He wasn’t just an actor; he was a force of nature. For decades, one name sent shivers down the spines of moviegoers: Pran. His performances as the bad guy were so incredibly real that people would sometimes get scared of him in actual life. Such was the power of his artistry.
Born on February 12, 1920, Pran gave cinema many amazing films. He started his journey as a photographer, earning a modest 200 rupees a month. Before he even set foot in Mumbai, he had already played villains in 22 movies. Imagine the dedication! He worked his way up from the bottom, reaching heights where he earned as much as the main heroes of his time. He even kept his acting career a secret from his father for a while. Pran acted in over 350 films, a truly staggering number. After a heart attack in 1998, he finally retired from acting. His legacy of memorable villain roles, however, remains strong.
Let’s look at some of his most unforgettable roles that proved he was the master of menace.
Sher Khan
The 1973 action-crime film Zanjeer featured Pran as Sher Khan. This character was a powerful and dominant Pashtun. He was known for his strong principles. Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan also played key parts in this film, directed by Prakash Mehra.
Malang Chacha
In the 1967 film Upkar, based on the India-Pakistan war, Pran played Malang Chacha. He was a funny and playful villain. Even though he was the bad guy, his antics made the audience laugh out loud. Manoj Kumar and Asha Parekh also starred in this movie.
Raka
Pran played a frightening bandit named Raka in the 1960 film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai. People literally trembled just seeing his character. This role showed him harassing others. Raj Kapoor and Padmini Ramachandran were also important actors in the film, which was directed by Radhu Karmakar.
Gajendra
The 1967 comedy film Ram Aur Shyam featured Pran as the villain, Gajendra. He played a landlord known for mistreating people. This movie was a remake of the 1964 Telugu film Ramudu Bheemudu. Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rehman were the lead actors.
Raja Ugra Narayan
In the 1958 romantic film Madhumati, Pran took on the role of Raja Ugra Narayan. He was a cruel and selfish king. He would do anything to get what he wanted, even if it meant hurting others. Directed by Bimal Roy, this film also starred Vyjayanthimala and Dilip Kumar.
Shankar
In Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), a romantic film, Pran played Shankar. He was a dishonest and clever person. He would trick anyone for his own benefit. The film starred Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rehman. Pran’s character often clashed with Dilip Kumar’s in this movie.
Zia-ul-Haq
The 1988 crime-action drama Shahenshah saw Pran as Zia-ul-Haq. He was a corrupt and powerful police officer who abused his position. Tinnu Anand directed this film. Amitabh Bachchan and Meenakshi Seshadri also appeared in it. This movie is still very popular today.
Jimmy
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) was a classic masala film. In it, Pran played Jimmy, a clever and dishonest businessman. He did bad things to get ahead. Manmohan Desai directed this film, which also starred Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan.
Other Notable Villain Roles
Pran’s talent for playing villains extended to many other films:
- In the 1956 film *Halaku*, he played the popular character of Halaku, a bandit. Ajit and Meena Kumari were also in the film.
- The 1948 film *Ziddi* featured Pran in a memorable villain role. Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal were the main actors in this movie.