Pran is one of the superb Bollywood Villains in Indian cinema. He has appeared in over 350 films. He has acted as a villain in 22 films. The audience hated his wicked characters but they equally loved the man who was undoubtedly a great actor. Pran Saheb, as he was respectfully called, deliberately turned down roles of the hero as he did not want to sing songs and run around trees. On the contrary he took up challenging roles as the villain. Born to an affluent family he was benevolent. Pran Saheb was known to be social and friendly. Hrishikesh Mukherjee`s Guddi shows a glimpse of how the real life Pran was.
Mohammad Wali, a writer, spotted Pran at a shop and found his face interesting. He recommended Pran Saheb to his friend Dalsukh Pancholi. He was cast as the villain in his film, Yamla Jat (Punjabi). What followed were other films, Chaudhary and Khajanchi. Thes Punjabi films were hit and they established Pran as a favourite villain. After partition Pran shifted to Mumbai with his family. His first film after a long break was Ziddi with Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal. The film was directed by directed by Shaheed Lateef. Afsana (1951), Aah (1953), Malkin (1953) and Badi Bahu (1954) were his other films during this time as a villain.
Pran took everybody by surprise by essaying a positive character in Manoj Kumar`s Upkaar in 1960s. Then he went onto play positive characters in film, such as, Zanjeer, Don, Amar Akbar Anthony and Majboor. He had acted in films for 60 years and has left an indelible mark behind him.
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. It is believed that in days when he did Don Pran was paid a higher price than Amitabh Bachchan.
Apart from his villainous roles he was seen in films with strong characterisation. His elite looks, commanding voice and personality, attention grabbing smirk and spontaneous performance made him one of the most bankable actors in Indian cinema.
Pran has won several awards for his histrionic skills:
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Upkaar, 1967
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aanso Ban Gaye Phool, 1969
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Biraj Bahu, 1973
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Parichay, 1972
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, 1997
BFJA Awards:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, 1961
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Shaheed, 1966
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Zanjeer, 1974
Other awards for Pran include the following:
| Chitrlok Cine Circle Ahmedabad, Best Character Award, 1973 |
| Bombay Film Award, Most Versatile Actor, 1976 |
| Bombay Film Award, Most Versatile Actor, 1978 |
| North Bombay Jaycees, Best Character Actor, 1978 |
| Kala Bhushan Award presented by Punjabi Kala Sangam, 1983 |
| Extra Ordinary Special Award as Wizard of Acting by Bombay Film Award, 1984 |
| Viyayshree Award, India Int. Friendship Society, 1984 |
| ‘Ars Gratia Artis’ for excellence in emotive Art, 1984 |
| Filmgoers Award, ‘Abhinay Samrat,’ 1984 |
| North Bombay Jaycees: Outstanding Performance of Decade, 1987 |
| Kala Rattan Award presented by Punjabi Kal Sangam for 50 glorious Years, 1990 |
| Punjab Association: an Award for 50 years in the Industry, 1990 |
| Cinegoers Award: ‘Abhinay Samrat Golden Jubilee Actor,’ 1991 |
| Outstanding contribution to Indian Film Industry, Indian Motion Pictures Producers` Association, 1992 |
| Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award, 2000 |
| Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2000 |
| Villain of the Millennium by Stardust Award, 2000 |
| Padma Bhushan, 2001 |
| Lifetime Achievement Award by the Maharashtra Government, 2004 |
A filmography of Pran would include the following films:
| Khandan (1942) |
Shaheed (1965) |
Johny Mera Naam (1970) |
Ganga Ki Saugandh (1978) |
| Barsat Ki Ek Raat (1948) |
Do Badan (1966) |
Purab Aur Paschim (1970) |
Vishwanath (1978) |
| Biraj Bahu (1954) |
Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) |
Guddi(1971) |
Aap Ke Diwane (1980) |
| Azad (1955) |
Love in Tokyo (1966) |
Naya Zamana (1971) |
Dostana(1980) |
| Munimji (1955) |
An Evening In Paris (1967) |
Ek Bechara (1972) |
Karz (1980) |
| Chori Chori (1955) |
Pathar Ke Sanam(1967) |
Parichay (1972) |
Kaalia (1981) |
| Devdas (1956) |
Ram Aur Shyam (1967) |
Victoria No. 203 (1972) |
Naseeb (1981) |
| Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) |
Milan (1967) |
Zanjeer (1973) |
Andha Kanoon (1983) |
| Madhumati (1958) |
Upkar (1967) |
Bobby (1973) |
Naukar Biwi Ka (1983) |
| Chhalia (1960) |
Safar (1968) |
Jugnu (1973) |
Souten (1983) |
| Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960) |
Brahmchari (1968) |
Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973) |
Nastik (1983) |
| Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961) |
Anjaana(1969) |
Majboor (1974) |
Insaaf Kaun Karega (1984) |
| Dil Tera Diwana (1962) |
Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai (1969) |
Zehreela Insaan (1974) |
Sharaabi (1984) |
| Half Ticket (1962) |
Pyar Hi Pyar (1969) |
Sanyasi (1975) |
Bewafai (1985) |
| Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963) |
Ganwaar(1970) |
Dus Numbari (1976) |
Dosti Dushmani (1986) |
| Mere Mehboob(1963) |
Tum Haseen Main Jawan (1970) |
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) |
Paap Ki Duniya (1988) |
| Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) |
Gopi (1970) |
Dharam Veer (1977) |
Shahenshah (1988) |
| Rajkumar (1964) |
Heer Raanjha (1970) |
Des Pardes(1978) |
1942: A Love Story (1994) |
| Mere Sanam (1965) |
Humjoli (1970) |
Don (1978) |
Tere Mere Sapne (1996) |
Pran has also been part of
Bengali films as well.
