Prakash Mehra

{{Infobox person

| image = Film Producer Director Prakash Mehra.jpg

| caption =

| name = Prakash Mehra

| birth_date = {{birth date |1939|7|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bijnor, United Provinces, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|05|17|1939|07|13|df=y}}

| death_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| children =

}}

Prakash Mehra (13 July 1939 – 17 May 2009) was a legendary Indian film director and producer{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Producer-director-Prakash-Mehra-passes-away/articleshow/4542153.cms | title=Producer-director Prakash Mehra passes away | date=17 May 2009 | agency=PTI | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=8 October 2018 }} known for his work in Hindi films. He was one of the pioneers of masala films, along with Nasir Hussain, and Manmohan Desai.{{cite news|title=Khalifa (1976)|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/khalifa-1976/article17321333.ece|work=The Hindu|date=17 February 2017|language=en}} His collaborations with the actor Amitabh Bachchan resulted in several box office blockbusters and classics.

Early life and career

Born on 13 July 1939 in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Mehra started in the late 1950s as a production controller. In 1968, he directed Shashi Kapoor who played a double role in Haseena Maan Jayegi. . In 1973, he produced and directed Zanjeer. This hit with Amitabh Bachchan started a long term and successful collaboration that spanned 7 more films, 6 being blockbuster hits: Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Lawaaris, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi. Their final collaboration was Jaadugar which was a flop and ended their successful streak. Zanjeer was the film credited with launching the career of Bachchan as a lead actor and their final film together Jaadugar.

Prakash Mehra also directed & produced Zindagi Ek Jua with actor Anil Kapoor in 1991, which was not a commercial success. In 1996, he introduced veteran actor Raaj Kumar's son Puru Raaj Kumar in Bal Bramhachari which was also unsuccessful. This was the last film he directed. He also produced the movie Dalaal with Mithun Chakraborty, in the mid-90s, which was a box-office moneymaker. Mehra received a lifetime achievement award from the India Motion Picture Directors Association (IMPDA) in 2006.{{cn|date=September 2021}} He also received Lifetime Achievement as Producer from IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association) on 19 September 2008.{{cn|date=September 2021}}

Prakash Mehra was one of the first Bombay directors to try venture into Hollywood. In the late eighties he tried a joint venture to make the movie The God Connection with Frank Yandolino. The movie was to include Hollywood actors such as Charles Bronson among others, but the project though funded heavily initially, never came to fruition.{{cn|date=September 2021}}

Mehra died on 17 May 2009 in Mumbai of pneumonia and multiple organ failure.

Filmography

class="wikitable"
Year ! Film !Director !Producer ! Notes
1962 \|Professor \| \| \|AS a controller of production
1965 \|Purnima \|{{yes}} \| \|Assistant Drictor & lyrics one song
1968 \| Haseena Maan Jayegi \|{{yes}} \| \|
1971 \| Mela \|{{yes}} \| \|
1972 \| Samadhi \|{{yes}} \| \|
1972 \| Aan Baan \|{{yes}} \| \|
1973 \| Zanjeer \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1973 \| Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara \|{{yes}} \| \|
1974 \| Haath Ki Safai \|{{yes}} \| \|
1976 \| Khalifa \|{{yes}} \| \|
1976 \| Hera Pheri \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1977 \|Khoon Pasina \| \|{{Yes}} \|
1978 \| Aakhri Daku \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1978 \| Muqaddar Ka Sikandar \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1980 \| Jwalamukhi \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1980 \| Desh Drohee \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1981 \| Laawaris \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1982 \| Namak Halaal \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1984 \| Sharaabi \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1986 \|Chameli Ki Shaadi \| \| \|Contributed to script
1987 \| Muqaddar Ka Faisla \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1988 \| Mohabbat Ke Dushman \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1989 \| Jaadugar \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1992 \| Zindagi Ek Juaa \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
1993 \|Dalaal \| \|{{Yes}} \|
1996 \| Bal Bramhachari \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|
2001 \|Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao \| \|{{yes}} \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Film

!Director

!Producer

! Notes

1962

|Professor

|AS a controller of production

1965

|Purnima

|{{yes}}