Mumbai: Legendary actor Pran Kishan Sikand, popular as Pran, breathed his last at the Lilavati Hospital here late Friday evening following prolonged illness. He was 93. The funeral ceremony would take place in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Saturday at 12pm. Pran was chosen to receive the 44th Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement. He couldn't travel to Delhi to collect the award at the 60th National Film Awards ceremony, but he was especially honoured at his residence with Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari reaching there to confer the award. Original name Pran Krishan Sikand, actor Pran was born on 12 February 1920 in Delhi. Pran started his career as a professional photographer in Delhi then moved Mumbai for a new innings. Pran, who has acted in over
400 films in his six-decade-long career, retired from acting in 1998. Beginning his career as a hero in 1940 with 'Yamala Jat', Pran went on to achieve fame as a villain in numerous film including classics like 'Milan', 'Madhumati' and 'Kashmir Ki Kali'. The actor married Shukla Ahluwalia in 1945. Such was the magic of his unique on-screen villainy, that people stopped naming their children 'Pran' at the height of his fame as an actor. He later favoured character roles, playing the friend, beloved father and grandfather in movies like Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Zanjeer', 'Upkaar' and 'Parichay'. Pran’s iconic performance in Zanjeer (1973) with Amitabh Bachchan is known as landmark in Bollywood. Pran has won many awards including Filmfare Best Supporting Actor in 1967, 1969, 1972; Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He played the villain as convincingly in films like "Madhumati", "Ziddi" and "Ram Aur Shyam", with the same ease with which he slipped into character roles like the lovable Malang Chacha in "Upkar". Among his memorable movies are "Azaad", "Madhumati", "Devdas", "Dil Diya Dard Liya", "Ram Aur Shyam", "Aadmi", "Ziddi", "Munimji",
"Amardeep", "Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai", "Chori Chori", "Chhalia", and "Zanjeer". Under the patronage of then Maharashtra Governor Nawab Ali Yavar Jung, Pran conducted several charity shows for Bangladesh refugees in the aftermath of the 1971 war, and for underprivileged or disabled or blind children. One of the few in the film industry who would always answer his phone calls (if he was around), Pran had been ailing with old-age related diseases for the past few years, but several top industry personalities came eagerly to greet him on his 90th birthday. At 90, answering a question, he said: "If I am born again, I would like to Pran..." Reactions: Bappi Lahiri to ABP News: I was a fan of Pran Sahab since childhood. Bollywood saddened due to his death. I still feel he is with us right now, Sushma Swaraj: With the sad demise of Shri Pran, the country has lost an artist par excellence. Narendra Modi: Sad to know of demise of legendary actor Pran. He will be remembered for generations. Condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace. PM Manmohan Singh: Indian Cinema has lost an icon today. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family & Pran's countless fans and admirers. I pray for peace of the departed soul. Boman Irani: and Pran Saab is no more. Riteish Deshmukh: RIP Pran Saab - Thank you for entertaining us all these years- will miss you sir. Shivraj Singh Chouhan: A life well lived. May the soul of legendary actor Pran rest in peace. Abhishek Kapoor: oh dear.. RIP Pran saab.. thank you for all those wonderful movies. Sonam Kapoor: RIP :(, Manoj Bajpayee: May pran saab's soul rest in peace!in an industry of hero an villain he ruled the space he was given.thank you praan saab! Salim Khan: Pran was passionate and dedicated about his
work. He was also very punctual. Arjun Rampal: RIP Pran Saab, you immortalised so many characters, was fortunate to play one of them. You live in my heart forever. Manish Tewari: Indian Cinema lost an icon, actor who set new standards of acting with every role he portrayed. Bappi Lahiri to ABP News: I was a fan of Pran Sahab since childhood. Bollywood saddened due to his death. I still feel he is with us right now. Kabir Bedi: Farewell Pran sahib, Godfather of Indian villains, your legendary characters illuminated the annals of Indian cinema. Deepest respects. RIP, Shakeel Ahmed: A gentleman to the core and an actor par excellence Pran is no more.RIP. Digvijay Singh: I am extremely sorry to here this news. My condolences to the family. We remember him mostly as a villain. The film world will remember him as a great man. May his soul rest in peace. Smriti Irani: It’s your talent that will define your career as an actor not the tag of 'hero' or 'villain'-- that's the example set by Pran Sahab. RIP. Anupam Kher: Final Curtain Call for one of the Most Loved Actors of Indian Cinema. An Actor & A Gentleman. Pran Saab- We will miss you & your Warmth. RIP. Source: News-Bullet
