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Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra
Think Bollywood villain and one of the first names that comes to mind is that of Prem Chopra. One of the few actors to have been working in the industry for more than five decades, from the black-and-white era to the new millennium and still going strong, he is a legend in his own right. This fascinating memoir, penned by his daughter Rakita Nanda and told in Prem Chopra's words, reveals the story behind the man people loved to hate. Read about his memorable journey from his time as a young boy who used to wait outside the Clark's Hotel in Shimla to catch a glimpse of the film stars who stayed there, to being mobbed by fans at the same hotel many years later. Find out about the man who was once reviled by the public for his lecherous onscreen avatar, but who was known within the film industry for his couplets which Dharmendra christened Prem Awargi. Above all, meet Prem Chopra the family man a devoted husband and doting father to three daughters. Replete with humorous anecdotes and previously untold stories and including interviews about Chopra with stars such as Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharman Joshi, Ranbir and Rishi Kapoor, Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra is an intimate look at the life of one of the most enduring stars of the Indian film industry. Interesting Facts The story of one of the most well-known villains of Hindi cinema. Prem Chopra's perspective on villains, villainy and Bollywood. Contains anecdotes about Prem Chopra from Bollywood stars down the ages such as Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Rishi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and others. An inside look at the workings of Bollywood from the 50s to the present day.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 11, 2018
We Naturally start to Love heroes and hate villians ,forgetting the fact that it takes a good actor to potray the character properly which makes the hero look good , It was a fascinating book to read , about his journey and how he tried to act as a hero and inspite of having good looks and acting skills how he ends up becoming a villian due to his destiny .
Written with lot of honesty and has some interesting chapters but some place the book drags when talking about his movies .but overall a good book .
Written with lot of honesty and has some interesting chapters but some place the book drags when talking about his movies .but overall a good book .
August 3, 2017
After decades of consciously avoiding them, I started reading biographies after Kaka 's death. After the last one, Khullam Khulla, I had decided to never read a living actor's autobiography, such a disappointment a string of them had been.
When I saw Prem Chopra's, I had to make an exception. After, all, for a Delhite, 2 actors have a special place because of their bungalows here: Dara Singh and Prem Chopra.
Cutting to the chase, Prem Chopra's biography is the most beautiful I have read for these reasons:
Prem is a thorough gentleman
He narrates from his heart
He lives life with basic traditional values
His daughter wrote the book
Much like his life in movie, the punch comes on the end when he talks about his relationship with his daughters. You are no longer peeping into the life of a celebrity. You are experiencing beautiful emotion and witnessing true values.
If I were to hazard a guess, the character nearest to the real Prem was the one he played in Rocket Singh.
This is a must read for every family man.
When I saw Prem Chopra's, I had to make an exception. After, all, for a Delhite, 2 actors have a special place because of their bungalows here: Dara Singh and Prem Chopra.
Cutting to the chase, Prem Chopra's biography is the most beautiful I have read for these reasons:
Prem is a thorough gentleman
He narrates from his heart
He lives life with basic traditional values
His daughter wrote the book
Much like his life in movie, the punch comes on the end when he talks about his relationship with his daughters. You are no longer peeping into the life of a celebrity. You are experiencing beautiful emotion and witnessing true values.
If I were to hazard a guess, the character nearest to the real Prem was the one he played in Rocket Singh.
This is a must read for every family man.
May 12, 2020
Repetitive. Could have been much better with an interesting narrative. This got to be monotonous after a while. More like a chronicle than a biography.
April 13, 2014
An interesting look into the pysche and practice of onscreen villainy
July 25, 2021
It Is Only After You Have Invested 3 Hours 44 Minutes Of Your Time And Read Rakita Nanda’s Engrossing And Gripping Memoir Do You Actually Realise How Little One Has Actually Known About Prem Chopra The Leering Villain Who Actually Came To Be A Hero In Films (That’s How Handsome He Actually Was) Got Into Films With A Break In Punjabi Films But Eventually Ended Up Carving A Niche For Himself As A Top Rung Villain Because He Could Have Continued Chasing A Pipe Dream Or Smelt The Coffee And Seen The Writing On The Wall And Taken A Wake-Up Call.
Having A Lucrative Job With The Times Of India His Own Family Felt He Was Chasing A Mirage But He Remain Unperturbed And Juggled Both His Job As Well As His Dream Till It Finally Came True.
Without Taking Away From His Struggle & Determination To Succeed At All Costs, One Is Inclined To Believe That He Actually Happened To Be In The Right Place At The Right Time With Pran Poised To Go In For A Long Awaited Switchover And Prem Chopra In The Villain Slot The Timing Was Just Perfect As Manoj Kumar’s Upkar Proved To Be A Landmark Film Not Only For Both The Villains But The Actor-Producer-Director Who Reinvented Himself Into The Bharat Persona From Which Neither Of The Trio Ever Looked Back In Regret.
“Prem Naam Hai Mera- PREM CHOPRA The One Liner That Went On To Eventually Make Him The Sneering, Leering One Liner Bad-Shah Almost Didn’t Happen Because When He Landed In Pune To Shoot For Raj Kapoor’s Bobby He Was Stunned When Raj Kapoor Explained The Scene Saying This Is Your Line And This Is How I Want You To Say It. A Long Silence Ensued Before A Flustered Prem Chopra Could Not Help Asking What Do I Do Next ? Only To Be Told That Was It. Had It Been Any Lesser Director He Would Have Walked Out Of The Film But Both Premnath And Raj Kapoor Convinced Him And Rest Proved To Be History.
Like This There Are Innumerable Nuggets That Throw Light Upon Prem Chopra The Person And How He So Successfully Survived Over Half A Century In Films On His Own Terms With His Dignity Intact.
How Broadly His Career Has Spanned Across Films Can Be Gauged By The Fact That Starting From Prithvi Raj Kapoor Right Down To Ranbir Kapoor, There Is Not A Single Kapoor With Whom Prem Chopra Has Not Acted In His Career Spanning Across Well Over Five Decades.
The Last Time A Daughter Wrote About Her Star Father Was Aishwarya Rajnikanth Dhanush And Now You Have Rakita Nanda Penning Her Dad’s Memoir That Too In First Person So It Comes Across As The Prime Villain Prem Chopra Telling His Own Unedited Story Of His Life To The World At Large Pulling Out All Stops.
The Flip Side Remains That With A Child Writing About His Star Parent Extra Caution Is Taken That The Tale Does Not Go Into Any Dark Areas That Are Kept Under Wraps.
But All Said & Done “Prem Naam Hai Mera- PREM CHOPRA Is An Engrossing And Gripping Read That Truly Makes A Fascinating Read With Not A Single Dull Moment. Truly A Rollercoaster Ride That Takes Readers Back And Forth Over Five Decades Of Indian Cinema That Reveals How Prem Chopra Evolved Over Half A Century In Indian Cinema!!!”
Having A Lucrative Job With The Times Of India His Own Family Felt He Was Chasing A Mirage But He Remain Unperturbed And Juggled Both His Job As Well As His Dream Till It Finally Came True.
Without Taking Away From His Struggle & Determination To Succeed At All Costs, One Is Inclined To Believe That He Actually Happened To Be In The Right Place At The Right Time With Pran Poised To Go In For A Long Awaited Switchover And Prem Chopra In The Villain Slot The Timing Was Just Perfect As Manoj Kumar’s Upkar Proved To Be A Landmark Film Not Only For Both The Villains But The Actor-Producer-Director Who Reinvented Himself Into The Bharat Persona From Which Neither Of The Trio Ever Looked Back In Regret.
“Prem Naam Hai Mera- PREM CHOPRA The One Liner That Went On To Eventually Make Him The Sneering, Leering One Liner Bad-Shah Almost Didn’t Happen Because When He Landed In Pune To Shoot For Raj Kapoor’s Bobby He Was Stunned When Raj Kapoor Explained The Scene Saying This Is Your Line And This Is How I Want You To Say It. A Long Silence Ensued Before A Flustered Prem Chopra Could Not Help Asking What Do I Do Next ? Only To Be Told That Was It. Had It Been Any Lesser Director He Would Have Walked Out Of The Film But Both Premnath And Raj Kapoor Convinced Him And Rest Proved To Be History.
Like This There Are Innumerable Nuggets That Throw Light Upon Prem Chopra The Person And How He So Successfully Survived Over Half A Century In Films On His Own Terms With His Dignity Intact.
How Broadly His Career Has Spanned Across Films Can Be Gauged By The Fact That Starting From Prithvi Raj Kapoor Right Down To Ranbir Kapoor, There Is Not A Single Kapoor With Whom Prem Chopra Has Not Acted In His Career Spanning Across Well Over Five Decades.
The Last Time A Daughter Wrote About Her Star Father Was Aishwarya Rajnikanth Dhanush And Now You Have Rakita Nanda Penning Her Dad’s Memoir That Too In First Person So It Comes Across As The Prime Villain Prem Chopra Telling His Own Unedited Story Of His Life To The World At Large Pulling Out All Stops.
The Flip Side Remains That With A Child Writing About His Star Parent Extra Caution Is Taken That The Tale Does Not Go Into Any Dark Areas That Are Kept Under Wraps.
But All Said & Done “Prem Naam Hai Mera- PREM CHOPRA Is An Engrossing And Gripping Read That Truly Makes A Fascinating Read With Not A Single Dull Moment. Truly A Rollercoaster Ride That Takes Readers Back And Forth Over Five Decades Of Indian Cinema That Reveals How Prem Chopra Evolved Over Half A Century In Indian Cinema!!!”
October 9, 2019
Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra is a book penned by his daughter Rakita Nanda.Prem Chopra is the 3rd son of parents.born before independence in Pakistan then migrated to India, his studies finished at Shimla. It reminded me all the dialogues from his old films like "mai wo hoo jo sheesh se pather ko today du😁" another famous dialogue " prem naam hai mer" and his hilarious smile reminds me a villain who we adore you hate from heart. But as the pages unfold one by one it showed his positive character in real life which was far better than his contemporaries. His love for his brothers , only sister Anju and respect for his wife who happens to be Prem Nath another actor's sister Uma and above all his love for his three daughters and sons in law and then hus grandchildren made him a great human in his life.
Beautifully written reveals all small facts from his life since his birth till today. His laison with his co stars were beautifully defined. His positive nature throughout his life is commendable. He is man of good nature and with great principles and it is the reason that he worked upto costars with their 4th generation from Prithvi Raj Kapoor to Kareena Kappor, Randhir Kapoor and noe wants to work with their 5th generation . Commendable work it is.
Worth reading.
Beautifully written reveals all small facts from his life since his birth till today. His laison with his co stars were beautifully defined. His positive nature throughout his life is commendable. He is man of good nature and with great principles and it is the reason that he worked upto costars with their 4th generation from Prithvi Raj Kapoor to Kareena Kappor, Randhir Kapoor and noe wants to work with their 5th generation . Commendable work it is.
Worth reading.
August 9, 2023
Prem Chopra became famous for his line in the movie Bobby - "Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra". He is now known as one of Bollywood's most popular villains. But his journey to success was not because of his family or influential friends. It was because he had a strong focus on his goal and never gave up.
The book also shares interesting gossip and facts about other stars from the past, like the Kapoors, Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and more. It talks about how villains have changed over the years, the ups and downs of superstars, and the emergence of new heroes and villains in the 80s and 90s.
The book includes interviews with famous people who worked with Prem Chopra and their experiences with him. It also tells about his time working with the Times of India, his struggles to enter Bollywood, and the moment that changed his life.
Readers will also learn about his family, friends in the industry, his love for caps, and his favorite characters to play. The book is written by his daughter, Rakita, but it feels like Prem Chopra is telling the story himself. He is honest about his mistakes and the scandals surrounding him.
This is the story of a regular boy who succeeded in an industry known for nepotism.
The book also shares interesting gossip and facts about other stars from the past, like the Kapoors, Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and more. It talks about how villains have changed over the years, the ups and downs of superstars, and the emergence of new heroes and villains in the 80s and 90s.
The book includes interviews with famous people who worked with Prem Chopra and their experiences with him. It also tells about his time working with the Times of India, his struggles to enter Bollywood, and the moment that changed his life.
Readers will also learn about his family, friends in the industry, his love for caps, and his favorite characters to play. The book is written by his daughter, Rakita, but it feels like Prem Chopra is telling the story himself. He is honest about his mistakes and the scandals surrounding him.
This is the story of a regular boy who succeeded in an industry known for nepotism.
October 2, 2019
Giant of Indian cinema 🙏
August 5, 2016
Full Review: http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/non-f...
Bollywood and cricket make up the major source of entertainment for Indians. We worship our cricketers and movie stars. We love gossiping about them, reading about them, and prodding into their personal lives. So when an actor or a cricketer writes a biography, it is all but decided that people will lap it up. But the catch is that people expect them to dole out gossips and secrets in large measures. These biographies ought to give their readers an insight into the private lives of their favorite stars. But again, there are a few personalities whose stories inspire you to dream big, and encourage you to think beyond the achievable.
In “Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra”, Rakita Nanda, Prem Chopra’s daughter, combines both of these elements beautifully by doling out a decent number of insider gossip, and at the same time narrating the story of a man, who became what he is today, through sheer determination and unwavering dedication.
Bollywood and cricket make up the major source of entertainment for Indians. We worship our cricketers and movie stars. We love gossiping about them, reading about them, and prodding into their personal lives. So when an actor or a cricketer writes a biography, it is all but decided that people will lap it up. But the catch is that people expect them to dole out gossips and secrets in large measures. These biographies ought to give their readers an insight into the private lives of their favorite stars. But again, there are a few personalities whose stories inspire you to dream big, and encourage you to think beyond the achievable.
In “Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra”, Rakita Nanda, Prem Chopra’s daughter, combines both of these elements beautifully by doling out a decent number of insider gossip, and at the same time narrating the story of a man, who became what he is today, through sheer determination and unwavering dedication.
March 25, 2017
Wonderful experience to read a journey of an villain actor
I enjoyed reading this book, knowing Prem Chopra, his work, life, journey and beliefs.
I enjoyed reading the dialogues that made him famous.
Do read this book when you get a chance ☺
I enjoyed reading this book, knowing Prem Chopra, his work, life, journey and beliefs.
I enjoyed reading the dialogues that made him famous.
Do read this book when you get a chance ☺
September 29, 2016
Read a detailed review of this book on my blog:
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/0...
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/0...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews