Prakash Mehra
Born(1939-07-13)13 July 1939
Bijnor, United Provinces, British India
Died17 May 2009(2009-05-17) (aged 69)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Prakash Mehra (13 July 1939 – 17 May 2009) was a legendary Indian film director and producer[1] known for his work in Hindi films. He was one of the pioneers of masala films, along with Nasir Hussain, and Manmohan Desai.[2] His collaborations with the actor Amitabh Bachchan resulted in several box office blockbusters and classics.

Early life & Career

Born on 13 July 1939 in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Mehra started in the late 1950s as a production controller. In 1968, he directed Shashi Kapoor who played a double role in Haseena Maan Jayegi. . In 1973, he produced and directed Zanjeer. This hit with Amitabh Bachchan started a long term and successful collaboration that spanned 7 more films, 6 being blockbuster hits: Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Lawaaris, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi. Their final collaboration was Jaadugar which was a flop and ended their successful streak. Zanjeer was the film credited with launching the career of Bachchan as a lead actor and their final film together Jaadugar.

Prakash Mehra also directed & produced Zindagi Ek Jua with actor Anil Kapoor in 1991, which was not a commercial success. In 1996, he introduced veteran actor Raaj Kumar's son Puru Raaj Kumar in Bal Bramhachari which was also unsuccessful. This was the last film he directed. He also produced the movie Dalaal with Mithun Chakraborty, in the mid-90s, which was a box-office moneymaker. Mehra received a lifetime achievement award from the India Motion Picture Directors Association (IMPDA) in 2006. He also received Lifetime Achievement as Producer from IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association) on 19 September 2008.

Prakash Mehra was one of the first Bombay directors to try venture into Hollywood. In the late eighties he tried a joint venture to make the movie The God Connection with Frank Yandolino. The movie was to include Hollywood actors such as Charles Bronson among others, but the project though funded heavily initially, never came to fruition.

Mehra died on 17 May 2009 in Mumbai of pneumonia and multiple organ failure.[1]

Filmography

Year Film Director Producer Notes
1962 Professor AS a controller of production
1965 Purnima Yes Assistant Drictor & lyrics one song
1968 Haseena Maan Jayegi Yes
1971 Mela Yes
1972 Samadhi Yes
1972 Aan Baan Yes Yes
1973 Zanjeer Yes Yes
1973 Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara Yes Yes
1974 Haath Ki Safai Yes Yes
1976 Khalifa Yes Yes
1976 Hera Pheri Yes Yes
1977 Khoon Pasina Yes
1978 Aakhri Daku Yes Yes
1978 Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Yes Yes
1980 Jwalamukhi Yes Yes
1980 Desh Drohee Yes Yes
1981 Laawaris Yes Yes
1982 Namak Halaal Yes Yes
1984 Sharaabi Yes Yes
1986 Chameli Ki Shaadi Yes
1987 Muqaddar Ka Faisla Yes Yes
1988 Mohabbat Ke Dushman Yes Yes
1989 Jaadugar Yes Yes
1992 Zindagi Ek Juaa Yes Yes
1993 Dalaal Yes
1996 Bal Bramhachari Yes Yes

References

  1. 1 2 "Producer-director Prakash Mehra passes away". The Times of India. PTI. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Khalifa (1976)". The Hindu. 17 February 2017.


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