Raza Murad has credited Raj Kapoor with the casting decision that made him a screen villain. In a social media post, the actor recalled that Prem Rog (1982) was his first film as an antagonist, and wrote that Raj Kapoor “rediscovered me as a baddie.” The role was Thakur Virendra Pratap Singh of Sumergan.
Three films, one banner
The Prem Rog role started a rare run. Murad went on to play the principal villain in three consecutive productions under the RK Films banner:
- Prem Rog, 1982 – Thakur Virendra Pratap Singh of Sumergan, his first negative part.
- Ram Teri Ganga Maili, 1985 – another prominent antagonist role for RK Films.
- Henna, 1991 – Shahbaaz Khan, a scheming Pakistani police officer.
He described the experience as a piece of good fortune. “I consider myself very lucky to have played the main villain in three consecutive films under the prestigious RK banner,” Murad wrote.
Why the casting matters
For readers who follow Hindi cinema’s history, the recollection is a reminder of how a single production could reposition an actor. Prem Rog gave Murad a clear type: an authority figure with menace, set against the film’s emotional story. The association with Raj Kapoor and RK Films then certified that type for the industry.
That kind of repeat casting was not routine. A banner with RK Films’ prestige could pick a new villain for each project or fall back on a tested name. Returning to Murad three times suggested working trust—and gave the actor a calling card that lasted far longer than any single film.
The dates also tell the story. Prem Rog arrived in 1982, Ram Teri Ganga Maili followed in 1985, and Henna came in 1991. Across nearly a decade, the banner kept returning to Murad for the antagonist’s role.
After the RK run
Murad said he never looked back. His later credits include Tridev, Mohra, Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Jodhaa Akbar, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat and Gangubai Kathiawadi. He was last seen in the television series Megha Barsenge.
Separately, Murad recently criticised Bollywood stars for not attending the funeral of Mushtaq Khan, who died on 24 September. That dispute is distinct from the retrospective, but it shows the same blunt voice that has long accompanied his screen persona.
Source: Telangana Today
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