O. P. Ralhan

O. P. Ralhan Biography

O. P. Ralhan was a very famous producer, director, actor and screenwriter associated with Bollywood during the period, 1960s-1980s. He has done several memorable comic roles onscreen as well. He is known for giving first break to several Bollywood artists, as well as giving their first hit in the struggling career. He introduced some of the leading artists of the industry like Zeenat Aman and Kabir Bedi through Hulchul in 1971, and gave first hit to Dharmendra through Phool Aur Patthar, one of the early hits to Amitabh Bachchan through Bandhe Haat etc. As a film director, he is best known for Talaash in 1969, which was the most expensive movie made of its time. Ralhan was married to actor Rajendra Kumar's sister.

O. P. Ralhan was born on 21st August 1928 in Sialkot, Pakistan. He started off his film career doing small roles of big screen since 1950s. He mostly portrayed comic roles onscreen. He frequently worked with Jubilee star Rajendra Kumar as a co-star, producer and director, who happens to be his brother-in-law too. He essayed a significant comic role as Rajendra Kumar’s friend in 1960 romantic drama, Pyar Ka Sagar. He was seen in a lady’s getup for a song sequence, and it’s one of his most memorable roles as an actor.

After playing supporting roles in 1950s and 1960s, he managed to finance his first film, Gehra Daag (1963), with Rajendra Kumar and Mala Sinha in lead roles. The movie marked successful debut of Ralhan in the industry as a producer and director. He produced and directed Phool Aur Patthar in 1966, which was the highest grosser of the year, and also gave then struggling actor Dharmendra, his first golden jubilee hit. The director famously gave breaks to Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan when they were struggling and introduced Kabir Bedi and Zeenat Aman in his film Hulchul (1971). Mumtaz did her first adult role in Gehra Daag (1963) alongside Rajendra Kumar.

Like Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt too was his close friend. He died on 20th April 1999. His grandson Armaan Ralhan made his Hindi film debut with Aditya Chopra’s Befikre (2016) in which he played Vaani Kapoor’s fiance, Aney.

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Updated: October 16, 2017