Prakash Mehra

Prakash Mehra (13 July 1939 – 17 May 2009) was an Indian film director and producer[1] known for his blockbuster Hindi films. He was one of the pioneers of masala films, along with Nasir Hussain, and Manmohan Desai. His collaborations with the actor Amitabh Bachchan resulted in several box office blockbusters and classics, due to which Mehra was considered among the 'Golden Directors' of his time.[2]

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
ChildrenSumeet, Amit and Puneet Prakash Mehra

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 was released towards the declining period of Bachchan's career.

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 Raajkumar 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.[3] He had three sons - Sumeet, Amit & Puneet. His son Amit Mehra died of a cardiac arrest on 1 March 2015.[4]

Prakash Mehra spent most his childhood in Gandhi Gali, Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk at his Aunt's House.

Filmography
Director
Producer
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References
  1. PTI (17 May 2009). "Producer-director Prakash Mehra passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. "Khalifa (1976)". The Hindu. 17 February 2017.
  3. Producer-director Prakash Mehra passes away, The Times of India, 17 May 2009.
  4. http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/filmmaker-prakash-mehras-son-amit-mehra-dies-at-40/


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