own bedroom. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he suffered a second heart attack and went into a coma from which he never came out. He was declared dead at 1.30 pm on February 21. He died at age 78 in Mumbai, India of a heart attack. The news spread fast and the industry was shocked and stunned because he was the kind of man who could not be easily associated with something so sombre and solemn like death.

Filmography

Ghar Ki Izzat (1994) .... Mona's poor dad

Pratikar (1991) .... Shankar Prasad

Pati Patni Aur Tawaif (1990) .... Tarachand

Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990)

Halaal Ki Kamai (1988)

Bees Saal Baad (1988) .... Nisha's Father

Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988) .... Pandit

Hawalaat (1987) .... Raghu (old man, drug addict prisoner)

''Rahi (1987)

Insaniyat Ke Dushman (1987) .... Saxena

Imandar (1987)

Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987) .... Dashrath

Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987)

Karamdaata (1986) .... Khan (doctor)

Bhagwan Dada (1986) .... Drunken husband

Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986) .... Mastram Pehalwan

Kaanch Ki Deewar (1986)

Alag Alag (1985) .... Khan

Meetha Zehar (1985)

Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985) .... Mr. Saxena

Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasan (1984) .... Nawab

Raaj Tilak (1984) .... Sardar Zuberi

Raja Aur Rana (1984) .... Imran Khan

Sharaabi (1984) .... Munshi Phoolchand

Rang Birangi (1983) .... Retired Judge Ajit Bannerjee

Naukar Biwi Ka (1983) .... Jagirdar Bishamber Nath

Pyaasi Aankhen (1983)

Shubh Kaamna (1983) .... Vithalbhai.

Prem Rog (1982) .... Panditji

Dharam Kanta (1982) .... Fakira

Badle Ki Aag (1982) (uncredited)

Dil-E-Nadan (1982) .... Asha's dad

Johnny I Love You (1982)

Namak Halaal (1982) .... Dasrath Singh (Daddu)

Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (1981)

Itni Si Baat (1981) .... Kandilal

Biwi-O-Biwi (1981) (uncredited) .... Chander's Father

Naram Garam (1981) .... Swamiji (Special appearance)

Aas Paas (1981) .... Seema's Father

Dhanwan (1981)

Laawaris (1981) .... Dr. Goel

Sharada (1981)

Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) .... Ustad, Prisoner #203 (Guest Appearance)

Do Premee (1980) .... Retd. Col. Bhagwant Singh

Abdullah (1980) .... Pandit

Bandish (1980/I) .... Kishan's dad

Gol Maal (1979) .... Senior Police Officer

Naya Daur (1978)

Parmatma (1978) (voice) (uncredited) .... Hotel Clerk

Aakhri Goli (1977)

Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka (1977) .... Mr. Jamunadas

Alaap (1977) .... Triloki Prasad

Saheb Bahadur (1977)

Maa (1976) .... Gopaldas (Nimmi's dad)

Julie (1975) .... Maurice (Julie's Father)

Aandhi (1975) .... Lallu Lal (Campaign Manager)

Chupke Chupke (1975) .... Raghavendra Sharma (Raghav)

Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty (1975)

Khushboo (1975)

Sunehra Sansar (1975)

Roti (1974) .... Lalaji

International Crook (1974) .... Havaldar Rao

Do Chattane (1974)

Chowkidar (1974) .... Shambhu

Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974)

Sagina (1974)

Zanjeer (1973) .... De Silva

Loafer (1973) .... Gopinath

Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973) .... Preeti's father

Phagun (1973)

Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) .... Shyamlal

Annadata (1972) .... Ambarprasad

Apna Desh (1972) .... Dharamdas

Dil Daulat Duniya (1972)

Ek Hasina Do Diwane (1972)

Mom Ki Gudiya (1972)

Amar Prem (1971) .... Natwarlal

Buddha Mil Gaya (1971) .... Girdharilal Sharma

Paraya Dhan (1971) .... Gangaram

Parwana (1971) .... Ashok Varma

Aansoo Aur Muskan (1970) .... Anwar

Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970)

Gopi (1970) .... Girdharilal

Mera Naam Joker (1970) .... Dr. Om Prakash (Gemini Circus) (Guest Appearance)

Purab Aur Pachhim (1970) .... (Guest Appearance)

Pushpanjali (1970) .... Major Bharti

Suhana Safar (1970)

Badi Didi (1969)

Chirag (1969) .... Dr. O.P. Chibber

Doli (1969) (as Om Parkash) .... Dwarka (Prem's dad)

Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969) .... Mama Ji/Choudhry Sahab

Kanyadaan (1969) .... Bansi

Pyaasi Sham (1969)

Sajan (1969)

Do Kaliyaan (1968) .... Kiran's Father

Ek Kali Muskai (1968)

Gauri (1968) .... Maniram

Man Ka Meet (1968)

Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) .... Dhand Melaram

Padosan (1968) .... Kunverji - friendly appearance

Parivaar (1968)

Sadhu Aur Shaitaan (1968) .... Sadhuram

Aman (1967) .... Hurato

Around the World (1967)

Laat Saheb (1967)

Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1966)

Dus Lakh (1966)

Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966)

Pati Patni (1966) .... Dhanprasad

Pyaar Kiye Jaa (1966) .... Ramlal

Khandaan (1965) .... Jeevandas Lal

Naya Kanoon (1965) .... Om Prakash Munshi

Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) .... Asha's dad

Door Ki Awaaz (1964)

Jahan Ara (1964)

Kaise Kahoon (1964)

Mera Qasoor Kya Hai (1964)

Raj Kumar (1964) .... Bimasal

Suhagan (1964) .... Dukhiram

Bharosa (1963) .... Laxmiprasad

Nartakee (1963) .... Seth. Jamna Das

Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963) .... Lala Jagannath, Rakesh's Father

Dil Tera Diwana (1962) .... Captain Dayaram

Half Ticket (1962)

Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) .... Joseph

Manmauji (1962)

Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961) .... Prabha's dad

Sanjog (1961)

Bindya (1960)

Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) .... Girdhari

Mehlon Ke Khwab (1960)

Chacha Zindabad (1959)

Kanhaiya (movie) (1959) .... Vedji

Pyar Ki Rahen (1959)

Baghi Sipahi (1958)

Howrah Bridge (1958) .... Shyamu, Tangewala

Police (1958)

Sohni Mahiwal (1958)

Aasha (1957) .... Hasmukhlal

Bhabhi (1957) .... Lata's father in law

Ek Jhalak (1957)

Gateway of India (1957)

Miss Mary (1957) .... Nakdau

Sharada (1957) .... Mohan (Guest Appearance)

Sheroo (1957)

Basant Bahar (1956) .... Narsin

Bhai Bhai (1956/II)

Dhake Ki Malmal (1956)

Shrimati 420 (1956)

Albeli (1955)

Azaad (1955) .... Cop

Bhagwat Mahima (1955)

Kundan (1955) (as Om Parkash) .... Uma's foster father

Lagan (1955)

Marine Drive (1955)

Musafirkhana (1955)

Pehli Jhalak (1955)

Chor Bazar (1954)

Danka (1954)

Dost (1954)

Kavi (1954)

Pooja (1954)

Aas (1953)

Chalis Baba Ek Chor (1953)

Ladki (1953) .... Hazurdas

Rail Ka Dibba (1953) .... Nirogi

Shikast (1953)

Anhonee (1952)

Ghungroo (1952)

Hamari Duniya (1952)

Poonam (1952)

Bahar (1951)

Khazana (1951)

Nazneen (1951)

Sargam (1950)

Bansaria (1949)

Char Din (1949)

Lahore (1949)

Naach (1949)

Raat Ki Rani (1949)

Sawan Bhadon (1949)

Zameen Aasmaan (1946)

External links

Category:1919 births Category:1998 deaths Category:Indian film actors Category:Punjabi people Category:Hindi film actors Category:People from Lahore Category:People from Jammu (city)