Pran Kishan Sikand was born on February 12, 1920 in old Delhi's Ballimaran area. His father was a civil engineer. Pran has three brothers and three sisters.

His father had a transferable job because of which the family were moved about from place to place including Dehradun and Meerut. After passing out of school, Pran joined a photographer's studio in Delhi as an apprentice.

Pran landed his first film role after a chance encounter with writer Mohammad Walli in Lahore's famous Hira Mandi market. Mohammed Walli introduced Pran to producer Dalsukh Pancholi who cast him as the villain in the 1940 Punjabi film Yamla Jat. The film was a hit and thus began a career which spanned over 60 years.

Yamla Jat was followed by Chaudhary (1942) and Khandaan (1942) in which Pran played the lead protagonist.

After partition, Pran moved to Bombay with his wife and son. He had almost given up hope of continuing a career in films, remaining unemployed and in dire financial straits for about eight months. It was then that he met renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto who, with actor Shyam, helped Pran get a role in Ziddi (1948) opposite Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal.

Ziddi proved a turning point and from that moment onwards, Pran's fortunes rose.

Pran played the baddie in a number of films during the 1950s and 60s featuring the era's superstars - Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor. Some of his memorable films from this period are Afsana, Sheesh Mahal, Azad, Munimji, Devdas, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Madhumati, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai and Ram Aur Shyam.

Pran's portrayal of Gajendra, the hero's tyrannical brother-in-law, in Ram Aur Shyam, brought villainy to the centrestage in Indian cinema. Pran's trademarks were his cold voice and signature sneer.

In 1967, Pran played a positive role in Manoj Kumar's hit film Upkar. His role as Mangal chacha was well received by people, and thus Pran is among the earliest Bollywood actors who managed to play against type.

The veteran actor was subsequently cast as both positive and negative characters, playing each role with equal ease. He played supporting roles in films including Shaheed, Purab Aur Paschim, Humjoli and Parichay.

From 1969 to 1982, Pran was the highest paid supporting actor in Bollywood. He was reportedly paid more than the heroes of some films he acted in. Pran appeared in almost every superhit film of the time.

Pran and Amitabh Bachchan were a successful pair in Bollywood. It was Pran who recommended Amitabh Bachchan to Prakash Mehra for the character of Vijay in Zanjeer, while he played the loyal friend Sher Khan in the film. Zanjeer was Big B's breakthrough film. The song, Yaari Hai Iman Mera, is still popular, second only to that other famous song on the theme of friendship, Yeh Dosti from Sholay .

Pran and Big B duo worked in 14 films together including Don, Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Dostana and Kaalia.Big B once tweeted about the actor, saying, "Many are not aware that though Pran Saheb played the villain to perfection, he had great sense of humour and poetry

In the 1980s, the actor accepted roles which did not demand any great physical exertion. During the late 90s, he all but retired, citing age, and only starred in two films, Mrityudaata and Tere Mere Sapne.

One of the most celebrated actors of the film industry, Pran has won several awards and honours including the prestigious Padma Bhushan, the Phalke Icon and Legendary Cine Versatile Cine Star Award by Dadasaheb Phalke Academy and four Filmfare awards.

He was named 'Villain of the Millenium' by Stardust magazine.

Pran married his wife Shukla in 1945, and has two sons, Arvind and Sunil, and a daughter Pinky.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Yesteryear actor Dilip Kumar, along with wife Saira Banu, attended legendary actor Pran's chautha ceremony in Mumbai on Monday (July 15, 2013).

Dilip Kumar and Pran worked together in films like Azaad and Madhumati. "My dear friend Pran liked to talk to me on the phone till recently. (My wife) Saira (Banu) and I visited him whenever we could. We had our Punjabi jokes, bringing back memories of the great times we shared as co-stars. He was a through gentleman," Dilip Kumar wrote on Twitter about Pran after his death.

Pran died in Mumbai on July 12, 2013 after a long illness. He was 93.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Amitabh Bachchan came with wife Jaya Bachchan.

Mr Bachchan and Pran co-starred in 14 films together including Zanjeer, Don and Amar Akbar Anthony. Pran was responsible for Mr Bachchan being cast in 1973's Zanjeer, the film that made him famous.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Prem Chopra who has shared screen space with Pran in several films like Shaheed, Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Bobby, Dostana, attended the prayer meet.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi looked sombre as she arrived at the venue.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Actor Jackie Shroff came for the prayer meet.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Actor Farooque Sheikh was also spotted.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Actor Gulshan Grover, who was seen with Pran in films like Chandra Mukhi, Vaapsi Saajan Ki, Miti Aur Sona and Soni Mahiwal, at the chautha.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai who has worked with Pran in films like Vishwanath, Karz and Krodhi, was also spotted.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Actor Chunky Pandey leaves the venue after the prayer meet.

Colleagues and Friends pays their respect at Pran's Prayers Meet:

Actors Suresh Oberoi and Raza Murad at the chautha.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Actor Amitabh Bachchan led Bollywood in bidding legendary actor Pran goodbye at Mumbai's Shivaji Park crematorium on Saturday (July 13, 2013).

Mr Bachchan and Pran co-starred in 14 films together including Zanjeer, Don and Amar Akbar Anthony. Pran was responsible for Mr Bachchan being cast in 1973's Zanjeer, the film that made him famous.

Pran died in Mumbai on July 12, 2013 after a long illness. He was 93.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Also seen at the cremation was actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha who appeared with Pran in movies like Vishwanath and Naseeb.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Actor Anupam Kher also paid his last respects to the legendary actor.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Lyricist-director Gulzar was the first Bollywood celebrity to reach the crematorium.Gulzar directed Pran in the 1972 film Parichay.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Filmmaker Karan Johar was also among the first from Bollywood to reach the crematorium.Pran had been a part of Karan's father Yash Johar's films Duniya and Dostana.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Shakti Kapoor, Pran's co-star in 17 movies such as Amiri Garibi, Dharm Adhikari and Naseeb, paid his last respects to the iconic villain.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Also seen at the funeral was Danny Denzongpa, who shared screen space with the late actor in 14 movies like 1942 A Love Story and Andhaa Kaanoon.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Kulbushan Kharbanda came to bid adieu to his Laakha co-star.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

So did actor Raza Murad, who worked with Pran in 15 movies such as 1942 A Love Story and Kaalia.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Actor Kiran Kumar too hurried to the crematorium to pay his last respects to his Panaah co-star.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Actor-filmmaker Tinu Anand was also in attendance at the funeral.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar also paid his last respects to the legendary actor.The two co-starred in five films namely Amiri Garibi, Aurat Teri Yahi Kahani, Rama O Rama, Suhaagan and Naukar Biwi Ka.

Bollywood bids farewell to Pran

Salim Khan, writer of Zanjeer, was also seen at the funeral.

Thanks Asj for the Pran deatils

Pran - Villain Of the Millennium - Best

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