Pran Sikhand

Infobox actor
name = Pran


birthname = Pran Sikand
birthdate = Birth date and age|1920|2|12|mf=y
birthplace = New Delhi, India
spouse = Shukla Sikand (1945—present)
children = Arvind Sikand
Sunil Sikand
Pinky Sikand
occupation = Actor
years active = 1948—1996
website = http://www.pransikand.com

Pran (born Pran Sikand on February 12 1920) in New Delhi India is a multiple Filmfare award and BFJA award winning Indian Bollywood actor who has performed in over 350 films. He was honoured with the Padmabhushan, for his contribution to cinema. Contrary to the villainous characters he played in his early films, he is very social, a member of various organizations, and even has his very own football team.

Early life

Pran was born into a prosperous family and was academically gifted, especially in mathematics. His father-Kewal Krishan Sikand, was a civil contractor . He was born in small town Jejjon in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.He studied in Rampur, Dehradun, Kapurthala, Meerut, and Unnao (then Unao). Upon passing his matriculation examination, Pran joined A.Das & Co., Delhi as an apprentice as he wanted to become a professional photographer. This job took him first to Simla, where he played Sita to Madan Puri's Ram in the local staging of "Ramlila".

Early career

A chance meeting with the writer Wali Mohammad Wali at a shop in Hira Mandi, led to Pran winning his first role as a villain in Dalsukh Pancholi's Punjabi film "Yamla Jat" followed by "Chaudhary" & "Khajanchi". "Khandaan" was the first Hindi movie in which Pran became a hero opposite Noorjehan, who had earlier acted with him as a child artist.

After partition he went to Bombay and his role in Bombay Talkies " Ziddi" ( with Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal), directed by Shaheed Lateef, launched his career in Bombay. This film was also Dev Anand's big break as a hero.

In the 1960s, with Manoj Kumar's "Upkaar" he turned to positive character roles. Ironically in this movie Kamini Kaushal also moved to character roles. He became a well-known character actor in films like "Zanjeer", "Don", "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Majboor".

The legendary "Villain of the Millennium" has had a marathon six decades long career in Hindi Cinema and is one of the most celebrated actors of the industry.So effective was his acting that it said that people stopped naming their children 'Pran' because of his villain roles.

His biography, "...and Pran" was so named because, in most of the movies that he acted in, his was the last name in the cast portion of the credits, with the words "...and Pran" and sometime "..above all Pran".

His favourite line "..Barkhudaar.."..He played good role in Don(70s) also. He was at the peak of his career in those days that Pran was paid much more money than Amitabh for working in Don.

A Natural talent Pran Shaib would fit into any role with ease. He acted in different characters in almost all movies in other words one saw a different side of him in all movies and it is hard to even think if any type of role was repeated by this Legend. Well actors like him are a treat to watch and it will take at least 100 years for someone to even come close to this great man's talent.

From a Hindi/Urdu movie lover's point of view actors like Pran Shaib are not only a treat but for sure a very rare treat to watch. There are simply no words to explain this man's talent and as far as one can foresee noone seems to be in line as an actor of hindi/urdu cinema to come even closer to his skills.

Personal life

Pran married Shukla in 1945, and has two sons, Arvind & Sunil, and a daughter, Pinky. He now enjoys a secluded life with his family.

Awards and honours

Filmfare Awards

* 1967 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for "Upkaar"
* 1969 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for "Aanso Ban Gaye Phool"
* 1972 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for "Be-Imaan" (Pran refused to accept)
* 1973 - Filmfare Best Actor Award for "Biraj Bahu"
* 1972 - Filmfare Best Actor Award for "Parichay"
* 1997 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement AwardIn the 1950s and 1960s, Pran may have won many Filmfare Best Villain Awards.

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

* 1961 - BFJA Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai" [http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196225.htm]
* 1966 - BFJA Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Shaheed" [http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196730.htm]
* 1974 - BFJA Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Zanjeer" [http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197437.htm]

Other awards and recognitions

* 1973 - Chitrlok Cine Circle Ahmedabad: "Best Character Award". [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1976 - Bombay Film Award: Most Versatile Actor. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1978 - Bombay Film Award: Most Versatile Actor. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1978 - North Bombay Jaycees: Best Character Actor. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1983 - Kala Bhushan Award presented by Punjabi Kala Sangam. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1984 - "Extra Ordinary Special Award as Wizard of Acting" by Bombay Film Award. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1984 - "Viyayshree Award" presented for enriching Human Life and Outstanding Attainments India Int. Friendship Society). [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1984 - "Ars Gratia Artis" for excellence in emotive Art. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1984 - Filmgoers Award: Reigning "Abhinay Samrat". [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1987 - North Bombay Jaycees: Outstanding Performance of Decade. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1990 - Kala Rattan Award presented by Punjabi Kal Sangam for 50 glorious Years. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1990 - Punjab Association: an Award for 50 years in the Industry. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1990 - Southall Lion's Club London: "In recognition of Invaluable Services to Charity at the Celebration of Golden Jubilee of his services tot Film Industry. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1991 - Cinegoers Award: "Abhinay Samrat Golden Jubilee Actor". [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 1992 - Outstanding contribution to Indian Film Industry, Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association. [http://www.pransikand.com/awards.htm]
* 2000 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
* 2000 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
* 2000 - "Villain of the Millennium" by Stardust Award. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040725/spectrum/main6.htm]
* 2001 - Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award from the Government of India. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jan/25josy.htm]
* 2004 - Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the Maharashtra Government [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040725/spectrum/main6.htm]

Selected filmography

* Pran also worked in numerous Bengali films in 1960-1970, however they are not listed.
* "Khandan" (1942)
* "Ziddi" (1948)
* "Barsat Ki Ek Raat" (1948)
* "Bari Behen" (1949)
* "Biraj Bahu" (1954)
* "Azad" (1955)
* "Munimji" (1955)
* "Chori Chori" (1955)
* "Devdas" (1956)
* " Tumsa Nahin Dekha"(1957)
* "Madhumati"(1958)
* "Chhalia" (1960)
* "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai" (1960)
* "Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai" (1961)
* "Dil Tera Diwana" (1962)
* "Half Ticket" (1962)
* "Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon"(1963)
* "Mere Mehboob"(1963)
* "Kashmir Ki Kali" (1964)
* "Rajkumar" (1964)
* "Mere Sanam" (1965)
* " Shaheed" (1965)
* "Do Badan" (1966)
* "Dil Diya Dard Liya" (1966)
* "Love in Tokyo"(1966)
* "An Evening In Paris"(1967)
* "Pathar Ke Sanam"(1967)
* "Ram Aur Shyam" (1967)
* " Milan" (1967)
* "Upkar" (1967)
* "Safar"(1968)
* "Brahmchari" (1968)
* "Anjaana"(1969)
* "Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai" (1969)
* "Pyar Hi Pyar" (1969)
* "Ganwaar"(1970)
* "Tum Haseen Main Jawan(1970)
* " Gopi" (1970)
* "Heer Raanjha" (1970)
* "Humjoli" (1970)
* "Johny Mera Naam" (1970)
* "Purab Aur Paschim" (1970)
* "Guddi"(1971)
* "Naya Zamana" (1971)
* "Ek Bechara" (1972)
* "Parichay" (1972)
* "Victoria No. 203" (1972)
* "Zanjeer"(1973)
* " Bobby" (1973)
* "Jugnu" (1973)
* "Jheel Ke Us Paar" (1973)
* "Majboor"(1974)
* "Zehreela Insaan"(1974)
* " Sanyasi"(1975)
* "Dus Numbari" (1976)
* "Amar Akbar Anthony"(1977 )
* "Dharam Veer" (1977)
* "Des Pardes"(1978)
* " Don"(1978)
* "Ganga Ki Saugandh" (1978)
* "Vishwanath" (1978)
* "Aap Ke Diwane" (1980)
* "Dostana"(1980)
* "Karz" (1980)
* "Kaalia" (1981)
* " Naseeb" (1981)
* "Andha Kanoon"(1983)
* "Naukar Biwi Ka"(1983)
* "Souten"(1983)
* "Nastik" (1983)
* "Insaaf Kaun Karega" (1984)
* "Sharaabi" (1984)
* "Bewafai"(1985)
* "Dosti Dushmani" (1986)
* "Paap Ki Duniya" (1988)
* " Shahenshah"(1988)
* "" (1994)
* "Tere Mere Sapne" (1996)

References

Further reading

* "The Life of A Villain-Pran" by Chobay Gill (2005), HarperCollins New Delhi, 446 pages. ISBN 81-7223-466-X

External links

*
* [http://www.pransikand.com/ Pran Sikand's Website]
* [http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/posts1779-10.html Bollywood]