Pradeep Kumar Talks About His First Day Shoot Jitters & His Pure Love For Meena Kumari

Lehren Retro

Veteran actor Pradeep Kumar, known for Anarkali and Nagin, praised his on-screen chemistry with Meena Kumari. Watch his brief, heartfelt chat about her in a Lehren podcast.

Transcript

00:00I don't even remember how many glasses of water I drank on the first day of shooting.

00:06Even today I wish she was alive so that I could play such a role.

00:12I am listening to her soul.

00:17Mr. Kareem, you have been in the industry for so many years.

00:20Yes.

00:21And even today when I look at you, you look beautiful, young and energetic.

00:27What is the secret?

00:28Really?

00:29I don't know.

00:30It is God's grace.

00:34Otherwise, I have not taken any special precautions in life.

00:39Just like how people eat, drink, walk, sleep and wake up, I do the same.

00:50Mr. Kareem, we would like to know how you came into the film industry.

00:56There is a big story behind this.

01:00I had to struggle a lot.

01:02The family I belong to was very strict.

01:06My father was in the government service.

01:12And when I came into the film industry, it was considered very bad.

01:22It was 1943.

01:28The war was on.

01:32I started my life as an assistant cameraman in Arora studio in Kolkata.

01:43How old were you then?

01:45I was just 19.

01:50So when you were an assistant, did you want to become a hero?

01:54Yes.

01:55When I was an assistant, I saw the artists and as I worked on the stage, I had a desire.

02:07So when you suddenly got the role of a hero...

02:10Yes, I was very happy and at the same time, I was very nervous.

02:17I don't even remember how many glasses of water I drank on the first day of the shoot.

02:25I drank a lot of water.

02:27So when you started your career, did you watch more Bengali films or Hindi films?

02:33I used to watch more Bengali films and Hindi films at the same time.

02:42Daravani, Ashok Kumar's films.

02:46I have seen almost all of his films.

02:50I have seen all of his films.

02:53He worked in those days.

02:55Bandhan, Jhula, Kangan, Qismat.

02:59Qismat set a record in our wartime.

03:03I didn't get a chance to watch a lot of films.

03:07In those days, I was so involved in the film industry that I didn't get a chance to watch.

03:15The truth is that in today's world, most people don't have that talent.

03:23In those days, like PC Barua, like Devki Babu, even Mr. Vishwanathan Ram had this talent.

03:31Most people couldn't even imagine that an actor or an artist could play this role.

03:41Apart from that, they couldn't even imagine that they could do it.

03:48Did you have scandals in your time?

03:51Yes, we did.

03:53But not that much.

03:55Did you have romances?

03:57Romance is a very natural thing.

04:00After a romantic scene, it becomes a hangover for the artist.

04:12Even in that hangover, he dreams of Tara Tara at night.

04:17Frankly speaking, I still love Meena.

04:24I respect and love her as a friend.

04:30I used to enjoy working with her.

04:35Even today, I wish she was alive so that I could play this role.

04:42I am listening to her soul.

04:44Mr. Pradeep, would you like to say anything to end this interview?

04:48Because you have a lot to say.

04:51What should I say?

04:53I don't want to give any advice.

04:55I want to say to all my friends in the film industry that let them keep the flag flying.

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