Deepak Parashar

glamour industry. Hence he convinced his parents and moved to Mumbai from Pune to make a career in films. Though he was widely appreciated for his handsome personality but nobody offered him roles. While struggling, he met eminent cinematographer Govind Nihalani, who later directed hit films like Ardh Satya and Aakrosh. Govind Nihalani was assisting Shyam Benegal hence he recommended Deepak’s name to Shyam Benegal, who offered him the job as outdoor location in-charge for his film Ankur (1974) staring Shabana Azmi. Later Deepak Parashar graduated to becoming second assistant director to Govind Nihalani in Shyam Benegal’s next film Bhumika(1977).

Deepak Parashar started as the most popular model in India. Though Deepak Parashar was working as assistant film director under legendary filmmakers like Govind Nihalani and Shyam Benegal but his heart wandered in glamour world and he wanted to become a hero. Hence when he read about a Personality Contest held in Delhi; he applied. To his pleasant surprise he won the prestigious Mr. India title while the gorgeous Nafisa Ali won Miss India and Poonam Dhillon as Miss Delhi. The Mr. India title brought Deepak Parashar close to his dream of glamour as he was immediately signed by Vimal Suiting’s as its sole model. Later he became a famous model for New Delhi’s Super Bazar. Soon he was India’s most sought after model. Deepak Parashar was given a major break by film legend B.R. Chopra After a successful modeling career, Deepak Parashar was offered many film roles but he patiently waited for the right role and was fortunate to be selected by B.R. Chopra for his film Insaaf Ka Taraju. The film dwelt with the hard-hitting subject about rape and the aftermath a rape victim undergoes when she fights to get justice in society. The film was basically women centric and had the talented Zeenat Aman playing the protagonist. Hence B.R. Chopra introduced two youngsters - Raj Babbar in the negative role and the good-looking Deepak Parashar as the hero. The movie was a huge hit and the unique Raj Babbar and Deepak Parashar Jodi became a hit after B.R. Chopra’s other hit film Nikaah. After this the two gave many hit films together like Aap To Aise Na The, Armaan, Achha Bura etc. Soon Deepak Parashar was offered big banner films like J.Om Prakash’s Apna Bana Lo with Jeetendra and Rekha; D. Rama Naidu’s Maqsad with Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna; B.R. Chopra’s Tawaif with Rishi Kapoor; Sultan Ahmed’s Datta with Mithun Chakraborty and last but not the least with Prakash Mehra’s Sharabi with Amitabh Bachchan. Deepak Parashar killed his career doing B-grade films On one hand Deepak Parashar’s career was sailing smoothly as he was working with prominent filmmakers and super stars of Bollywood but the only hitch was that Deepak was not getting pivotal role in A-grade movies. Hence in an attempt to became hero he did few B-grade horror films like Ramsay brothers Sannata and Purani Haveli. The average success of these horror films stereotyped him and he did a chain of such horror films like Khooni Murdaa, Insaan Bana Shitan, Ajooba Kudrat Ka, Aakhiri Cheekh, Hatyarin, Shaitani Ilaaka etc. The failures of these films tarnished the image of Deepak Parashar and he was abandoned by Bollywood in the late 90’s. Deepak Parashar got a new lease of ray on TV thanks to Mahesh Bhatt Deepak Parashar after failure in Bollywood repeated the same mistake on TV by doing stupid horrors show like The Zee Horror Show – Aafat. But eminent filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt brought him out from the sloth by giving him a role to match his regal personality of a business tycoon as Mahendra Malhotra in Mahesh Bhatt’s career’s most popular TV serial Swabhimaan (1995) on Doordarshan. The role opened doors and Deepak Parashar was back on tracks doing quality roles that gelled with his dashing personality like the royal Mughul King in the costume drama Chandramukhi and Rajput warrior in Chandrakanta. His other popular TV serial are Kahiin To Hoga, Rishtey, Kabhi Kabhi, Tamanna, Deewarein, Tujh Pe Dil Qurban, Dollar Bahu and Bigg Boss in session 1.