Prem Chopra Hospitalised
90-year-old Prem Chopra was recently admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. Doctors said that he will need a few days to recover due to age-related issues. His son-in-law, actor Vikas Bhalla, said that he was admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure and that he is doing well now and will be discharged from the hospital in a few days. “It’s all age-related, and a regular procedure. There is nothing to worry about,” he added.
Prem Chopra has been admitted to the hospital under the care of cardiologist Dr Nitin Gokhale. “He is a known case of cardiac ailment, and he also had a viral infection, and that’s why I’m treating him for the lungs. He is not in the ICU; he is in the ward,” Dr Jalil Parker of Lilavati Hospital recently said.
Meanwhile, actor Sharman Joshi, husband of the veteran actor’s daughter Prerna Chopra, said, “All good, thank you, just some tests, back tomorrow.”
About his career
Prem is best known for playing villainous roles in the 1960s and 70s. Prem Chopra’s iconic filmography spanned over six decades, and he acted in 380 films, making him one of the most iconic and charismatic villains in Hindi cinema. This path began with an early foray into positive roles like Sukhdev in the ‘Shaheed‘ (1965) movie, and after acclaimed performances in films like Manoj Kumar‘s ‘Upkar‘ (1967) and Rajesh Khanna‘s ‘Do Raste‘ (1969) and ‘Kati Patanga‘ (1970), he achieved his success by fully embracing villainy.
His period as the main antagonist peaked from 1967 to 1995, during which he immortalised his screen persona with the famous dialogue “Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra” in Raj Kapoor‘s blockbuster Bobby (1973). He continued this formidable streak opposite many leading stars in important films such as the epic action-drama Kranti (1981), Do Anjaane (1976), and the crime thriller Dostana (1980). He memorably paired with Rajesh Khanna in over fifteen successful films.
Shifting to character roles in the following decades, he proved his versatility in acclaimed films such as Koi Mil Gaya (2003), the unconventional comedy Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009), and most recently Animal (2023), ensuring his lasting legacy across multiple generations of Indian cinema.