Om Parkash (A GOOD ACTOR, A GREAT MAN)

Om Prakash (19 December 1919 – 21 February 1998) was an Indian character actor. He was born in Jammu as Om Prakash Chibber. He used to play the role of Kamla in the stage play by the famous Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj Koliwada. Starting his career in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of the elite of the film industry. Some of his performances were so memorable thatthe lead actor in the film attributed the success of the film to him.
Om Prakash played the leading man in films like Dus Lakh, Annadata and Charandas. His pivotal roles in the films Dil Daulat Duniya, Chupke Chupke, Julie, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Pyar Kiye Jaa and Buddha Mil Gaya are considered to be among his best along with Daddu in Namak Halaal and De Silva in Zanjeer.
He is known for his roles in comedy films. One of his best performances in his later years were Naukar Biwi Ka, Sharaabi (1984) and Chameli Ki Shaadi, where he played a role that was pivotal for the movie.

Early life and education

Om Prakash Chibber was born in Jammu on 19 December 1919. He was fascinated by theatre, music and films. He started taking lessons in classical music when he was just twelve and was recognised as a master in no time.

Illness and death

He attended this office regularly till his health started failing him. He was confined to his bungalow (next to Ashok Kumar’s bungalow). He suffered his first heart attack in his own bedroom. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he suffered a second heart attack and went into a coma from which he never came out. He was declared dead at 1.30 pm on February 21. He died at age 78 in Mumbai, India of a heart attack. The news spread fast and the industry was shocked and stunned because he was the kind of man who could not be easily associated with something so somber and solemn like death.