11 May 2013 :: Veteran Bollywood villain & character actor Pran received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime service to cinema from Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari at his home in Union Park, Bandra, Mumbai.
In a respectful gesture, Tewari presented the award in Pran’s Home. The 93-year-old actor, was unable to travel to New Delhi for the National Film Awards function held on 3rd of May, due to his illness.
Pran [ Pran Krishan Sikand ] was born on 12th of February 1920. 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 over 350 films. He played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956). His roles in the films like Madhumati (1958), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Upkar (1967), Shaheed (1965), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Be-Imaan (1972), Zanjeer (1973), Don (1978) 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.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
The Award is given to a prominent personality from the Indian film industry, noted and respected for significant contributions to Indian cinema.
The award for a particular year is given during the end of the following year along with the National Film Awards. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a cash prize of Ten Lakh and a shawl.
