I recall one incident when my aunty came home after watching a very famous hindi film and instead of praising the movie, she kept sayingthat she hated Pran. This man shouldn't be in films. I can imagine how natural this person would have looked on screen to evoke such strong emoions. How many of today's actors in negative roles can live up to this actor's versatility?Not even one worth mentioning. But on flip side, in his personal life he is known a gentleman , most adorable and loved artistes in Indian Film Industry.
Once googling I found his webbsite (find it in Link section) and sent him a personal message greeting him on his birthday. I am sure a family member would ave launched this site but came a reply soon thanking me for witing to him. Every year comes February and I remember his birthday and send him wishes. He still watches Cricket matches and television and spends his quality time with his fanily.Below is reply I received from him:
fromPran Sikand <pransikand@gmail.com>toPran Sikand <pransikand@gmail.com>
dateWed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM subjectThank youmailed-bygmail.comsigned-bygmail.com
hide details 8:09 AM (15 hours ago)
Thank you for your good wishes. I thank you for your love and support over the years. I recently celebrated my birthday with friends and family. It is my family and well wishers like you, who keep my spirits high
dateWed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM subjectThank youmailed-bygmail.comsigned-bygmail.com
hide details 8:09 AM (15 hours ago)
Thank you for your good wishes. I thank you for your love and support over the years. I recently celebrated my birthday with friends and family. It is my family and well wishers like you, who keep my spirits high
My autobiography, titled ‘…and PRAN ’ by the late Bunny Reuben, published by Harper Collins was released by Amitabh Bachchan . The book is now available in Hindi and Marathi as well,at all leading book stores. I now spend my time watching sports and current affairs on the television. With warm regards to you and your family.
Here is piece of news clip from The Statesman
Pran Colourful villain The Statesman 28 March 2005 (on line)
... And Pran: A Biography By Bunny Reuben HarperCollins India 446pp, Rs 500
'Some actors aren't artistes we admire, or chessmen in a strange game.They are us, expressing our brightest and darkest thoughts, enacting agamut of roles ranging from the psychologically complicated to theabsolutely simple," writes Amitabh Bachchan in the foreword to thisbiography of the arch villain of the Indian screen. It is indeed aneye opener to many actors who look up to Pran as an idol.
The book stretches across Pran Sikand's career spanning a period ofalmost six decades. It vividly captures his early days at Lahore, andgoes on to discuss his marriage. As Reuben rightly says, ''Marriagewas a new chapter in Pran's life.'' His destination was Mumbai and histryst with destiny as interesting as that of any leading actor of histimes.
Though Pran acted in a number of films like Yamla Jat, Choudhury andKhandaan in the early forties, he was noticed as an actor in BombayTalkies' Ziddi in 1948. His co-stars were Dev Anand and KaminiKaushal. Reuben aptly traces Pran's career and specially mentionsPran's association with the trio of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and DevAnand. Pran shared excellent working as well as personal rapport withall the three stalwarts.
A biography of Pran is incomplete without his association with ShammiKapoor. Reuben does mention at length the screen encounters of ShammiKapoor and Pran. An interesting anecdote in this context is the momentwhen Shammi really punched Pran hard during a fight sequence in TumsaNahin Dekha in 1958. Shammi was very repentant about his action butPran took it very sportingly, stating it was an accident.
In the sixties Pran still ruled the roost and acted in the maximumnumber of films. Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Jis Desh Mein Ganga BehtiHai, Brahmachari etc were some of his major releases. Reuben superblyrecounts icon Pahari Sanyal's compliments to Pran after seeing JisDesh Mein Ganga Behti Hai in Kolkata in the early 60s.Pran is a versatile actor who never shied away from accepting offbeatroles. So he experimented with the maximum make-ups and mannerisms.Reuben makes due mention of this aspect of the actor.
Upkar in 1967 totally transformed Pran's image. So did Nanha Farishta.Reuben mentions at length these aspects of Pran's career with rareinterviews of Manoj Kumar and Vijay Anand, who directed Pran in thesuper hit Johny Mera Naam in 1970. Pran himself rates Gulzar'sParichay as one of his best performances.
How Pran along with Amitabh Bachchan made a superhit duo in Zanjeerforms an integral part of the book. Reuben mentions the superbrelations Pran shared with juniors like Amitabh Bachchan and RandhirKapoor.
Though he is terrifying on screen, Pran is a thorough gentleman. He iswarm, generous and very down to earth. Reuben sketches these personalaspects of Pran in detail, providing a rare picture of one of thegenuine immortals of the Hindi film industry.A must read for all serious film buffs. – Ranjan Das Gupta .
... And Pran: A Biography By Bunny Reuben HarperCollins India 446pp, Rs 500
'Some actors aren't artistes we admire, or chessmen in a strange game.They are us, expressing our brightest and darkest thoughts, enacting agamut of roles ranging from the psychologically complicated to theabsolutely simple," writes Amitabh Bachchan in the foreword to thisbiography of the arch villain of the Indian screen. It is indeed aneye opener to many actors who look up to Pran as an idol.
The book stretches across Pran Sikand's career spanning a period ofalmost six decades. It vividly captures his early days at Lahore, andgoes on to discuss his marriage. As Reuben rightly says, ''Marriagewas a new chapter in Pran's life.'' His destination was Mumbai and histryst with destiny as interesting as that of any leading actor of histimes.
Though Pran acted in a number of films like Yamla Jat, Choudhury andKhandaan in the early forties, he was noticed as an actor in BombayTalkies' Ziddi in 1948. His co-stars were Dev Anand and KaminiKaushal. Reuben aptly traces Pran's career and specially mentionsPran's association with the trio of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and DevAnand. Pran shared excellent working as well as personal rapport withall the three stalwarts.
A biography of Pran is incomplete without his association with ShammiKapoor. Reuben does mention at length the screen encounters of ShammiKapoor and Pran. An interesting anecdote in this context is the momentwhen Shammi really punched Pran hard during a fight sequence in TumsaNahin Dekha in 1958. Shammi was very repentant about his action butPran took it very sportingly, stating it was an accident.
In the sixties Pran still ruled the roost and acted in the maximumnumber of films. Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Jis Desh Mein Ganga BehtiHai, Brahmachari etc were some of his major releases. Reuben superblyrecounts icon Pahari Sanyal's compliments to Pran after seeing JisDesh Mein Ganga Behti Hai in Kolkata in the early 60s.Pran is a versatile actor who never shied away from accepting offbeatroles. So he experimented with the maximum make-ups and mannerisms.Reuben makes due mention of this aspect of the actor.
Upkar in 1967 totally transformed Pran's image. So did Nanha Farishta.Reuben mentions at length these aspects of Pran's career with rareinterviews of Manoj Kumar and Vijay Anand, who directed Pran in thesuper hit Johny Mera Naam in 1970. Pran himself rates Gulzar'sParichay as one of his best performances.
How Pran along with Amitabh Bachchan made a superhit duo in Zanjeerforms an integral part of the book. Reuben mentions the superbrelations Pran shared with juniors like Amitabh Bachchan and RandhirKapoor.
Though he is terrifying on screen, Pran is a thorough gentleman. He iswarm, generous and very down to earth. Reuben sketches these personalaspects of Pran in detail, providing a rare picture of one of thegenuine immortals of the Hindi film industry.A must read for all serious film buffs. – Ranjan Das Gupta .
