In the golden era of Hindi cinema, few actors left an indelible mark like Pran Krishan Sikand. Born on February 12, 1920, in Delhi’s Kotla Balli Maran, Pran was destined for stardom. His father, a civil engineer, and homemaker mother provided a stable upbringing, but it was Pran’s sharp intellect—especially in mathematics—that set him apart during schooling across Dehradun, Kapurthala, Meerut, Unnao, and Rampur.
After studies, Pran apprenticed at a photography firm in Delhi. Fate intervened in Lahore’s bustling Heera Mandi, where he met screenwriter Mohammad Wali, linked to producer Dalsukh Pancholi. In 1940, the handsome young man landed the lead in the Punjabi blockbuster ‘Yamla Jatt,’ alongside Noor Jehan and Durga Khote, directed by Motilal B. Gidwani. Success followed with ‘Chaudhri’ and ‘Khazanchi’ in 1941, and his Hindi debut ‘Khandaan’ in 1942.
Pran’s pre-partition career soared with 22 films in Lahore from 1942-1946, 18 released by 1947, establishing him as a Punjabi cinema heartthrob. But the 1947 partition shattered everything. Fleeing to Mumbai with his family, the once-celebrated hero faced an agonizing eight-month wait for work. Struggling financially, he took a job at a Marine Drive hotel. Salvation came through writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam, securing him the villain role in 1948’s ‘Ziddi’ opposite Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal.
‘Ziddi’ ignited Pran’s Mumbai renaissance. He redefined villainy, stealing scenes from Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, and Raj Kapoor. Over five decades from 1940 to 1990, Pran breathed life into over 360 negative roles in classics like ‘Madhumati,’ ‘Johnny Mera Naam,’ ‘Zanjeer,’ and ‘Don.’ He even dazzled in comedies such as ‘Kashmir Ki Kali,’ ‘Pooja Ke Phool,’ and ‘Half Ticket.’ His versatility extended to Telugu and Bengali films.
Honors poured in: Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013. Pran passed away on July 12, 2013, at 93 in Mumbai, but his legacy as Bollywood’s ultimate character actor endures, a testament to resilience and unmatched talent.