O. P. Ralhan
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O. P. Ralhan | |
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Born | 21 August 1928 Sialkot, Pakistan |
Died | April 20, 1999 | (aged 70)
Occupation(s) | writer, producer, director |
O. P. Ralhan (21 August 1928 - 20 April 1999) was a Bollywood producer, director, writer, actor who made several hit movies in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Ralhan was born on 21 August 1928 in Sialkot, Pakistan, into a prosperous Hindu family belonging to the Khatri caste. He was 19 years old when the partition of India happened. He and his family were compelled to leave home and hearth and walk penniless to what remained of India. Here, having lost all their capital and business, they were compelled to work at small jobs to earn a living. O.P. happened to find work with film-makers. Around this time, his sister was married to a handsome young man from another refugee family, who belonged to the same community and similar family background, in a match arranged by their families in the usual Indian way. This was Rajinder Tuli, who would become famous by the end of the 1950s as 'Jubilee Kumar,' the film-star Rajendra Kumar. His sister was He also played small roles from early 1950s to the early 1960s.
He was a Bollywood producer, director, writer, actor who made several hit movies in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Among his notable achievements are giving breaks to struggling actors and also introducing new actors in his films. He directed film Mujrim (1958) starring Shammi kapoor and Ragini. He gave Dharmendra his first golden jubilee blockbuster with Phool Aur Patthar (1966) and made him a star. [[Zeenat Aman was first introduced in Bollywood by O. P. Ralhan in his 1971 film Hulchul, although some people have a misconception that Dev Anand brought her with Hare Rama Hare Krishna. He also introduced Kabir Bedi in Hulchul. He cast Amitabh Bachchan in Bandhe Haath (1973) when he was not yet a known name.
O.P Ralhan's sister was the wife of Jubilee Star Rajendra Kumar and the mother of Kumar Gaurav. Ralhan had no sons. His grandson Armaan (son of his daughter Rupalli) has taken his grandfathers last name 'Ralhan' to continue the legacy of his grandfather in Bollywood.
, he managed to get distributors finance his first film: Gehra Daag (1963), with Rajendra Kumar and Mala Sinha in lead roles. Pool aur Phattar directed by MR.O.P Ralhan with a cast including Meena Kumari, Shashikala & Dharmendra, which went on to make him into a super star. The film was quite successful in Hindi & was also made in Tamil, "Oli Vilakku" starring M.G. Ramachandran, Jaya Lalithaa & Sowkar Janaki. However, he is best remembered as the Director (and also its producer) for film: Talash (1969) (Lead actors: Rajendra Kumar and Sharmila Tagore). The film was, and perhaps still is, quite enjoyable to watch and had excellent music by composer Sachin Dev Burman. It was the most expensive movie made of its time. Hulchul, was a film without any songs a Comedy suspense thriller. "Bandhe Haath" a Doppelgänger story starring Mumtaz & Amitabh Bachchan. "Mari Bena" was Mr Ralhan's venture into Regional films starring Reeta Bhaduri, Arvind Kirad, Dina Pathak & Mr O. P Ralhan. "Paapi" was a multi starrer with an ensemble cast of Sunil Dutt, Sanjiv Kumar, Zeenat Aman, Reena Roy, Prem Chopra, Danny Denzongpa. "Pyaas" was a film made on Social subject a Tax free film starring Tanuja, Zeenat Aman, Kawaljeet Singh & O.P Ralhan.
Filmography
- MUJRIM (1958)
- Gehra Daag (1963)
- Phool Aur Patthar (1966)
- Talash (1969)
- Hulchul (1971)
- Bandhe Haath (1973)
- Paapi (1977)
Mari Bena 1980 ( Gujrati)
- Pyaas (1983)