# Praveen Kumar Sobti

Praveen Kumar Sobti (6 December 1947 – 7 February 2022) was an Indian hammer and discus thrower, actor, politician, and soldier with Border Security Force. As a 20-year-old he joined then newly raised Border Security Force from where he attracted the attention of his officers through his fine athletic skills and went on to represent India at various athletic events in "Discus throw". As an athlete he won four medals at the Asian Games, including two gold medals, won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games and competed in two Olympics. As an actor, he starred in more than 50 Hindi films and played the famous character of Bhima in B.R. Chopra's television series Mahabharat that started in 1988. As a politician he contested the 2013 Delhi Legislative elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket, but lost.

## Sports

Kumar was a star of Indian athletics in the 1960s and the 1970s. He dominated the Indian hammer and discus throws for several years. He won gold medals in the discus throw at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games, holding the Asian Games record of 56.76 metres. He was a silver medalist in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston and in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. He competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.

## Cinematic journey

Praveen Kumar's debut film was Raksha, a James Bond style Bollywood movie starring Jeetendra with him playing a large henchman gorilla inspired by Jaws of The Spy Who Loved Me. He did similar role of Justin, a large henchman fighting against Jeetendra in Meri Awaz Suno.
Praveen Kumar earned national acclaim when he played the role "Bheem" in B R Chopra's popular mythological television serial Mahabharat, making him a household name. He played the role of "Saaboo" in Chacha Chaudhary (the TV series) for a large number of episodes.
After the Mahabharata serial, he got many acting roles in Indian films, though he cut down on his acting career, in order to launch his political career in Haryana and Delhi. He also acted in the famous comedy Tamil film Michael Madana Kama Rajan as a Body Guard.
Praveen Kumar was the actor to take the first blow of one of the most successful and famous punch dialogues of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, "Rishte Mein to Hum Tumhare Baap Hote hain, naam hai Shahenshah!" in Tinnu Anand's blockbuster Shahenshah. He played the semi-comedic role of the legendary "Mukhtar Singh", a drug dealer who later becomes a dairy owner, upon being beaten up by Shahenshah.

## Politics

In 2013 Kumar joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He contested the Delhi assembly elections from the Wazirpur constituency on an AAP ticket, but lost. The next year, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

## Death

Praveen died from a heart attack in New Delhi on the night of 7 February 2022, at the age of 74.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Raksha | Gorilla | |
| 1981 | Meri Aawaz Suno | Justin | |
| 1982 | Ghazab | Henchman | |
| 1982 | Pralaya Rudrudu | Bearhug | Telugu Film |
| 1983 | Humse Na Jeeta Koi | Smuggler Lobo | |
| 1983 | Hum Se Hai Zamana | Killer | |
| 1984 | Lorie | Goon | |
| 1984 | Raaj Tilak | Daku Lashkar Singh | |
| 1984 | Hum Hain Lajawab | Henchman | |
| 1984 | Jagir | Django D'costa | |
| 1985 | Karishma Kudrat Kaa | Zorawar | |
| 1985 | Yudh | Xaca | |
| 1985 | Zabardast | Goon | |
| 1985 | Aakhir Kyon? | Goon | |
| 1985 | Maha Shaktimaan | Goon | |
| 1986 | Singhasan | Kaal Bhairav | |
| 1986 | Manav Hatya | | |
| 1986 | Chambal Ka Baadshah | Daaku | |
| 1986 | Adhikar (1986 film) | Goon | |
| 1986 | Avinash | Street Goon | |
| 1986 | Bhulekha | As a Moti | Punjabi movie |
| 1986 | Raat Ke Baad | Zingagani | Henchman Wrestler in the cage fighting with Amjad Khan |
| 1987 | Naam O Nishan | Raaka | |
| 1987 | Khudgarz | Giant at Sports Club | |
| 1987 | Loha | Henchman | Shera's Man |
| 1987 | Hukumat | Goon | |
| 1987 | Dak Bangla | Ozo / Mummy | |
| 1987 | Diljalaa | Security Guard of girls hostel | |
| 1987 | Tera Karam Mera Dharam | Goon | |
| 1988 | Shahenshah | Mukhtaar Singh | JK's Man |
| 1988 | Mohabbat Ke Dushman | Contract Killer | |
| 1988 | Commando | Henchman | |
| 1988 | Maalamaal | Jallad Singh | |
| 1988 | Agnee | Chief of the natives | |
| 1988 | Bees Saal Baad | Goon | |
| 1988 | Pyaar Mohabbat | Street Goon | |
| 1988 | Dukh-Dard | Henchman | |
| 1988 | Mahabharat | Bhima | TV series |
| 1989 | Santosh | Kundan's Henchman | |
| 1989 | Raja Chinna Roja | Eye Patch Henchman | Tamil Film |
| 1989 | Mitti Aur Sona | Shingho | |
| 1989 | Ilaaka | Prisoner – Nagar's Henchman | |
| 1989 | Shehzaade | Street Gambler | |
| 1989 | Meri Zabaan | Wrestler | |
| 1989 | Lahu Ki Awaz | Killer | |
| 1989 | Elaan-E-Jung | Henchman | Kala Naag's Man |
| 1990 | Atishbaz | Kewal & Shamsher's Goon | |
| 1990 | Ghayal | Bheem Ji | Guest Role |
| 1990 | Aaj Ka Arjun | Henchman | Thakur's Man |
| 1990 | Kali Ganga | Hukumchand's Henchman | |
| 1990 | Sher Dil | Henchman | Ranjeet's Man |
| 1990 | Naaka Bandi | Henchman | |
| 1990 | Aag aur Angaray | Street Goon | |
| 1990 | Michael Madana Kama Rajan | Bheem | Tamil Film |
| 1991 | Shankara | Goga | |
| 1991 | Ajooba | Vazir's Man | |
| 1992 | Panaah | Bheem | |
| 1992 | Humlaa | Sher Khan | |
| 1992 | Waqt Ka Badshah | Goon | |
| 1994 | Beta Ho To Aisa | Ranjith | |
| 1994 | Kishkinda Kaanda | Truck Driver | Telugu Film |
| 1996 | Jaan | Goon | |
| 1996 | Ajay | Tiwari | |
| 1997 | Suryaputra Shanidev | Hanuman | |
| 1998 | Sham Ghansham | Goon | |
| 1998 | Train to Pakistan | Goon | |
| 2013 | Mahabharat Aur Barbareek | Bhima | Movie directed by Dharmesh Tiwari |