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Actor Pran passes away at 93
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Posted by: Shubham Ghosh Updated: Friday, July 12, 2013, 22:55 [IST] Actor Pran passes away at 93 Mumbai, July 12: Legendary actor Pran passed away at the Lilavati Hospital here around 8.30 pm on Friday after prolonged illness. The actor, who was known for his strong negative and supporting roles, was 93. He had acted in 361 films in a career spanning over six decades (1940s to 1990s). He was handed over the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in May this year. The last rites of the veteran actor will be carried out at the Shivaji Park crematorium here on Saturday noon. Pran was known for his memorable roles Bollywood hits like Madhumati, Ziddi, Ram Aur Shyam, Milan, Zanjeer, Don, among several others. Pran was born as Pran Krishan Sikand on February 12, 1920, in Old Delhi. He has received several awards in his career. His favourite word 'Barkhurdaar' became immensely popular. His biography was named ... and Pran since his name appeared last in the cast part of the credits in several of his movies. OneIndia News

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We don't make the likes of Pran anymore: Amitabh Bachchan

"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, who passed away on Friday after a prolonged illness at the age of 93.

"A gentleman of the finest order...an admirable colleague....a thorough professional .. a master of disguise in the characters he played .. a delightful companion after 'office hours' .. and a considerate human," Bachchan wrote on his blog in his tribute to Pran.

"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.

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Pran: One of the most loved villains of Bollywood bids adieu
Source : IANS
Last Updated: Sat, Jul 13, 2013 03:16 hrs

​Pran, Pran Kishan Sikand, Mobile

Mumbai: He was truly what legends are made of - a natural talent and a thorough professional with a versatility. Actor Pran left for his heavenly abode late Friday evening. His death is deemed as a big loss for the Hindi film industry. He was 93.

Born as Pran Kishan Sikand, he was popular as Pran, and many, out of the respect the legend commanded, addressed him as "Pran sahab".

Pran breathed his last at the Lilavati Hospital following prolonged illness, said his son.

Pran's condition was frail since the past few months and he was in and out of hospital multiple times. He was reportedly last admitted to the Lilavati Hospital just a week back.

"He passed away at Lilavati Hospital at around 8.30. p.m.," his son Sunil told IANS.

The last rites of the veteran actor, who was a recipient of the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement, will be conducted Saturday at 12 p.m. at the Shivaji Park.

In a career of over six decades, Pran had an exhaustive and impressive filmography of over 400 movies. Each beats the other.

And so, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who worked with Pran in over 10 films, including "Zanjeer" and "Don", tweeted: "Another magnificent pillar of the film industry falls."

Pran may have been loved as the rough and tough man on screen, but in real life, he was "a gentleman, most collaborative colleague, a senior of immense distinction and a true disciplined professional," wrote Big B.

The actor was chosen for the 44th Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement, an honour which his family as well as colleagues from Bollywood felt came a little late in the day. He was also unwell to travel to Delhi to collect the award at the 60th National Film Awards ceremony.

Although he could not travel, the honour came to him when Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari visited him in Mumbai to confer the award.

The actor started his career as a photographer in 1940, but it was a chance meeting with a film producer that landed him his debut role in a film called "Yamla Jat".

Later, when he moved from Lahore to Bombay (now Mumbai), with the help of renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam, Pran got a break in Bombay Talkies' film "Ziddi", in which Dev Anand played the lead role.

That set the momentum for the versatile talent, who brought new mannerisms and style and lent new dimensions to negative characters.

If he played villain convincingly in films like "Madhumati", "Ziddi" and "Ram Aur Shyam", with the same ease he slipped into character roles like the lovable Malang Chacha in "Upkar" or a loyal friend Sher Khan in "Zanjeer".

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", and "Chhalia".

Expressing his grief through Twitter, superstar Shah Rukh wrote: "Why do icons who shaped our lives and emotions have to go away? You will, sir, remain etched in our hearts. Allah bless your soul Pran sahib."

Big final salute to Pran sir! No one in the next 300 years can fill his shoes!

Filmmaker Raj Tilak who made memorable films like 36 Ghante, Mukti, Chehre Pe Chehra and Tumhare Liye in the 70's and 80's has passed away. He was 73.

Raj who worked with some of the biggest stars of the time including Shashi Kapoor, Raaj Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Mala Sinha, Rekha and Parveen Babi, died on October 6 of complications developed after a spine surgery.

Raj, who was the son-in-law of (late) BR Chopra, was admitted to Lilavati Hospital on September 21 after complaining of excruciating back pain.

His son Vishal told us, "My dad was suffering from back pain since the past few months. He underwent a spine surgery. After that he developed a severe infection and we were told it was septicaemia. He remained in the ICU and passed away on Monday."

Raj's funeral was held on October 6 at Pawan Hans crematorium (Vile Parle). Ravi Chopra's wife Renu and sons Abhay and Kapil represented the Chopra clan, while Manmohan Shetty and TV producer and Producers Guild Treasurer Manish Goswami were the other names from the film fraternity at the funeral.

When contacted, Goswami said, "I knew Raj for more than 20 years. He was very actively involved in the Producers Guild. We were very good friends. I shall miss him."