Wikipedia

Prem Nath

Premnath Malhotra, better known as Prem Nath (21 November 1926 – 3 November 1992) was an Indian actor and director, who was best known for his works in Hindi films. Nath made his debut with the film Ajit (1948), and went on to appear in over 100 films throughout his career. He was nominated for three Filmfare Awards, and later retired in 1985.

Prem Nath
Born
Premnath Malhotra

(1926-11-21)21 November 1926
Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
Died3 November 1992(1992-11-03) (aged 65)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai)
OccupationsActor, director
Years active1948–1985
SpouseBina Rai
ChildrenPrem Krishen
Kailash Nath (Monty)
RelativesRajendra Nath (Brother)
Narendra Nath (Brother)
Krishna Kapoor (Sister)
Uma Chopra (Sister)
Raj Kapoor (Brother-in-law)
Prem Chopra (Brother-in-law)
Siddharth P. Malhotra (Grandson)

Personal life

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Early life

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He was born in 1926 in the Karimpura locality, near Ghanta Ghar in Peshawar. His father Kartarnath Malhotra was a high-ranking police officer and the maternal uncle of Prithviraj Kapoor, known as the patriarch of the Kapoor film clan.[1][2] His family moved to Jubbulpore (present-day Jabalpur) after partition and he moved to Bombay where he was discovered as an actor.

Relationships and family

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Premnath dated Madhubala for a brief period in 1951, and they were reported to have contemplated marriage. However, Nath ended the relationship after she became interested in actor Dilip Kumar.[3][4] Conversely, her sister Madhur Bhushan has attributed the break up to religious differences; Nath wanted Madhubala, a Muslim, to convert to Hinduism for marriage, which her father Ataullah Khan refused.[5] Nevertheless, Nath maintained a lifelong friendship with both Madhubala and her father,[4] and also helped Khan financially after her death.[6]

He fell in love with actress Bina Rai during the filming of Aurat. They married and formed a production company together called P.N. films.[7] Their children are actor Prem Krishen and Kailash Nath (Monty).

They are the grandparents of actress Akanksha Malhotra and director Siddharth Malhotra who are Prem Krishen's children. Adiraj Malhotra and Arjun Malhotra are the sons of Kailash Nath. His sister Krishna married Raj Kapoor while his other sister Uma was married to veteran Hindi Film actor Prem Chopra. His brothers Rajendra Nath and Narendra Nath were also actors who mostly appeared in comedic and supporting roles. He was also a close friend of the actress Asha Parekh.

Spirituality

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He was religious and, when his career began to decline in the mid-1950s, he went to the Kailash mountain range in Tibet a spiritual retreat, producing a documentary about his pilgrimage in 1957, Kailas Darshan.[1]

Last years

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He died of a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 65.

Acting career

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Prem Nath (right) with actor Prem Chopra (left), who was his sister's husband.

Early roles and lead roles (1948 to mid-1960s)

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Premnath made his film debut in Ajit (1948), opposite Monica Desai, which was one of the first colour films.[8] He got major roles in Raj Kapoor's first directorial film Aag (1948) and Barsaat (1949) which was his first major success.

In 1951, Nath starred opposite Madhubala in Amiya Chakravarty's Baadal. The film begot mixed reviews—with a critic remarking that he was "very loud" in his portrayal—but Baadal proved to be a box office success.[9][10] Nath further worked with Madhubala in Aaram (1951) and Saqi (1952).[9] Also in 1952, he co-starred with Dilip Kumar in the swashbuckling technicolour film Aan which was the highest grossing film at the time.

He went on to appear in many films in leading roles often opposite his wife Bina Rai which failed to do well. He set up a production company named P.N films and directed the film Samundar (1957), which was a box office disaster and remained his only directorial effort. His career as a leading man declined in the late 1950s.

Nath was to play the leading role in Sayyad, a film to be directed by Kamal Amrohi and produced by Madhubala and Ataullah Khan; however, it was ultimately shelved causing major financial loss to the producers.[11] In 1960, Khan cast Nath and Madhubala in his directorial venture, Pathan, but she became sick and was replaced by the newcomer Mumtaz.[12] Starring Nath in the titular role, Pathan was released in 1962 and was a financial failure.[13] The 1963 film Rustom Sohrab marked one of Nath's final films in the leading role.

Villain and supporting roles (1970s to 1985)

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He started receiving recognition with playing the central villain or supporting role in some of the biggest blockbusters in Indian film history throughout the 1970s. Some of his notable films included Teesri Manzil (1966), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Shor (1972), Bobby (1973), Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), Dharmatma (1975), Kalicharan (1976), Krodhi (1981) and Desh Premee (1982). He also starred in the religious Punjabi film Sat Sri Akal (1977). He earned Filmfare nominations as Best Supporting Actor for: Shor (1972), Bobby (1973), Amir Garib (1974) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974).[14]

His last film appearance was in Hum Dono (1985) after which he retired from acting.

American productions

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Apart from Hindi films, he also appeared in an episode of the American television series Maya in 1967 and a 1969 American film titled Kenner opposite former American football player turned actor Jim Brown.

Other work

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Production

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He produced four films and three documentaries.[1]

Books

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He wrote books, including novels, in both English and Hindi.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Acting filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1947 Daulat Ke Liye
1948 Aag Rajan
1948 Ajit
1949 Barsaat Gopal
1950 Hindustan Hamara Documentary
1951 Awaara Cameo Appearance, in song "naiyya teri majhdhar..", Uncredited
1951 Sagai Captain Prem
1951 Naujawan Raju
1951 Do Sitare
1951 Buzdil
1951 Badal Badal
1951 Aaram Kumar
1952 Aan Shamsher Singh
1952 Saqi Ajeeb
1952 Parbat Pahari
1952 Shokhiyan
1952 Anjaam
1953 Shagufa
1953 Mehmaan
1953 Dard-E-Dil
1953 Aurat Adil
1954 Prisoner of Golconda
1955 Aab-e-hayat Jalal
1956 Hamara Watan
1957 Samunder
1957 Chengeez Khan Sheru
1958 Son of Sinbad
1958 Chaubees Ghante
1959 Jagir
1959 Forty Days Shankarlal Saxena
1959 Bus conductor
1960 Qatil
1960 Gambler
1960 Dr. Shaitan
1960 Apna Ghar
1961 Sara Jahan Hamara
1962 Pathan
1963 Shaheed Bhagat Singh
1964 Main Jatti Punjab Di Punjabi Movie
1965 Jaya
1965 Sikandar-e-Azam* Chirag
1966 Sher E Afghan
1966 Amrapali Magadh Senpati Veer
1966 Teesri Manzil Kunwer
1966 Pyar Mohabbat Senapati Uday Kumar Singh
1967 Mera Bhai Mera Dushman Prem
1963 Rustam Sohrab Sohrab
1967 Baharon Ke Sapne Mr. Kapoor
1968 Kenner Sandy American film
1968 Balram Shri Krishna Arjun
1969 Kamasutra - Vollendung der Liebe
1969 Sati Sulochana Ravanputra Meghnath / Indrajeet
1969 Mahua Rajkumar
1970 Ilzam Ajit
1970 Johny Mera Naam Ranjit / Rai Sahib Bhupendra Singh
1970 The Evil Within Krishna
1970 Pushpanjali Peter D'Costa
1971 Tere Mere Sapne Seth Madhochand
1972 Wafaa Barrister
1972 Shor Khan Badshah Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor[14]
1972 Rani Mera Naam
1972 Raja Jani Diwan Gajendra Singh
1972 Mom Ki Gudiya Vakil Uncle
1972 Gora Aur Kala Prithvi Singh
1972 Do Bachche Dus Haath Captain Saab
1972 Be-Imaan DIG Gopaldas
1973 Sherni
1973 Loafer Pratap
1973 Chhupa Rustam Williams
1973 Bobby Jack Braganza Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor[14]
1973 Nafrat CBI Inspector Kumar
1974 Amir Garib Daulatram Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor[14]
1974 Roti Kapda Aur Makaan Harnam Singh Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor[14]
1974 Raja Kaka Jagmohan
1974 Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye Mangal Singh
1974 Ishk Ishk Ishk Pahar
1974 Chattan Singh Chattaan Singh / Sher Singh
1975 Dharmatma Dharamdas 'Dharmatma'
1975 Dharam Karam Shankar Dada
1975 Sanyasi Mangal Singh
1975 Rani Aur Lalpari Yamraj
1975 Mounto Boss
1975 Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty Imandar Pauwala
1975 Dafaa 302
1976 Zid
1976 Nagin Sapera
1976 Kalicharan IG Khanna
1976 Dus Numbri Inspector Jaichand
1976 Janeman Ram Bharose
1976 Jai Bajrang Bali Lankeshwar Shri Ravan
1976 Bajrangbali Lankeshwar Shri Ravan
1976 Kabeela Sardar Babbar
1976 Nehle pe Dehla General
1976 Aap Beati Bajrang Bahadur
1977 Yaaron Ka Yaar Nathu
1977 The Little Gospel of St. Thomas
1977 Jadu Tona
1977 Darinda Yogiraj
1977 Videsh Swami Prem Baba / Girdharilal Kapoor
1977 Thief of Baghdad Abu Jangar
1977 Shirdi Ke Sai Baba Som Dev
1977 Sat Sri Akal Punjabi Movie
1977 Gyaniji, as also a producer Punjabi Movie
1977 Farishta Ya Qatil
1977 Do Chehere Qawaali Singer / INSP
1977 Chandi Sona Lord Mayor Jojo
1977 Chala Murari Hero Banne Himself
1978 Rahu Ketu Collector Rahu Nath
1978 Vishwanath GNK
1978 Shalimar Raja Bahadur Singh
1978 Kaala Aadmi
1978 Heeralaal Pannalaal Inspector Prem Lal
1978 Bhagyalaxmi
1979 Gautam Govinda Dharam Dutt
1979 Muqabla Police inspector
1979 Magroor Mamaji
1979 Dhongee John Lord / Gurkha Bahadur
1979 Jaani Dushman Pujari
1979 Lok Parlok Yamraj
1979 Ahinsa
1980 Dhan Daulat Mangat
1980 Karz Sir Judah
1980 Suniyasi
1981 Sangdil
1981 Krodhi Jagira
1982 Eent Ka Jawab Patthar Sevakram
1982 Desh Premee Puthu Anna
1983 Farz Ki Keemat
1984 The Gold Medal Thakur Ranvir Singh
1985 Hum Dono Lata's Father Final Film Role
Directed films
  • Samundar (1957), only film for P. N. Films, home production.

TV series

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  • Maya TV series (1 episode, 1967)

Awards and nominations

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Filmfare Awards

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Nominations

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Actor, producer, novelist and raconteur: Archival documentary reveals Prem Nath's many roles". Scroll.in. 19 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025.
  2. ↑ Gupta, Rachit (18 March 2016). "Meet the Kapoor family of Bollywood". Filmfare. Krishnaji was Prithviraj's cousin, so she was also Raj's aunt in addition to being his wife.
  3. ↑ Bajpai, Mr Trinetra, Ms. Anshula (2019). Dilip Kumar: Peerless icon inspiring generations. New Delhi: Bloomsbury India. ISBN 978-9388630559.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 Akbar, Khatija (1997). Madhubala: Her Life, Her Films. UBS Publishers' Distributors. pp. 115, 172. ISBN 978-81-7476-153-8.
  5. ↑ "Madhubala was in love with Premnath before Dilip Kumar, says her sister: 'My father objected to their relationship'". Hindustan Times. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Farook, Farhana (24 November 2017). "Legendary actor Premnath's son Monty Premnath looks back at his late father's journey with Filmfare". Filmfare. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Article". Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  8. ↑ Bina Rai: The good old days Archived 27 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine Screen.
  9. 1 2 Akbar, Khatija (1997). Madhubala: Her Life, Her Films. UBS Publishers' Distributors. p. 114. ISBN 978-81-7476-153-8.
  10. ↑ "Top Earners 1951". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Akbar, Khatija (1997). Madhubala: Her Life, Her Films. UBS Publishers' Distributors. p. 60. ISBN 978-81-7476-153-8.
  12. ↑ Dhar, Parthiv; Bhattacharjee, Anirudha (27 October 2022). Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography, Winner of the National Award for Best Book on Cinema, 2022. Harper Collins. pp. 267–268. ISBN 978-93-5629-172-0.
  13. ↑ Deep, Mohan (1996). The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala. Magna Books. pp. 15, 94.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "1st Filmfare Awards 1953" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
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