Veteran actor Pran passed away due to a prolonged illness on Friday. The actor was famous for portraying negative characters and playing supporting roles. He passed away at the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, where he was undergoing treatment.
"He passed away at around 8.30 pm. His cremation will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at 12 pm at Shivaji park," his son Sunil.Â
Pran was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after he complained of uneasiness in breathing on May 30. According to doctors treating him in Lilavati hospital, he has been in and out of the hospital for respiratory problems.
The doctors said he had many illness which included extensive pneumonia, chronic kidney diseases, Parkinson's, COPD and sepsis. He was on ventilator and passed away at around 8.30 pm today.
The veteran actor, who played villain and character roles with elan and was conferred the country's highest cinema honour -- Dada Saheb Phalke award -- in April, was admitted to Lilavati hospital a month ago.
Born on February 12 in 1920 in old Delhi, Pran was educated at places like Kapurthala, Unnao, Meerut, Dehradun and Rampur as his father Lala Kewal Krishnan Sikand was in government service.
Initially, Pran wanted to become a photographer but destiny had different plans for him. A chance meeting with a film producer got him his first break in Punjabi film Yamla Jat in 1940.
There was no looking back for the actor after that as he went on to star in films like Chaudhary (1941), Khandan (1942), Kaise Kahun (1945) and Badnami (1946).
After Partition, Pran came to Mumbai with his wife Shukla and sons Arvind and Sunil but found it difficult to get work as an actor in the city of dreams.
He had almost given hope when writer Saadat Hasan Manto helped him get a role in Dev Anand starrer Ziddi in 1948 which revived his career.
Pran will be forever remembered for bringing villains on par with the heroes, ruling the industry from 1969 to 1982. He commanded equal money and respect for his negative characters in Madhumati, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Ram Aur Shyam and Devdas.
The actor's baritone and good looks helped him bring charm to his villainy which was very unique to Pran. Such was the magic of his onscreen roles that parents stopped naming their children Pran at the height of his fame.
His chameleon-like ability helped Pran transform himself from one of the most hated onscreen villains to one of the most beloved character actors -- be it the Mangal chacha in Upkar, Sher Khan of opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer or the discipline-loving but soft-hearted grandfather in Gulzar's Parichay.
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