Prakash Mehra: A Profile

Spicezee Bureau

Legendary Bollywood producer-director Prakash Mehra, who passed away in a hospital in Mumbai on Sunday, will always be remembered for his exceptional contribution to Hindi cinema. The 69-year-old filmmaker, who died of pneumonia and multiple organ failure, breathed his last at 7.50 am on Sunday. He will be cremated at the Juhu crematorium. Mehra is survived by two sons - Sumeet and Amit. Born in Bijnore, Uttar Pradesh, Mehra began his career as a production controller in the late 50s and later turned director with super hit film ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi’ (1968) starring Shashi Kapoor, followed by the 1971 hit ‘Mela’, starring Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan. His next was hit ‘Samadhi’ (1972) with Dharmendra. Prakash Mehra is best known for being the man behind megastar Amitabh Bachchan. He helped Big B strike gold at the Box Office with 1973 action movie ‘Zanjeer’. The success of the film made Mehra a renowned director and also established Amitabh as the `angry young man` of Hindi film industry. After the super success of ‘Zanjeer’, the top director-actor duo team later teamed up for some big hits like ‘Hera Pheri’ (1976), ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ (1978), ‘Laawaris’ (1981), ‘Namak Halal’ (1982), ‘Sharabi’ (1984). And their last film together was ‘Jaadugar’ in 1989. It was being believed that the failure of their last film spoiled the relationship between Mehra and Bachchan. But Amitabh put end to all such rumours by visiting the filmmaker while he was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. "Prakash Mehra, the director of some of my most significant and most successful films, lies in the ICU. When I went to him, he had difficulty in recognising me. It is most depressing to see my contemporaries in this way. This wizard of a director, now lying inane and without response, eyes open but closed for all purposes, ventilator breathing for him - just so unimaginable," Amitabh had posted after his visit on his blog. His last directed film Bal Brahmachari (1996) was the launch pad for eccentric actor Raaj Kumar’s son Puru Raajkumar. His last produced film was the Rekha starrer Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao (2001). In 2006, India Motion Picture Directors Association (IMPDA) honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement and in 2008 he was awarded by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association. He is also known for collaborating with director Hollywood filmmaker Frank Yandolino for ‘The God Connection’ in the late 1980s. But the project never took off. Filmography Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968) Aakhri Daku (1970) Mela (1971) Samadhi (1972) Zanjeer (1973) Haath Ki Safai (1974) Hera Pheri (1976) Muqaddar Ka Sikander(1978) Laawaris (1981) Namak Halaal (1982) Sharaabi (1984) Jaadugar (1989) Zindagi Ek Jua (1992) Dalaal (Producer only) (1993) Bal Brahmachari (1996)