There is a scene in Jaya Bachchan’s ‘Guddi,’ where she as actor Dharmendra’s fan girl, is visiting , her hero on the sets of his film and Pran sahab, playing himself walks in to greet his co-star. Guddi who is so influenced by films and film roles dissuades Dharmendra from trusting Pran. The clip here!
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An aspiring photographer turned actor Pran Krishan Sikand, started with unsuccessful hero roles to then become Indian cinema’s most stylish villain. Pran’s first role as an actor dates back to 1938, wherein he portrayed the character of Sita to Madan Puri’s Ram during a local Ram Lila show in Shimla. He started his acting career in 1940 with the Punjabi film ‘Yamla Jat,’ and acted in about 22 films, before the Partition of India, most of which were released by 1947.
The legendary actor was born in old Delhi’s Ballimaran area on february 12th 1920. Over a career that spanned 5 decades, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and he was awarded as the “Villain of the Millennium” by Stardust in 2000. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 for his contributions to the arts and in 2013 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 2010, he was named on the list of CNN’s Top 25 Asian actors of all time.
Pran turned to successful character roles towards the later part of his career. A much loved and respected artiste, his look, voice and keen observation of people ( who he photographed to fashion his look) has made him an indelible part of Indian cinema.
He dominated Bollywood from the 1940s to the 1990s and rose to eminence with his negative roles between 1942-1991. He ruled the 1950’s and 60’s. Known for his sharp suits and pencil thin moustache, his proverbial grin and a sly look, he was the suave villain and at one time drew more remuneration than the leading man of the film.
So impactful were his villanous roles that for several years in India, parents would desist from naming their children ‘Pran.’He worked in 362 films. He played the leading man in works such as Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956). He is best known for his roles in Madhumati (1958), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Upkar (1967), Shaheed (1965), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Johny Mera Naam (1970), VictoriaNo203 (1972), BeImaan (1972), Zanjeer (1973), Majboor (1974), Don (1978), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Duniya (1984).
Pran Sahab died on 12 July 2013 at the age of 93. We cherish his work and he stays as one of the biggest names of the Bollywood pantheon.
