Praveen Kumar Sobti
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A brief biography
Amit Kumar, June 1, 2020: The Times of India
From: Amit Kumar, June 1, 2020: The Times of India
Praveen Kumar Sobti: Mahabharat's Bheem and an Asian Games champion who once chased Olympic dreams
NEW DELHI: The re-telecast of the epic TV series Mahabharat on television during the lockdown saw the show register record viewership numbers.
It's been one of the most loved and watched shows on Indian television, first when it aired on Doordarshan, beginning in October 1988 and now again. In the day and age of social media, the principal actors of the show are enjoying new found fame.
One among them though is not just a veteran actor, but also a champion sports person. The 6 foot 6 inch tall Praveen Kumar Sobti from Punjab, who played the role of Bheem in the extremely popular TV serial.
Praveen Sobti was a former hammer and discus throw athlete, is a four time Asian Games medallist (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) and also represented India in two Olympic Games (1968 Mexico Games and 1972 Munich Games).
The now 73-year-old went on to act in over 50 movies, including the 1987 Amitabh Bachchan blockbuster 'Shahenshah'.
Praveen’s journey from the athletics field to the silver screen was a fascinating one. Timesofindia.com caught up with the veteran athlete and actor for an exclusive interview to document his journey from winning medals for the country to entertaining millions through his acting.
BIGGEST PASSION: SPORTS OR CINEMA?
A former India hammer and discus thrower, Sobti's trophy cabinet at his house in New Delhi is full and he, of course, still remembers and cherishes those iconic medal winning moments.
“Film industry has given me a lot. But sports will always be my first love. I still cherish those moments. When you stand on the podium, with the medal hanging around your neck, it is an incredible feeling. Nothing can beat it. That is something no one can take from a sportsperson,” Sobti told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
“We didn’t earn money (through sports at that time), but earned a lot of fame and respect. People used to watch a lot of athletics. They came out in huge numbers. We felt like stars. But today, the scenario has changed. There is money but not fame,” he said.
OLYMPIC DREAMS
Apart from the National level medals and trophies he won, Sobti also bagged four Asian Games medals and one Commonwealth Games medal (1966 Games in Kingston). He won gold medals in discus throw at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games, both of which were held in Bangkok. He also won a bronze medal in hammer throw in the 1966 AsianGames.
In the 1974 Asian Games, he claimed the silver medal in Discus throw in Tehran. He is also an Arjuna awardee.
The one big medal missing in his cabinet is an Olympic medal.
“I have medals in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games but couldn’t win an Olympic medal. It was a dream which was left unfulfilled,” the 73-year-old said.
“I suffered a lot of back problems during my playing days but used to recover with desi nuskhey (home-made treatments). I was really passionate about sports and my parents, especially my father, supported me a lot. In those days, athletes didn’t earn much money, the way they do today. We earned a lot of fame. My father always wanted me to make him proud. My father wanted people to say 'he is Praveen’s father’. I respected his dreams and wanted to make him proud,” Sobti told TimesofIndia.com.
“In 1968, I was at the top of my game. I had a good physique and height and was capable of doing better than other athletes in hammer throw and discus throw. I didn’t get proper support from the government. Had they provided me with good training just some months before the Olympics, I would have won a medal for my country. Winning an Olympic medal would have been a cakewalk for me," the former Indian sportsperson said.
“I went for a trial in New Delhi. There were only two people (at that time) in hammer throw who could achieve 70m plus mark, a Hungarian and a Russian athlete. When my turn came, I threw almost 70 and qualified for the Olympics. I was really happy that I was going to the Olympics,” he recalled.
“I wanted to go to the Olympics and win a medal but for that I needed rigorous training. I told the secretary (Athletics Federation) that I want to go abroad and train ahead of the Olympics. He asked me to go home as the government is not ready to send me. I was furious, packed my bag and left for my village. I didn’t touch the hammer and didn’t practice for three weeks. After three weeks, I received a telegram from the Athletics Federation of India that ‘reach Delhi immediately’. When I reached Delhi, they said the government is ready to send you to the Olympics. I immediately started getting my papers ready – visa etc. I had to get my uniform stitched. The uniform was not of good quality”.
“For the first few days in Mexico, I didn’t get access to the practice ground. The place where I was asked to stay, it wasn’t that good. I faced a problem in arranging meals for myself. Athletics requires everyday practice and since I had not practiced for over a month, I wanted to get my focus back as soon as possible. When the day came, I couldn’t perform. I finished 20th at the Mexico Games. First, I was told I am not going and then all of a sudden, they said go. How can you expect a medal then? I didn’t get proper support from my federation and my coach. I went to the Munich Olympics as well in 1972. I couldn’t do well in Munich either. I finished 26th." he said while talking to TimesofIndia.com.
MOVIE CAREER
Praveen Sobti had a successful stint in track and field games. With medal-winning finishes, he won several hearts. Sometimes, people ran after him for autographs.
“I earned a lot of accolades in sports. Wherever I went, I got immense love. After leaving sports, I still wanted to be popular and known among my fans. I wanted to be in the limelight. That’s why I opted for cinema,” Praveen said. “I will share the incident. I went to Kashmir for a tournament in the late 70s. Ravikant Nagaich, who directed the movie 'Farz', gave me a break in the film industry. He told me I have a good physique and build and that I should try to get into movies. First, I refused, then he convinced me. I thought after sports, this is something which can help me be in the limelight. He signed me for a movie. I was asked to sit and laugh with a group of friends after the main actor's dialogues. I was not given a single dialogue in that movie. I didn’t like it because I wanted to deliver a dialogue,” Sobti recalled, while talking to TimesofIndia.com.
“Later, I got a break in a movie called 'Raksha' in 1981 and after a series of films, I got the role of Mukhtaar Singh in Amitabh Bachchan’s 'Shahenshah'," the 73-year-old said.
BECOMING ‘BHEEM’ OF MAHABHARAT
Praveen was mostly getting to play a goon or a henchman in Bollywood. He has over 50 movies in his resume, including the likes of - Raksha, Hum Se Hai Zamana, Karishma Kudrat Kaa, Yudh, Zabardast, Singhasan, Khudgarz, Loha, Shahenshah, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Ilaaka and others. But the role that would change his life forever was offered to him in the late 1980s – that of Bheem in BR Chopra's epic mythological TV series, Mahabharat.
“Children remember me as Bheem. Whenever I go out, they say ‘woh dekho, Bheem uncle, Bheem uncle’. I love it when they call me that, Sobti said with a laugh.
“People still bring their children to my place to seek my blessings. It is because of Mahabharat,” he said.
“One fine day, one of my close friends called me and said BR Chopra sir is going to produce Mahabharat and has got all the characters for the show, but is struggling to find Bheem. He said you have a good physique and acting experience and should try out. I made an appointment and went to meet BR Chopra sir. I met him and he signed me immediately. I had the physique and build to play the role of Bheem but the voice was the major problem,” Sobti said.
“After delivering a few dialogues for a couple of days, the crew came and said they will get the dubbing done by someone else. I got angry and said, ‘I am not a statue. I will not do the role without the dialogues. I requested them to give me a week’s time. Chopra sir said take a week and we will take a final decision then. I had one week’s time in hand. I bought a 'Mahabharat granth' and started practising the lines loudly in my house. There were some difficult words too. I used to write those on a piece of paper and repeat those again and again loudly. After one week, I went to the sets of Mahabharat and impressed everyone,” he said.
LOCKDOWN & THE POPULARITY OF MAHABHARAT
Amid the lockdown due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic, fans have got the chance to revisit the mythological shows now being re-telecast. The popularity of those mythological shows, including Mahabharat, can be seen in today’s generation as well who can be seen glued to the television screens.
“I always believed in destiny. It is destiny for me. I am really thankful to God for all this. I am thankful to BR Chopra sir as well. People used to watch in that era, but I am so happy that people are still watching Mahabharat. Mahabharat has more TRP than Ramayan and Shri Krishna today. All the characters have done an amazing job. BR sir has given everyone an identity," Sobti signed off.
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Avijit Ghosh, February 9, 2022: The Times of India
Olympian Praveen Kumar hurled his way to two gold medals in discus at the Asian Games and later drew instant recognition nationwide playing Bheem in ‘Mahabharat’ on television.
Built like a fort and an imposing six feet, six inches in height, Praveen Kumar Sobti had the power, coordination and body-size to excel in both discuss and hammer events. “If he had received the kind of training and other facilities available today, an Olympic medal would have been within his grasp,” Olympian and Asian Games gold medalist shot-putter Bahadur Singh told TOI. When his stellar athletics career was on the wane in the 1980s, Bollywood stepped in.
Ravi Tandon’s ‘Raksha’ (1982) marked his celluloid debut. He acted in about 50 films, notably ‘Meri Awaaz Suno’, ‘Khudgarz’ and ‘Shahenshah’. ‘Mahis life and Bheem became one of the most-loved characters of the serial. Apart from the two gold medals won at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games, Praveen also took a bronze in discus four years later.
