raj babbar

Raj Babbar (born 23 June 1952) is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad after defeating Dimple Yadav, the daughter in law of Mulayam Singh Yadav . This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of samajwadi party.

Early life

Babbar was born in Tundla, India. He is an alumnus of the 1975 batch of National School of Drama and graduated from Agra College.

Career

Acting life

He was trained in the Method school of acting at NSD, which has very strong leftist leanings, and interest in Street Theatre. After his training in New Delhi he moved to Mumbai to try his luck. He started opposite one of the well known actresses of that time Reena Roy in the Hindi film Sau Dina Saas Ke, which led to their having an affair which was helpful for his future career.^{[citation needed]} (100-days of mother-in-law).

He attained public recognition through a very well played role of a rich playboy-rapist in B.R. Chopra’s Insaaf Ka Tarazu (Scales of justice), which starred Zeenat Aman and was the debut film of the 13 year old Padmini Kolhapure.( There was a major controversy over the propriety of showing the horrific rape of a 13-year old on-screen, which was considered by most to be titillating and exploitative).^{[citation needed]}

He became a consistent player on B.R. Chopra Banner; Nikaah with Deepak Parashar and Salma Agha, Aaj Ki Aawaz with Smita Patil whom he had an intense affir with and subsequently married, despite being married with two children at the time.

He also achieved success in Punjabi cinema as he gave remarkable performances in Chan Pardesi (1980) and Long Da Lishkara (1986) – two arthouse movies, with serious themes treated in a mostly realistic manner – and a far cry from the melodramatic & almost hysterical tenor of most Punjabi films of the time.

He also starred in the hit Punjabi films Aasra Pyar Da (1983), Marhi Da Diva (1989), Mahaul Theek Hai (1999), Shaheed Uddham Singh (2000), Yaaran Naal Baharaan (2005), and Ek Jind Ek Jaan (2006). It has been said that Babbar often does Punjabi films for free, as an act of generosity to Punjabi cinema.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

He belongs to Hindu Punjabi culture , he married Nadira Zaheer, daughter of Theatre Director, Activist & his professor at The National School of Drama Sajjad Zaheer and Razia Zaheer. Arya Babbar and Juhi Babbar are his children from Nadira Babbar. His second marriage, which many feel was as self-serving & in the interests of his career as his first, was to the late Smita Patil – an actress who came from an influential & politically connected Maharashtrian family, and had already made a name for herself as one of the best actresses in India’s Alternative Cinema.

After the birth of their son Prateek Babbar, Smita Patil died of post-partum complications after few hours. After her death Raj Babbar made a tearful TV appearance which to many seemed contrived & insincere at the time. He subsequently patched up with his first wife Nadira Babbar, although Prateek Babbar lives with the parents of Smita Patil.

Juhi Babbar tried her hand at acting in 2003 in a film entitled “Kaash…Aap Hamare Hote” opposite singer-turned-actor Sonu Nigam. She has acted in a hit Punjabi film Yaaran nal Baharan with co- star jimmy shergill. She is now married.

Prateek Babbar recently debuted in Aamir Khan’s production and Abbas Tyrewala’s direction Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na where he plays the role of Amit Mahant, the quirky brother of the main female character, Aditi. His role has been very well received by both the general public and critics.^{[citation needed]}He was awarded a special mention certificate from the jury for this role at the 54th Filmfare Awards 2009.

Politics

He joined Samajwadi Party and became Member of Parliament of India three times from his native constituency of Agra.

Due to open criticism of Amar Singh, Raj Babbar was suspended from the party. Raj Babbar emphasized socialism as propagated by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, the basis of formation of Samajwadi Party, however Amar Singh has connections with industrialists and various celebrities in Hindi cinema, which brings influence and money-power essential for survival in India’s political system.

On 5 October 2008 he joined the Congress Party.

In November 2009, as a Congress candidate Raj Babbar defeated SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Dimple by 85,343 votes in the Firozabad Lok Sabha bypoll , Uttar pradesh.

Selected filmography