Feel The Pride
Rannvijay Singh Sangha
Born on march 16 , 1983 in Jalandhar city , Punjab Rannvijay Singh came on to the scene as a contestant in a popular show hosted by MTV by the name of ‘Rodies’ .Rannvijay was born in a Jatt Sikh family . His father is an officer with the Indian Army , making Rannvijay’s six generation male ancestors to be directly related to the Indian Army . He did majority of his studies from different boarding schools as his father’s transfer of service in the army required the family to keep on moving . Although Rannvijay Singh was all set to join the Indian Army after passing the exams and clearing the medical test, he participated on MTV Rodies Season 1 in 2003 and emerged as a finalist .He participated in the show for the bike that they were offering to the winner . He says if not for the entertainment industry he would have definitely joined the army . After ‘Rodies’ , Rannvijay Singh took on to hosting the show and as well as judging it in recent seasons . He says he didn’t want to be in the limelight but destiny took its path and today he’s acting in several films and has many projects lined up . He made his Bollywood debut with the film ‘Toss: A flip of destiny’ that was released in August 2009 and also featured Aarti Chabbria and Ashmit Patel .The same year, his next movie , ‘London Dreams ‘,was released in October, which was a big budget production and also starred some of the biggest Bollywood actors like Salman Khan , Ajay Devgun and Asin. In 2011 Rannvijay Singh forayed into the Punjabi film industry with the political thriller ‘Dharti’ , where he worked with actors like Jimmy Shergill and Prem Chopra. Rannvijay Singh did so due to requests from friends and relatives living abroad . The film was a great success and he continued his journey in Punjabi industry with project like ‘Taur Mittran di’ and ‘Saadi love story’. Rannvijay worked for ‘Reliance Communications’for a series of television commercials as well . His future project includes the film ‘Mango’ with Monali Thakur, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Swara Bhaskar making up the starcast .
Puneet Issar
Born on November 6 , 1959 ,Puneet Issar is the son of film director Sudesh Issar. He is married to Deepali, daughter of Punjabi actor Diljit puri and Bengali singer Ashita Puri, and sister of Satyajeet Puri. Puneet has two children, a daughter and a son, Nivriti and Siddhant. Puneet Issar starred as a villain in several movies during the 1980s and 1990s, like Zakhmi Aurat, Jagruti, Kal Ki Aawaz, Palay Khan, Teja, Prem Shakti and many more, which include the Mohanlal starrers Yodha and Pingami, Salman Khan starrers Sanam Bewafa, Chandramukhi and Suriyavanshi, Akshay Kumar starrer Aashant and multi-starrers like Kshatriya .Other than being a trained actor himself, Puneet Issar has also been a speech, diction and method acting professor. He also is a trained mixed martial artist and is skilled in disciplines like kung-fu, karate, boxing and wrestling . Puneet Issar is an Indian actor and director, most famous for his role as Duryodhana in the TV adaptation (1988–1990) of the Mahabharatta, and directing Garv: Pride and Honor (2004) starring Salman Khan .Puneet Issar’s other notable roles are in Border, 1997 war film, directed by J.P. Dutta and second lead in cult Indian horror film Purana Mandir in 1983.He started his career with the movie Coolie in 1983. During filming an action sequence of this movie, he accidentally injured Amitabh Bachchan nearly fatally and suffered industry’s backlash due to it. The accident received wide world coverage and hit the headlines in the UK, something unheard of at the time, and many Indians prayed in temples or offered to sacrifice their own limbs to save him. Nevertheless he spent many months recovering and resumed filming later that year after a long period of recuperation. Puneet Issar has also directed TV serials such as Hindustani and Jai Mata Ki starring Hema Malini. He has starred in over 12 TV serials like Junoon, Sahil, Noor Jahan, Vikram Aur Betaal and many more. Puneet Issar has appeared in over 1800 episodes on Indian television. He played the role of King Bimbisara in the feature film Gautama Buddha – The Life and Times of Buddha. He also starred in Left Right Left of the Indian Channel Sab TV. Puneet Issar has also worked in number of Punjabi films such as ’Rab Ne Banayian Jodiyan’ which had the starcast of Ranjeet, K.B. Singh, Babbu Maan, Jas Pandher, Niloufer as well . Puneet Issar has also given a brilliant display of his acting skills in the mythological film Suryaputra Shanidev, which released in 1997.
Prem Chopra
Prem Chopra was born in Lahore , Punjab on 23 September 1935.He was the third of their six children and was brought up in Shimla after his family shifted there after India’s great partition. His father had always wanted his son to be a doctor.But Chopra had already started participating in many English and Hindi plays during his time in Shimla .Later on his father told him to complete his graduation and thereafter head to Bombay . Prem Chopra pursued his graduation from Punjabi University , Patiala .When Chopra arrived in Bombay he first got a job in Times of India’s subscription department and consequently started his struggle .He went to many studios but none accepted him . Then one day while travelling in a local train a stranger asked him if he wants to make a career in acting . Chopra replied with a yes and the stranger took him to a Punjabi producer who eventually signed him as a hero in the film .Even after getting the film Prem Chopra didn’t leave his job .He started getting films but they weren’t doing well . Then came along a film titled ‘Shaheed’ in which he played the role of freedom fighter Sukhdev Thapar. But after the film ‘Upkaar’ Prem Chopra could no longer continue with his job . The movie was critically applauded .Some of his other notable performances came in movies like ‘Bhai Bhai’ (1997), ‘Khiladi’(1992) ,’Raja Babu’ and so on .Prem Chopra married to Raj Kapoor’s wife’s sister Uma, and they have three daughters. A legendary villain in most of the 400 movies he has been part of , Chopra’s career spans over five decades . Besides Hindi films, his works also include numerous Punjabi films. His contribution to the Hindi film industry has been immense and he has indeed left an enduring mark which has been very much difficult to repudiate . Prem Chopra’s trade mark dialogue “Prem Naam hai Mera , Prem Chopra” came to him in a film titled ‘Bobby’ which was offered to him by the great Raj Kapoor . Raj Kapoor told him that it is a guest appearance and he had only a single dialogue . Prem Chopra didn’t understand the concept right away but later his co-actor explained to him that if the movie does well then this dialogue will be popular in every household . The rest is history .
Parmeet Sethi
Born on 14 October 1961 in punjab , Parmeet Sethi is a well known tv actor and a director as well . Sethi passed out of Sydenham college of commerce and economics .He married to Archana Puran Singh, a film and television actress, on 30 June 1992. They have two sons Aaryamann and Ayushmaan. Parmeet Sethi is the cousin of TV actress Niki Aneja Walia.Sethi received his first claim to fame with Yash Chopra film ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge’ (1995), in which he played the character of Kuljeet. Parmeet Sethi later starred in ‘Dilijale’ (1996) as Captain Ranveer with Ajay Devgan and Madhoo. Parmeet Sethi also starred in the critically acclaimed Punjabi film ‘ Des Hoya Pardes’.Jaidev Kumar composed the music for playback singers Gurdas Maan, Jagjit Singh, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Bhupinder Singh, Arvinder Singh and Simi. The cast of the film includes the likes of Gurdas Maan , Juhi Chawla , Divya Dutta , Sudhir Pandey and Madhumalti Kapoor .The film got National Award for the best regional film and the actor Gurdas Maan got the Special Jury Award . Parmeet Sethi shot to fame in his TV career when he was chosen for the main lead in the Dubai based TV serial called ‘Dastaan’. Parmeet Sethi’s role was highly appreciated amongst the masses in this TV serial. He made his first directorial venture, Yash Raj’s ‘Badmaash Company’ starring Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma which was a success at box office. Not many are aware that Parmeet Sethi wrote its entire script with dialogues in just six days.
Om Puri
Winner of India’s fourth highest civilian award ,Padamshree Award, Om Puri was born on October 18 , 1950 in Ambala ,Haryana . He graduated from The Film and Television Institute of India and is an alumnus of the 1973 Class of Nation School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student . Om Puri has worked in not only in the Hindi and Punjabi film industries but in British and American films as well. Prior to his debut in Hindi movies , he was a well known theatre artist . Om Puri made his debut in 1976 with the movie , ‘ Gashiram Kotwal’ which was based on a Marathi play.It was made in response to the rise of Shiv Sena . Some of his prominent films in Hindi cinema includes ‘Gandhi’ (1982) , ‘Maachis’(1996) ,’Ardh Satya’(1982) , ‘Disco Dancer’(1982), ‘Chachi 420 ‘(1997) ,’Hera Pheri ‘(2000) . Om Puri has even worked in Hindi serials like ‘Kakaji Kaheen’ (1988) and ’Mr. Yogi’(1989) . Om Puri’s more recent Hindi film releases include ‘Singh is King’ , ‘Mere Baap Pehle Aap’ and ‘Billu’ . Puri had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film ‘Gandhi’(1982, directed by Richard Attenborough). In the mid-1990s, he played character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema, where his roles were more attuned to mass audiences than film critics. He became known internationally by starring in many British films such as ‘My Son,the Fanatic (1997),’East Is East’(1999) and ‘The Parole Officer’ (2001). Om Puri appeared in Hollywood films ‘City of Joy’(1992), opposite Patrick Swayze;’Wolf’ (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson,and ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ (1996) opposite Val Kilmer. In 2007, Om Puri appeared as General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson’s’ War,’ which starred Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Recently, Puri ventured into Punjabi films with films like ‘Putt Jattan De’(2013) which also has the starcast of Aman Dhaliwal, Isha Rikhi, Jaswinder Bhalla, Daljit Kaur, Sardar Sohi, Mandeep Kaur, Karamjit Anmol and many more. Om Puri is known for working on good character roles which are off-beat. Om Puri is a veteran actor who cannot be accused of playing something mundane and regular.
Madan Puri
A veteran actor with a career spanning over five decades and performing in over 400 movies , Madan Puri was born on January 11 , 1915 in Lahore , Punjab . A true legend who couldn’t be confined to any specific role as he played both negative and positive roles and has performed as a character artist. With the help of his first cousin,the legendary singer K.L Saigal , Madan Puri established himself in the Hindi film industry . He made his debut with a film titled ‘Ahinsa’ (1946) . He totaled an average of 8 films a year , playing not only villains and negative characters, but also the hero’s or heroine’s uncle, father or elder brother, grandfather, police officer and politician.Once Madan Puri became successful , he helped his younger brother Amrish Puri establish himself in the industry . Madan Puri made huge contributions to Hindi cinema and has performed in many Punjabi films . ‘Jatti’ and ‘Jatt Punjabi ‘ were some of the noted Punjabi films . Madan Puri’s performance was also applauded in films like , ‘Deewar’ , ‘Anurag’ , ‘Amar Prem’ , ‘Upkaar’ , ‘ Kati Patang ‘ , ‘Bidaai’ , ‘ Prem Geet’ , ‘Aadmi aur Insaan’ and many more . He was a resident of Venus Apartments on Worli Seaface in Mumbai. In 1985 , Madan Puri suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 69 . He had worked diligently that several films of his were released after his death . Madan Puri left behind three sons , Pravesh Puri , Kamlesh Puri and Ramnesh Puri who are all based in Mumbai.
Karan Kundra
Karan Kundra was born on October 11 , 1984 in Jalandhar,Punjab. Kundra is the youngest.He has three elder sisters. For his education, he went to Ajmer , Rajasthan and then later went on to Florida in the States where he got graduated with with an M.B.A . Karan Kundra made his debut in the television industry with the serial , ‘Kitani Mohabbat Hai’ . He got noticed in a show on Channel V by the name of ‘Gumraah- End of Innocence’ .The show was written by Vikas Gupta, Juhi Shekhar, Neeraj Udhwani and Amit Senchoudhary . It was directed by Kushal Zaveri, Vikram Rai and Suyash Vadhavkar .The serial was one of the most sensational youth crime based show which was well recieved critics . Karan Kundra participated in ‘Mr. India’ (2008) and won the title of ‘Mr. Style statement’ . Some of his recent projects include ‘Mere Yaar Kaminey’ and a Punjabi film titled , ‘Jatt Romatic’ which is to be released in the near future . The cast of ‘Jatt Romantic’ includes the likes of Diljit Dosanjh , Binnu Dhillon , B.N. Sharma , Jaswinder Bhalla , Neeru Bajwa , Benny Dhaliwal ,Rana Ranbir and many more . He also acted as ‘Prem’ in the Punjabi film , ‘Pure Punjabi’ , which was released in 2012. The movie was based on four close friends who share a zest for music and life . It was a Punjabi Musical Drama for all audiences.It was presented and produced by the producers of ‘Mel Karade Rabba’, ‘Jihne Mera Dil Luteya’, and ‘Yaar Annmulley’ . ‘Pure Punjabi’had the starcast of Nav Bajwa , Kanwar Zorawar Singh , Dhriti Saharan , Manjot Singh , Narinder Jattu and many more . Karan Kundra has recently been signed by well known film-maker Vikram Bhatt for a three horror film deal . The first in line of the three is ‘Horror’.The story is about seven friends . The cast includes Sheetal Singh, Nandani Vaid ,Ravish Desai among many others . Currently Karan Kundra is seen in Channel V’s television actor based serial , ’ The serial ‘.
Jimmy Shergill
If any individual who deserves some credit for his contribution towards Punjabi cinema in its earlier days,then Jasjit Singh Gill whom we know as Jimmy Shergill is one of the many . An actor and a producer , Shergill has worked in both Hindi and Punjabi cinema . Jimmy Shergill was born in Gorakhpur , U.P . He moved to Punjab in later years to study . He completed his degree with Honors in B.Com . His god brother who’s 10 years elder to him suggested that he should pursue films . After some convincing, Shergill went to Roshan Taneja’s Acting School without much ambition in making a career in Bombay . He later started to like the classes and his experience in Bombay . He spent a year plus in the acting school . Jimmy Shergill came to know about a film in the making with a Punjabi backdrop directed by Gulzaar Sahib with the title ‘ Maachis ‘ (1996) . Before Shergill knew , he was selected for a small but important role and got his first break .The film was about 1984 militancy period and was a hit . He got noted for his performance in movies like ‘Mohabbatein’ , ‘ Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai ‘ , ‘ Munna Bhai ‘ , ‘ Lage Raho Munna Bhai ‘ and ‘ My Name is Khan ‘.In Punjabi cinema, Jimmy Shergill made his debut with ‘ Yaaran Naal Baharan’ (2005) . He ventured into Punjabi cinema when the industry wasn’t doing well at all and Punjabi movies were few in number . He did this with the ambition that Punjabi cinema will grow , create a huge audience of its own and start churning films of supreme quality . Jimmy Shergill’s recent movie in Punjabi cinema was ‘Rangeelay’ which didn’t perform up to the mark . His future projects include ‘Bullet Raja’ in Hindi cinema and ‘Mitro-Mitro’ in Punjabi cinema .
Gulshan Grover
The “bad man” of Hindi film industry was born and brought up in Delhi . Gulshan Grover came to be known as bad manbecause of his negative roles in several of his films . Grover played as the villain in most of his pictures . Not only has he acted in Hindi cinema but also performed for Punjabi films and even some Hollywood films . Having acted in over 400 movies Gulshan Grover clearly owns tons of experience . In his earlier days, Grover earned his degree from Delhi’s Sri Ram College of Commerce and indulged with ‘Little Theater Group’ prior to Hindi films . Gulshan Grover made his debut in ‘Hum Paanch’ (1980) and consequently went on to do films like’ Rocky’ (1981) , ‘Sadma’(1983) ,’ Avataar’ (1983) and ‘Khatron ke Khiladi’ (1988) . Grover managed to sustain his career in India even though he worked in many international projects such as ‘Blind Ambition’(2008) ,’Breaking Waves’ (2011) and ‘Desperate Endeavors’ . His film ‘ i am Kalam ‘ got him a national award in 2011 for his role as a dhaba owner who encourages the poor Kalam ( ex-president of India ) . The film was also showcased in Cannes Film Festival .Gulshan Grover’s recent endeavors include films like , ‘Bullet Raja’ starring along with Saif Ali Khan and a film by the name of ,’Baat Bann Gayi’ where he plays a homosexual . He can be seen in international films such as, ‘Nephilim’ and ‘Prisoners of the Sun’. Grover has always experimented with his work and this is yet another step in proving his versatility .
Balraj Sahni
Hailing from the small town of Bhera,Sargodha District,Punjab(Pakistan) and belonging to a Punjabi Khatri family , Yudhishthir Sahni also known as Balraj Sahni was a famous Hindi film actor . Balraj Sahni contributed almost three decades in Hindi cinema . But many years before he joined cinema, he taught English in Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan in Bengal .Prior to being a teacher , Balraj Sahni went from Rawalpindi to Lahore and acquired his masters degree in English literature . He also held a bachelor’s degree in Hindi and a masters in English from Punjab University . He even worked with Mahatma Gandhi ji for a year in 1938. The following year, Balraj Sahni went to England and joined the BBC radio network as a radio announcer . He was always interested in cinema and on his return to India in 1943 , Balraj Sahni started his career with plays in IPTA(Indian People’s Theater Association ). His acting talent was recognized by the industry in Bimal Roy’s film ‘Do Bigha Zameen’(1953) . The film went on to win awards in Cannes film festival .During his tenure, Balraj Sahni acted with the top heroines of that time including Meena Kumari , Nargis, Vyjayantimala and many more. He is best remembered in the song ‘Ai Meri Zohara Jabeen’ . Balraj Sahni’s best critically acclaimed role was that of ‘Garam Hawa’ but he couldn’t evaluate his own performance as he passed away a day after the dubbing of the film in 1973 . Not only was he a teacher , radio announcer and an actor but also a talented writer . His earlier writings were in English but later on he switched to Punjabi literature where he was acknowledged as a reputed writer . One of Balraj Sahni’s best works in writing, included Guru Dutt’s ‘Baazi’ which he worked on for six months and presented it in the form of a leather bound script.