Veteran Actor Pran passes away [ 12 July 2013 ]

12 July 2013 :: Pran Krishan Sikand (12 February 1920 – 12 July 2013), better known by his mononym, Pran, Pran died at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after prolonged illness. He  was a multiple Filmfare and BFJA award-winning Indian actor, known as a movie villain and character actor in from the 1940s to the 1990s. He acted as a hero from 1940–47 and as a villain from 1942–1991 and played supporting and character roles from 1948–2007.

 In a long and prolific career he appeared in exact 361 films. He played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956)Aurat, Dharma (1973), Jangal Mein Mangal (1972), Gaddar (1973), Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara (1973), Rahu Ketu (1978). His villanious roles in the films like Bari Behen (1949), Bahar (1951), Jashan (1955), Azaad (1955), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Half Ticket (1962), Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Johny Mera Naam (1970) and Duniya (1984) as well as his character roles in Upkar (1967), Shaheed (1965), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Be-Imaan (1972), Zanjeer (1973), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Hatyara (1977) Chor Ke Ghar Chor (1978), Don (1978), Maan Gaye Ustaad, Ladies Tailor (1981) and Duniya (1984) are considered to be among his best performances.

 Pran has received numerous awards and honours in his career. He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He was awarded as the ‘Villain of the Millennium’ by Stardust in 2000. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013 (which is the biggest award in Indian cinema for his contributions towards Indian cinema. In 2010, he was named on the list of CNN’s Top 25 Asian actors of all time.

 On 12 July 2013, Pran died at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after prolonged illness.