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.
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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.