Pradeep Kumar (born Sital Batabyal; 4 January 1925 – 27 October 2001) was an Indian actor who is recognized for his work in Hindi and Bengali language films. With a career spanning across five decades, Kumar is widely considered one of the greatest, most graceful and regal actors in the history of Indian Cinema.
When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. He started his film career in Bengali films. His notable roles in Bengali films were in Alaknanda (1947), directed by renowned filmmaker Debaki Bose, and in 42 (1951).
Kumar then shifted to Bombay and Filmistan studios, and had an important role in the film Anand Math (1952). He played the lead role with Bina Rai in Anarkali (1953) and with Vyjayanthimala in Nagin (1954). Both films were very popular and had songs that added to the movies' success. He worked with Madhubala in eight films, of which Raj Hath (1956), Shirin Farhad (1956), Gateway of India (1957), Yahudi Ki Ladki (1957) and Passport (1961) were massive hits. He had a spate of releases in the second half of the 1950s. He did not enjoy as much success in the 1960s, though Ghunghat (1960), Aarti (1962) & Taj Mahal (1963) were successful. He worked with Meena Kumari in seven films; Adil-E-Jahangir (1955) , Bandhan (1956), Aarti (1962), Chitralekha (1964), Bheegi Raat (1965), Bahu Begum (1967), Noor Jehan (1967) and Saat Phere (1970); with Mala Sinha in eight films; Badshah (1954), Naya Zamana (1957), Detective (1958), Ek Shola (1958), Fashion (1959), Duniya Na Mane (1959), and Mitti Mein Sona (1960).
He also worked with the legendary Bengali actor and matinee idol Uttam Kumar in Grihadaha in 1967 which was produced by Uttam himself and then he worked in Plot No 5.
He did not get to act with the newer heroines of the 1960s such as Sadhana, Saira Banu, Babita or Sharmila Tagore, though he did work with Asha Parekh in Ghoonghat and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen and with Waheeda Rehman in Rakhi (1962). In 1969, he moved to character roles with Sambandh and Mehboob Ki Mehndi. Some of his later films include Jaanwar in 1982 and Razia Sultan in 1983.
He won the Kalakar Award - Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).
Pradeep Kumar had three daughters, Beena Banerjee, Meena Chatterjee, Reena Mukherjee and a son Deviprasad Kumar Batabyal. His brother Kalidas (Batabyal) was a director who directed Kumar in several movies. Kumar died in Calcutta on 27 October 2001, at the age of 76. His daughter Beena Banerjee plays character roles in movies and TV serials including Uttaran; her son Siddharth Banerjee worked as assistant director in Sajid Khan's Housefull 2 (2012) and Himmatwala (2013).