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Prem Chopra: Villain characters make the narrative interesting
Updated On: 11 December, 2023 06:44 AM IST | Mumbai | PTI
In movies, Chopra has worked with four generations of the Kapoor family -- from Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, and Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ranbir Kapoor in recent years
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Prem Chopra. Pic/Yogen Shah
Villains make the narrative interesting but unlike the black and white portrayal of negative characters in the past, they are given a backstory in cinema today, says veteran actor Prem Chopra. The 88-year-old actor, who embodied evil men of all shades in the films of the 70s and 80s, is being praised for his guest appearance in Sandeep Reddy Vanga`s "Animal". Chopra said the negative characters were not justified in movies earlier and gave the example of his 1973 hit "Bobby". Directed by Raj Kapoor, the film starred Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in the lead. "In those days, we were stamped as the bad guys... It was in a straight way, whether Prem Chopra, Amrish Puri, Pran sahab or anyone else, it was like, `Yeh gadbad karne wale hain` (people knew that we were up to some mischief)," the veteran actor told PTI in an interview. "Like, in `Bobby`, I just had one dialogue and that became very popular. Raj (Kapoor) didn`t have to explain. People knew that he was going to do something," he said, recalling his most famous dialogue, "Prem naam hai mera, Prem Chopra". But in "Animal", Chopra said a reason has been given for Ranbir`s revenge in the film.
"The narrative was made interesting because of the negative characters (in the past). It is the same even now. They are a very important part of the film. Now-a-days, the difference is every negative character has a reason, how and why he has become a villain. "In `Animal`, there`s a reason why he (Ranbir) is like this and that`s because his father was shot and he had to take revenge," the actor said. Directed by Vanga of "Arjun Reddy" fame, "Animal" showcases a violent world set against the backdrop of a troubled relationship between Ranvijay and his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor. Chopra, whose career has spanned 60 years that saw him feature in many prominent movies such as "Do Raaste", "Purab aur Paschim", "Teesri Manzil", "Kati Patang", "Souten" and "Trishul", plays the role of the elder brother of Ranbir Kapoor`s grandfather The cinema veteran believes the audience has become more appreciative of a good performance, regardless of a positive or a negative role.
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