Today we celebrate the 106th birthday of Pran, Bollywood’s famous villain who later became a beloved hero. From his early days in Lahore to acting with stars like Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, his movies are still remembered.
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If Bollywood has a name that instantly sends a shiver down your spine, it’s Pran. Today we celebrate what would have been 106th birthday of Pran Krishna Sikand, he who turned villainy into an art form and became a living legend.
Born in 1920 in Old Delhi to a civil engineer father, young Pran once dreamed of being a photographer. Fate, however, had bigger plans; plans that would see him mesmerise audiences for decades with his husky voice, intense glare, unforgettable screen presence.
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Pran’s career started humbly in Lahore, where he acted in a Punjabi film directed by Khadi Mohyudin in 1940. Back then, he was carving a niche for himself in the Lahore film industry, but destiny called him to Mumbai in 1947.
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The city of dreams, however, wasn’t welcoming right away. Auditions came and went, and money was always tight.
In fact, stories from that period say Pran often traveled to Bombay Talkies studio by local train without a ticket, desperate to make his mark.
Finally, his persistence paid off with ‘Ziddi’ produced by Bombay Talkies. Sharing screen space with Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal, Pran’s negative role won critical acclaim.
From that point on, Bollywood had a new villain king, so powerful was his presence that some families even stopped naming their children “Pran”.
Through 1950s and 60s, Pran became synonymous with villainy. He acted alongside Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar. This was the period when he delivered performances that could steal scenes from heroes.
Films like ‘Chori Chori’, ‘Chhaliya’, ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai’ made his reputation stronger.
But Pran wasn’t one-dimensional. He could make you laugh too. His comic timing in ‘Half Ticket’, opposite Kishore Kumar, showed lighter side of the actor. Yes, he could do it all.
The 1960s saw Pran as the go-to villain, but the 1970s brought a refreshing change. Manoj Kumar’s ‘Upkaar’ gave him role of Malang Chadha. It was a rooted, emotional character.
Audiences were spellbound. Songs like ‘Kasme Vaade’ only added to his charm.
After ‘Upkaar’, Pran’s career shifted toward more positive, memorable roles. Films like ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Vishwanath’, ‘Karz’ saw him playing complex characters but with grace. Then came an icon who was more than a villain.
Off-screen, Pran was famously private. He married Shukla Aluwalia in 1945, and the couple had three children: Arvind, Sunil, and Pinky. He carefully shielded his family life from media glare, never indulged in controversies, remained deeply respected by colleagues and fans alike.
Pran passed away on 12 July 2013 in Mumbai, aged 93. He left behind a legacy of unforgettable cinema.
In one interview, he expressed a wish to be reborn as Pran, so he could continue repaying his fans for their endless love.
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