->Gotitbro at 18:20, 25 August 2021

2021-08-25T18:20:49Z

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{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|name = O. P. Ralhan
|image = O P Ralhan.jpg
|birth_date = 21 August 1928
|birth_place = Sialkot, Punjab, British India
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1999|4|20|1928|8|20}}
|occupation = Writer, Producer, Director and Actor
| nationality = Indian
| known for = Film: ''[[Phool Aur Patthar]]''
| relatives = [[Rajendra Kumar]] (brother-in-law)
}}
'''O. P. Ralhan''' (21 August 1928 - 20 April 1999) was a [[Bollywood]] producer, director, writer, actor who made several hit movies in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/O.P.-Ralhan|title=O.p. Ralhan: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref>

==Biography==
Om Prakash (O. P.) Ralhan was born on 21 August 1928 in [[Sialkot]], [[British India]], current Pakistan, into a prosperous [[Hindu]] Arora family. He was 19 years old when the [[partition of India]] happened. He and his family were compelled to leave home and hearth and move as refugees to the territory which remained with India. Here, having lost all their capital and business, they were compelled to work at small jobs to earn a living. O.P. happened to find work with film-makers. Around this time, something else happened which drew him closer to the film world. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ralhanproductions.com/|title=Ralhan Productions,production house,Indian film.|website=ralhanproductions.com}}</ref>

Ralhan played small roles in films from early 1950s to the early 1960s. By this time, his brother-in-law had become a very big film star, and he told Ralhan to produce a film starring him. Ralhan managed to get distributors to finance his first film: ''[[Gehra Daag|Gehra Daag (1963)]]'', with [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Mala Sinha]] in lead roles. The film was moderately successful, but Ralhan now had a foothold in the industry. Phool aur Phattar, directed by Ralhan himself, with a cast including Meena Kumari, Shashikala and Dharmendra, which went on to make him into a super star. The film was quite successful in Hindi & was also made in Tamil, "Oli Vilakku" starring M.G. Ramachandran, Jaya Lalithaa & Sowkar Janaki. However, he is best remembered as the Director (and also its producer) for film: ''[[Talash (1969 film)|Talash (1969)]]'' (Lead actors: [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Sharmila Tagore]]). The film was, and perhaps still is, quite enjoyable to watch and had excellent music by composer [[Sachin Dev Burman]]. It was the most expensive movie made of its time. Hulchul, was a film without any songs a Comedy suspense thriller. ''Bandhe Haath'' a Doppelgänger story starring Mumtaz & Amitabh Bachchan. "Mari Bena" was Mr Ralhan's venture into Regional films starring Reeta Bhaduri, Arvind Kirad, Dina Pathak & Mr O. P Ralhan. ''Paapi'' was a multi starrer with an ensemble cast of Sunil Dutt, Sanjiv Kumar, Zeenat Aman, Reena Roy, Prem Chopra, Danny Denzongpa. ''Pyaas'' was a film made on Social subject a Tax free film starring Tanuja, Zeenat Aman, Kawaljeet Singh & O.P Ralhan.

Among Ralhan's notable achievements are giving breaks to struggling actors and also introducing new actors in his films.<ref name=armaan>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/apr/20/5379|title=Interview with Armaan Ralhan|first=Sonal|last=Pandya|date=20 April 2017|website=Cinestaan}}</ref> He directed film ''Mujrim'' (1958) starring [[Shammi Kapoor]] and [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]]. He gave [[Dharmendra]] his first golden jubilee blockbuster with ''[[Phool Aur Patthar]]'' (1966) and made him a star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/entertainment/dharmendra-remembers-op-ralhan-reveals-why-he-took-off-his-shirt-in-phool-aur-patthar|title=Dharmendra remembers OP Ralhan, reveals why he took off his shirt in ‘Phool Aur Patthar’|first=Subhash K.|last=Jha|date=21 August 2020|website=National Herald}}</ref> [[Zeenat Aman]] was first introduced into Bollywood by O. P. Ralhan in his 1971 film ''[[Hulchul (1971 film)|Hulchul]],'' although people have a misconception that [[Dev Anand]] brought her in with ''[[Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971 film)|Hare Rama Hare Krishna]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/that-touch-of-class/722528/0|title=That Touch of Class|first=Rajiv|last=Vijaykar|date=10 December 2010|website=Indian Express}}</ref> Ralhan also introduced [[Kabir Bedi]] in ''[[Hulchul (1971 film)|Hulchul]]''.<ref name=armaan /> He cast [[Amitabh Bachchan]] in ''[[Bandhe Haath]]'' (1973) at a time when he was not yet a known name.<ref name=armaan />

O.P Ralhan's wife, Manorama, was the sister of actor [[Rajendra Kumar]]. Ralhan had no sons. His grandson Armaan (son of his daughter Rupalli) has taken his grandfathers last name 'Ralhan' to continue the legacy of his grandfather in Bollywood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cineblitz.in/news-gossip/o-p-ralhan-ashoka-talaash/|title=On O.P. Ralhan’s 20th death anniversary, daughter Rupalli vows to complete his dream project!|first=Shubham|last=Kulkarni|date=20 April 2019}}</ref>

==Filmography==
* Mujrim (1958)
*''[[Gehra Daag]]'' (1963)
*''[[Phool Aur Patthar]]'' (1966)
*''[[Talash (1969 film)|Talash]]'' (1969)
*''[[Hulchul (1971 film)|Hulchul]]'' (1971)
*''[[Bandhe Haath]]'' (1973)
*''[[Paapi]]'' (1977)
*''Mari Bena'' (1980) - [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] film
*''Pyaas'' (1983)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official|ralhanproductions.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0707705}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralhan, O.P.}}

[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian film directors]]

O. P. Ralhan - Revision history

->Gotitbro at 18:20, 25 August 2021