Omprakash Chhibber
Omprakash Chhibber ( popularly known as Omprakash) was a famous and very talented character actor in hindi films and was quite apt in playing light comedy roles to the joy and satisfaction of the audience. He was active in cinema from 1940s to 1994.
Omprakash Chhibber was born at Jammu in a effluent hindu Punjabi mohyal Brahmin family on 19.12.1919.
During his early adolescence, he got inclined towards theatre , arts and films and used to act in the local Ram leela shows during Dusserah. He had also started learning classical music at a young age .
He started his working career in 1937 with all india radio and soon with his programs , he became popular in then undivided Punjab .
He started his cinema career with Dalsukh Pancholi’s films Daasi , Dhamki and Aayee Bahar at lahore . After partition, he left lahore and came to Bombay for filmy career.
At bombay , his talent was spotted and his initial films were Jalsa (1948)
Ek Teri Nishani (1949)
Sawan Bhadon (1949)
Raat Ki Rani (1949)
Lahore (1949) and
Ek Teri Nishani (1949) .
Thereafter he continued getting roles in films till his last film – Ghar Ki Izzat in 1994.
His acting talent , versatility and maturity was well proved and appreciated earning him name, fame and popularity in numerous films .
Om Prakash was fair , tall and well built and had his own way of acting and a distinct voice . His style of delivering satirical ( उपहासात्मक ) dialogues was inimitable ( uncopiable ) .He was a versatile actor with about 310 films to his credit in his cinema career of 50 years from 1944 to 1994.
He was one of the most loved and respected father figures in the industry.
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 politican 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. He was an actor who could make any crying person laugh and if he played any serious and sad role on screen then the audience couldn’t stop their tears.
His performance as Dilip Kumar’s elder brother -Girdhari in 1970 film Gopi गोपी is considered one of his best in terms of acting . Critics still think he gave better performance in tragic scenes opposite Dilip Kumar who in his own words had openly revealed that “ He was only afraid once in his acting career and it was during film Gopi when Om Prakashji’s performance dominated that of mine “.
Similarly he very well played the role of shyamu Tangewala टाँगनेवाला in 1958 film Howrah bridge , as Girdhari in film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), as Gokulchand in hit film Dus Lakh दस लाख ( 1966) , as Sadhuram in film Sadhu Aur Shaitaan साधु और शैतान 1968) , as Mamaji of sunil dutt in film Padosan पड़ोसन (1968) , as Girdharilal Sharma in film Buddha Mil Gaya (1971) , as De Silva in hit film zanjeer (1973) starting Amitabh , as an anglo indian Railway driver – Maurice (Julie’s Father) in film Julie (1975) , as Barrister Jijaji in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directed super light comedy film
Chupke Chupke (1975) alongside Dharmendra and sharmila Tagore , as Dasrath Singh (Daddu) in 1982 film Namak halaal , as Panditji in Raj kapoor’s film Prem Rog प्रेम रोग ( 1982) ,as Munshi Phoolchand- in Amitabh bachchan starring film Sharaabi (1984) and as Mastram Pehalwan in film Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986) and so on .
Om Prakash had a special tuning with Amitabh Bachchan and both acted in several successful films starting from Zanjeer to Sharaabi.
OmPrakash also produced films like Sanjog (1961), Jahan Ara (1964) and Gateway of India (1957).
His last film – Bhai No -1 was released in 2000 after his death .
Om Prakash won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his film Dus lakhs in 1967 .
Om Prakash had two successive heart attacks , went in to coma and then expired on 21 February 1998 at lilavati hospital, Mumbai.
He left behind an indelible mark on the hindi silver screen with his variety of roles . He didn’t win awards but won the hearts of millions of his fans and audience. He will be remembered for a long time by cinema lovers .
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Four stars
His prominent films Omprakash acted in more than 300 films and some of his prominent films are :-
Dus lakh दस लाख
Khandan खानदान
Haryali Aur Raasta हरियाली और रास्ता
Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai दिल अपना और प्रीत पराई
Pati Patni पति पत्नी
Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare नींद हमारी ख्वाब तुम्हारे
Mere Hamdam Mere Dost मेरे हमदम मेरे दोस्त
Annadata, अन्नदाता
Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati, एक श्रीमान एक श्रीमती
Doli डोली
Chirag, चिराग
padosan पड़ोसन
Budha Mil gaya बुड्ढा मिल गया
Amar Prem अमर प्रेम
Aankh Micholi आंख मिचौली
Ek Hasina Do Diwane एक हसीना दो दीवाने
Anuraag अनुराग
Zanjeer ज़ंजीर
Sagina सगीना
Aa Gale Lag Jaa आ गले लग जा
Loafer लोफर
Roti रोटी
Julie जूली
Khushboo खुशबू
Lawaaris लावारिस
Gopi गोपी
Chupkey Chupkey चुपके-चुपके
Sharaabi शराबी
and Chameli Ki Shaadi
चमेली की शादी
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