Prakash Mehra

Prakash Mehra Biography

Prakash Mehra was a producer and director of Bollywood movies who has played a significant role in finding the present formula of film making in Bollywood. Similar to Manmohan Desai, he has delivered series of Amitabh Bachchan hits with masala flavours added in right proportion and quantities. Mehra was considered among the 'Golden Directors' during the era of 70’s as he has given many big hits to Big B and Bollywood. He is the king of Bollywood masala movies as well. He has done only a few movies, but majority were given to Big B and as they are big hits, Prakash’s name is always taken among the most successful directors of Bollywood.  

He did 8 movies with Big B of which 6 were major hits. Those movies are Laawaris, Namak Halal, Sharabi, Hera pheri, Khoon paseena and Muquaddar ka sikander. However, his last movie with Big B, Jaadugar couldn’t do any ‘Jaadu’ (magic) at box office. Sasi Kapoor has also acted in a series of his movies. Apart from Big B’s movies, Haseena maan jaayegi was one such full-fledged movie of Sashi Kapoor and he did double role in the movie. It was the debut movie of Prakash mehra as a director too. His other major hits include – Mela, Haat ki safai, Dalaal and Samadhi. Yet, he has drunken the bitterness of a few flop movies also. Apart from Jadugar, Zindagi ek jua starring Anil Kapoor was a failure. Not only that, Puru Raj Kumar, son of yesterday actor Raaj Kumar debut Bollywood in the year 1996 with the movie, Bal brahmachari pairing opposite Karishma Kapoor. The movie couldn’t make any impact on much awaited audience.

In Dalaal, Mithun Chakravarthy was paired opposite Ayesha Julka. The movie was a big success at box office with hit songs like Chori chori. Rekha was the favourite heroine of this director. She worked with him for movies like Muquaddar ka sikander and Aakhri Daaku. Muquaddar ka sikander is regarded as one among the finest performances of Rekha and Amitabh. Their pairing was well celebrated by their fans too. For this movie, Prakash Mehra won a nomination for best movie at Filmfare awards too. On May 17 2009, Prakash Mehra passed away due to multiple organ failure at the age of 69.  

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Updated: July 10, 2013