JULY 13- “A gentleman of the finest order, an admirable colleague and a considerate human” is how Amitabh Bachchan described Pran, his co-star of many films and one of Indian cinema’s most hated yet most respected and versatile actors.
Pran Kishan Sikand, popular as Pran, breathed his last at the Lilavati Hospital here late Friday evening following prolonged illness, his son said. He was 93.
“Pran Saheb….! Another stalwart leaves us, and this massive and imposing Film Industry edifice, tottering by the removal of the giant pillars that held it up, suffers another deathly blow…. ‘At this time of our lives’, as a close relative once sadly said ‘we do not make friends any more, we lose them’!
“What shall remain thankfully, shall be the immense volume of documented work that they leave behind, a work that has been laboured sweated and bloodied over years and years of harsh and severe commitment! We don’t make the likes of them anymore…,” Bachchan wrote.
Bollywood’s famous villain was instrumental in getting Bachchan his career’s first hit ‘Zanjeer’, which also saw him giving one of the finest performances of his career as Sher Khan.
Bachchan, who worked with Pran in films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Kasauti, Majbor, Don, Kaalia, Naseeb, Nastik, Sharaabi, Andha Kanoon and Inquilab, said the veteran actor was a thorough professional. They last worked together in ‘Mrityudaata’ where Pran had a cameo.
Bollwood superstar Shah Rukh Khan mourned the death of Pran. Expressing his grief through Twitter, Shah Rukh wrote: “Why do icons who shaped our lives and emotions have to go away?”. He also said that he will always live in the hearts of his fans.
“You will, sir, remain etched in our hearts. Allah bless your soul Pran sahib,” Shah Rukh wrote.
In a career of over six decades, Pran acted in over 400 movies.
Among his memorable movies are “Azaad”, “Madhumati”, “Devdas”, “Dil Diya Dard Liya”, “Ram Aur Shyam”, “Aadmi”, “Ziddi”, “Munimji”, “Amardeep”, “Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai”, “Chori Chori”, “Chhalia”, and “Zanjeer”.
Pran was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement this year.
Priyanka Chopra, who is working in the remake of the 1973 hit “Zanjeer”, which popularised Pran as Sher Khan, a Pathan friend who stands through thick and thin by the protagonist played by Amitabh Bachchan, too mourned his death.
She also took to Twitter and posted: “‘Zanjeer’! Will miss Sher Khan forever. RIP Pran sahib. Thank you for giving us such a legendary legacy. Loss of a legend. Prayers and condolences.”
The new version is being directed by Apoorva Lakhia, and Ramcharan Teja is playing the lead in it, while Sanjay Dutt will be seen in the role played by Pran.
INDIA TODAY
