Introduction: Prem Nath Birth

As we celebrate Prem Nath’s 98th birth anniversary on November 21,
his grandson filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra recalls the volatile legend.
In an interview with Zoom, the director shared his memories of the actor and
talked about he and his father Prem Kishan have carried his legacy ahead.

What do you recall of your grandfather Prem Nath?

He died when I was 11 years old. For most of my formative years and till now,
we have learned about them.

And what have known about him?

He was a philanthropist, a man who donated a lot for peace,
a man who knew more than 108 musical ragas, a spiritual
man and was also a wild man in his younger days.

Prem Nathji started as leading man in Badal and Naujawan and eventually became a powerful character actor

An actor who started at his peak, he saw a downfall as he
didn’t want to play villain and his wife (Bina Rai)’s career
was skyrocketing. He then began his journey to spiritualism,
after which he came back as a number one character actor and charging
fees only he could and then his foot problem.

Did you get to spend time with him?

As a grandson, I remember asking him the most uncomfortable questions as a child.
I wish he were alive today. There was so much to learn from him…
so much to talk about and so much to discuss!

Your father, Prem Nathji’s son Prem Kishan and you continue his legacy.

His work will always be remembered and we will always be
grateful for those genes and we hope we take that genius and name to the next level.
He and my Dadi from up there bless me and are proud of me for continuing his
legacy to tell stories, entertain and try and be a
better human being in every way each day.

How was Prem Nathji as a grandfather?

Very warm, gentle and fun. I remember sitting with him in his den as he
showed me films in his theatre. My affinity to films and watching
cinema since a baby was all thanks to him. But he was much more than an actor and cineaste.

Tell us.

His sense of humour was amazing too and the knowledge to
have a conversation on any topic I’ve always seen the respect
he got from the entire family and the way his eyes sparkled at yummy food.