Praveen Kumar Sobti was an Indian actor, politician, hammer thrower and discus thrower. He was best known for his role as “Bheem” in the Indian epic television series Mahabharata (1988). He died in February 2022 of cardiac arrest.
Wiki/Biography
Praveen Kumar was born on Saturday, December 6, 1947 (aged 74 at the time of his death) in Sarhali Kalan, Punjab. His zodiac sign was Sagittarius. He went to a government school in Sarhali Kalan. While in school, he started participating in inter-school competitions. When his physical education teacher noticed his prowess in sports, he started sending him to participate in regional and state level sports events. He was so good at sports that his name was included in the discus throw event of the 1966 Commonwealth Games.
Praveen Kumar in his youth
appearance
Height (approximate): 6′ 6″
Hair color: Gray
Eye Color: Brown
Family and caste
Praveen Kumar Sobti was born into a Hindu family. He had 4 brothers and 1 sister. He was married at the time of his death. His son is an employee of Jet Airways. His daughter Nipunika Sobti was engaged to Akshay Kumar.
Sports career
Praveen started his career as a hammer thrower and discus thrower for India in the 1960s. He dominated the competition for several years due to his tall stature. In 1966, he won the gold medal at the Asian Games. In the same year, he won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston. Kumar won the gold medal again at the 1970 Asian Games and the silver medal at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. He also holds the Asian Games record of 56.76 meters. He participated in the Summer Olympics twice, first in 1968 and second in 1972.
Praveen Kumar won the gold medal at the 1966 Asian Games
Film and television career
Praveen made his screen debut in the 1981 Bollywood film Raksha, playing the role of ‘Gorilla’ (a gorilla inspired by the great white shark in The Spy Who Loved Me). He played a similar role in the film Meri Awaz Suno. In 1988, he gained popularity by playing the role of ‘Bhim’ in BR Chopra’s hit TV series Mahabharat. Next, he played the role of ‘Saaboo’ in the TV series Chacha Chaudhary. Later, he acted in many Hindi and regional films such as Lorie, Hum Hain Lajawab, Zabardast, Adhikar, Raat Ke Baad, Tera Karam Mera Dharam and Aaj Ka Arjun.
Praveen Kumar as Bheem in Mahabharata
Political career
Kumar started his political career by joining the Awami League Party (AAP) in 2013. In the same year, he contested the Delhi Assembly election from Wazirpur constituency but lost.
Praveen Kumar is a member of AAP
He subsequently left AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014.
Praveen Kumar is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Favorites
- Food: Lamb, chicken, fried fish
die
He died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Ashok Vihar, New Delhi on February 7, 2022. The actor was reportedly suffering from chronic chest infection problems.
Facts/Trivia
- He likes watching movies and traveling.
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- Praveen is a former soldier of the Border Security Force. He earned the title of Deputy Commandant of the Border Security Force for his outstanding performance in sports.
- Kumar is one of 12 soldiers of the Border Security Force of India who have received the Arjuna Award from the Indian government.
Praveen Kumar received the Arjuna Award in 1967
- In 1973, he was introduced to the Indian Cricket Federation by Ashwani Kumar, India’s representative to the International Olympic Council.
- In an interview with The Hindu in 2009, Praveen recalled his days as a sportsman. Comparing it with the present situation, he said:
I wanted my parents to be proud of my achievements and to represent my country in the Asian Games and Olympics in hammer throw and discus. I won gold medals in discus in the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games. I won a silver medal in the 1974 Tehran Asian Games. ”
He further added,
The atmosphere there was friendly and there was no threat from terrorists. However, all this changed at the 1972 Munich Olympics. I remember very clearly that I was going to the restaurant for breakfast when I heard several gunshots. Later my coach told me that some terrorists had sneaked in.
- Praveen shared in an interview that as a teenager, he used to wake up at 3 am to exercise by lifting the ingots of the mill his mother used to grind grains. At that time, there were no gyms where he lived.
Praveen Kumar is the actor who delivered the first punch in one of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s most successful and famous boxing dialogues, “Rishte Mein to Hum Tumhare Baap Hote hain, naam hai Shahenshah!” from the movie “Shahenshah”.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education