Pran- The villain who almost became the Hero

In a distinguished career spanning 60 years, Pran has played an enviable variety of roles, which
includes acting as a villain, comedian and even a hero.

Gentle in nature and courteous in disposition, Pran has a special way with people, which binds them to
him with enduring affection, esteem and loyalty. A true index of his greatness. He is known to be
very sensitive to human sufferings and is ever compassionate towards the needy....

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Born on 12th. February,1920 at Delhi in the lap of luxury in a prosperous family, his father late
Lala Kewal Krishnan Sikand was a Government Civil Contractor....As a child he had studied in Meerut,
Kapurthala, Unao, Dehra Dun, & Rampur. He is very fond of dogs, and has always had a dog for a
pet since his childhood to date.

He wanted to become a professional photographer and joined A. Das & Co. as an apprentice, for which
he re-located to Simla.it was in Simla that he landed his very first role as an actor, albeit on stage
with Madan Puri, and played the role of Sita in 'Ramleela'......

Pran happened to meet well-known filmmaker Mohammed Walli outside a "paanshop" in Lahore where
he was learning still-photography. This meeting changed young Pran Kishen Sikand's life forever.

Walli found the young man's face interesting and recommended him to his friend, Dalsukh Pancholi,
who cast him as a villain in his Punjabi film Yamla Jat (1940). Another Punjabi film
Chaudhary (1941) followed, where Pran played the villain again. Both these films were hits
and Pancholi next cast Pran as the hero in his next film, Khandaan (1942) as a hero
opposite Noor jehan.

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Pran with Anjana in his first film Yamla Jat (1940)

Even though Khandaan was a major hit and Pran was flooded with offers to play hero, Pran
turned them all down, because as he says he didn't fancy chasing girls around trees. Pran acted in 22
films as a villain before his career came to a pause in the wake of the partition. Accompanied by his
wife and 18-month-old son, he came to Mumbai, where the going wasn't easy.

He had all but given up on a career in films, when he ran into Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Monto
and the late actor Shyam, who managed to get him a villain's role in the Dev Anand-Kamini
Kaushal starrer Ziddi, which was directed by Shaheed Lateef.He was paid Rs. 500 for
the film, of which Pran demanded Rs. 100 in advance, to celebrate the break!

Ziddi, was followed by films like B.R. Chopra's Afsana (1951), Raj Kapoor's Aah
(1953), O.P. Dutta's Malkin (1953) and Bimal Roy's Badi Bahu (1954).
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Among his notable roles are the title role of Halaku (1956) and the fearsome 'Rekha' in
Raj Kapoor's Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai. Having played all kinds of 'negative' characters Pran
took everybody by surprise by playing a positive character in Manoj Kumar's Upkaar (1967).

More positive characters followed in films like Parichay, Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool, Zanjeer, Majdoor,
Kasauti, Dus Numbri, Kaalia, Don, Victoria no. 203, Naseeband Amar Akbar Anthony. Roop Tera
Mastana (1972) was his last film as a villain.

Pran even played Valmiki in a mythological entitled Luv-Kush.....

As told by Kuldip Dhiman.....

"It is the climax scene of Ram aur Shyam. Dilip Kumar is on the one end of the
screen, presently Pran appears with a whip in his hand. There is a lull in the cinema hall.

As Dilip Kumar snatches the whip from Pran's hand and begins to whip him mercilessly, Dadi ma,
the childless Sindhi woman of our neighbourhood suddenly began to cry out, "Maar. . . aur maar isko!
Ek aur maar. . . bahut sataya hai isney."

After the show an informed person told Dadi ma that Pran was a bad man only on the screen; in real
life he was actually a wonderful person. Dismissing the man, Dadi ma said, "Woh aadmi to achcha ho
hi nahin sakta".

That was the kind of intense loathing Pran managed to evoke in filmgoers."



Pran has won many awards in his life time.....

* 1967 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Upkaar
* 1969 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aanso Ban Gaye Phool
* 1972 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Be-Imaan (Pran refused to accept)
* 1973 - Filmfare Best Actor Award for Biraj Bahu
* 1972 - Filmfare Best Actor Award for Parichay
* 1997 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

The legendary "Villain of the Millennium" has had a marathon six decades long career in Hindi Cinema
and is one of the most celebrated actors of the industry....

Pran married Shukla in 1945, and has two sons, Arvind & Sunil, and a daughter, Pinky. He
now enjoys a secluded life with his family.

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with wife Shukla


He has acted in over 300 films in his six decade spanning career..
some prominent films include....

# Barsat Ki Ek Raat (1948)
# Biraj Bahu (1954)
# Azad (1955)
# Munimji (1955)
# Chori Chori (1955)
# Devdas (1956)
# Tumsa Nahin Dekha(1957)
# Madhumati(1958)
# Chhalia (1960)
# Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
# Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961)
# Dil Tera Diwana (1962)
# Half Ticket (1962)
# Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon(1963)
# Mere Mehboob(1963)
# Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
# Rajkumar (1964)
# Mere Sanam (1965)
# Shaheed (1965)
# Do Badan (1966)
# Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966)
# Love in Tokyo(1966)
# An Evening In Paris(1967)
# Pathar Ke Sanam(1967)
# Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
# Milan (1967)
# Upkar (1967)
# Safar(1968)
# Brahmchari (1968)
# Anjaana(1969)
# Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai (1969)
# Pyar Hi Pyar (1969)
# Ganwaar(1970)
# Tum Haseen Main Jawan(1970)
# Gopi (1970)
# Heer Raanjha (1970)
# Victoria no.203(1972)
# Zanjeer (1973)
# Amar akbar Anthony(1977)
# Sharabi (1984)

Yes, Pran's portrayal of a villian has been very effective. The above incident indicative of tht fact. Besides, I heard abuses being showered on him in the cinema-hall at his wicked characters. He looked and sounded very loathsome in DIL DIYA DARD LIYA supposed to have been directed by A.R. Kardar according to the titles, but in fact directed by Dilip Kumar who brought the best in Pran's role there. In my opinion, he has been the best of villians.

Here is the official site of PRan saab ( Header says " villian of the millenium")


http://www.pransikand.com/


there are few clips as well for dload !


Wish you good health Pran saab !


Sonu

PS : Thanks Reeth ji for posting this great article on Pran ji !

I agree........he has been the best and another actor(villain ) who came close to him was K.N.Singh...so sauve and restrained in his acting...

Most welcome Sonu, can you please cut that JI out .........just Reeth would do........