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This actor was a gem that Bollywood got and an irreplaceable one too. He was always passionate about acting and went against his father’s wishes.

People remember all the superheroes, superstars, but how many remember those villains in reality. There have been several great actors who are often seen as the negative character in a film, but there has only one villain of all times. He struggled, went against father’s wishes only to act and make it big in acting. And well, he did, that too very graciously. There was a time when he became the highest paid actors with inly Rajesh Khanna ahead of him, as per media reports.

In a golden career that spanned over six decades, he won several accolades and is a Padma Bhushan recipient too. This is the story of legendary actor Pran Krishan Sikand aka Pran.

Rise to Fame

Born in Lahore in 1920, Pran always had the fire burning towards building a career in acting. Some reports suggest that Pran was a gifted personality and good at mathematics. He was brought up in Ballimaran of Old Delhi. He belonged to a rich Punjabi family of Delhi and his father Kejwal Krishan Sikand was a civil engineer. At the age in time, acting was not regarded as a reputable career choice, hence, his father was not very supportive his love for camera.

One among seven siblings, he became an apprentice to pursue professional photography. This is where it all began for him. Behind the lens.

Several reports speak of how a chance meetup at a tea stall bagged him his debut in 1940 Punjabi film ‘Yamla Jat’. Eventually he transitioned into mainstream Bollywood projects ‘Khandaan’ (1942) being his maiden work here. He played a romantic hero opposite to Noor Jahan.

Highest Paid Villain

Amid his photography gigs, he used to earn Rs 200 as per Zee News Hindi report. However, before his first Punjabi film, the director cautioned him that he would be able to earn around Rs 50 but eventually will be able to raise his fees.

With rite of passage, Pran started carving his niche one film at a time and charged around Rs 7-10 lakhs, a huge sum in the 70s.

Hi style, villainous demeanor, voice and expressions made him an evergreen personality. He has worked in over 260 films. His ability to play negative roles with such finesse made him a crucial figure in the film industry. Reportedly he became the highest paid actor, but only Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor were ahead of him. At one point, Pran’s popularity reached such heights that he reportedly earned more than the lead actor in a film.

Hall of Fame

Pran passed away in 2013 at the age of 93. He was battling prolonged illness and one day called the curtains. He had left an indelible mark leaving behind his prolific career and a void. In 2001 he was  awarded Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his exceptional contributions in films.

In 2013, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition for cinema artists. He was also named among the Top 25 Asian Actors of All Time by CNN in 2010. The Stardust Award named him Villain Of The Millennium in 2000.