In today’s weekend blog, I am back with Bollywood. Along with the hero and heroine, there are many other characters who are in the film, and generally they are called supporting actor/actress. Today I am writing about one such actor.
Few actors in the Hindi film industry have undergone such a remarkable transformation as this actor. His full name was Pran Kishan Sikand, and he was popularly known as PRAN. For years, his name was almost synonymous with the Hindi-film villain. Yet the same actor who frightened audiences became a hugely popular and admired character actor. With a career spanning more than six decades and hundreds of films, he occupies a unique place in Bollywood history. In
Early Life
Pran was born in Delhi on 12th July 1920. As a young man, he was interested in photography. His entry into films was accidental. While living in Lahore, he was noticed by writer Wali Mohd. Wali, who introduced him to Dalsukh Pancholi. Pran was offered a role in Yamla Jat (1940), a Punjabi film, starring Noor Jahan
Pran worked in several Punjabi and Hindi films in Lahore. After partition, he moved to Bombay. The transition was difficult. Like many artists affected by partition, he had t rebuild his professional life from scratch. He eventually began receiving important roles and established himself as Bollywood’s most dependable actor.
The making of Bollywood’s iconic villain
During the 1950s and 1960s, Pran became one of the industry’s most sought-after villains. He could be menacing without constantly shouting. His controlled expressions, distinctive voice and sophisticated body language gave his characters an unusual presence. Films such as Halaku, Azaad, Madhumati, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Ram aur Shyam , Kashmir ki Kali and many more strengthened his reputation.
Pran’s villains were rarely one-dimensional. He could change his mannerisms from one film to another and often created individual identities for his characters. His costumes, hairstyles, accents and gestures were carefully chosen. This versatility prevented him from becoming trapped in a single stereotype. He also understood the importance of silence. A look, a pause or a small gesture could sometimes communicate more than long dialogue. This ability made him most effective on screen.
The remarkable transformation
The turning point was Upkar (1967), a film directed by Manoj Kumar. He played Malang Chacha, a one-legged former soldier. The character was warm, philosophical and patriotic- almost the opposite of the cruel villains for whom Pran had become famous. The audience discovered that the actor they had spent years disliking him on the screen could also make them laugh, cry and empathise with a character.
Another landmark came with Zanjeer (1973). Pran played Sher Khan, an Afghan Pathan whose initially confrontational relationship with hero Amitabh Bachchan’s character eventually develops into friendship and loyalty. The famous soong “Yaari Hai Imaan Mera, Yaar Meri Zindagi” further cemented the character’s popularity.
Pran and Amitabh worked in several successful. Some of the most successful films were: Zanjeer, Majboor, Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, Kaalia, Sharabi and Nastik.
Pran was a master of character acting. He never restricted himself to one kind of role. He could play: Villain, Gangster, Police Officer, Father, Mentor, Soldier, Comedian, Eccentric character, Patriotic figure and elderly family member.
Memorable Films
Pran’s filmography is enormous, but several films stand out
- Halaku- a film directed by DD Kashyap
- Madhumatti- A classic directed by Bimal Roy
- Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai- a Raj Kapoor film, where he played dacoit called Raaka
- Upkar – directed by Manoj Kumar.
- Purab Aur Paschim- a Manoj Kumar film
- Zanjeer- he played Sher Khan, directed by Prakash Mehra
- Majboor- directed by Ravi Tandon
- Amar Akbar Anthony-directed by Manmohan Desai
- Don- directed by Chandra Barot
- Naseeb- directed by Manmohan Desai
- Sharabi- directed by Prakash Mehra
Awards and Recognition
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor three times for Upkar, Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool, and Be-imaan. Filmfare’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
In 2013, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Although he played the role of a villain in many films, in his personal life he was the perfect gentleman.
In the credits of the film, his name always used to come in the end “and Pran”.
After becoming famous as a villain, no mother named her son Pran.
Pran’s importance goes beyond the number of films in which he acted. He helped establish the idea that a supporting actor could become one of the major attractions of a movie. Pran’s film fees were sometimes more than those of the hero of the film.
Pran died on 12th July 2013, in Mumbai on his 93rd birthday. By the, he had already become an institution in Indian cinema. His greatest achievement may have been that the audience eventually stopped asking whether Pran was a villain or a character actor. They simply came to recognise him as a great actor.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
2nd October 2026