Few Bollywood journeys rival Pran Krishan Sikand’s—from Lahore’s leading man to Mumbai’s feared antagonist. Born February 12, 1920, in Delhi, into a family of modest means—father an engineer, mother a homemaker—Pran excelled in studies, mastering math across various schools.
Post-education, photography beckoned in Delhi. Lahore’s film world called louder after a serendipitous meeting with writer Mohammad Wali. Debuting as hero in 1940’s smash ‘Yamla Jatt,’ Pran rode the wave through ‘Chaudhri,’ ‘Khazanchi,’ and 1942’s Hindi ‘Khandaan.’ Two dozen Lahore films solidified his hero status pre-1947.
Partition’s chaos forced relocation to Mumbai, stripping away fame. For eight months, Pran hustled without auditions turning fruitful, even working hotel shifts to survive. Friends Manto and Shyam opened doors to ‘Ziddi’ in 1948, where his villainy turned heads alongside Dev Anand.
Pran then owned the negative shade, essaying 360+ iconic baddies from 1940-1990, outshining Dilip Kumar to Big B in hits like ‘Zanjeer,’ ‘Don,’ and ‘Madhumati.’ His comic flair sparkled in ‘Pooja Ke Phool’ and ‘Half Ticket.’ Multilingual prowess touched Telugu and Bengali screens too.
Lifetime achievements earned Padma Bhushan (2001) and Dadasaheb Phalke (2013). Departing at 93 in 2013, Pran’s void remains unfilled, his career a masterclass in reinvention and depth that redefined screen villainy.