Date of Birth
12 February 1920, Delhi, IndiaDate of Death
12 July 2013, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (pneumonia)Birth Name
Pran Kewal Sikand.jpg)
Height
5' 7" (1.70 m)Mini Biography
Pran was born on February 12, 1920 in Delhi. He was educated at different places namely Meerut, Dehradun and Rampur. His father Lala Kewal Krishnan Sikand was a Government Civil Contractor. He got married in 1945. He has two sons and a daughter. Pran had three brothers and three sisters. He started his film career with the Punjabi movie Yamla Jat (1940) as a villain opposite Ranjhana and acted in 5 movies as a villain from 1940-44. He achieved success as the leading man in Hindi film from Khandaan in 1942 and from 1942 till 1946 he played hero in 21 Punjabi films.His career as Punjabi hero ended in 1947 due to Partition. After eight months of arriving in Mumbai, Pran -- with the help of writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam -- got a break as a Hindi villain in Shaheed Latif's Ziddi(1948), starring Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal. which gave second chance to his career. Pran took time from 1948-1954 gradually he made a name for himself and from 1954 he became in demand for playing the role of dreaded villain or soft mannered antagonist in Hindi films from and playing negative roles from 1948-1967 continuously. His first Hindi film as the lead hero was Khandaan in 1942 then after partition it was Pilpili Saheb in 1954 and later Halaku in 1956. Though these Hindi films were huge success Pran was offered more negative roles rather than hero's role in 50's . Upkar (1967) directed by Manoj Kumar gave him the chance to act as supporting actor in positive role and from then on he starred in movies in positive role as a father or friend of the lead hero. He played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956),Aurat, Dharma, Jangal Mein Mangal, Gaddar (1973), Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara, Rahu Ketu (1978). His villainous roles in the films like Bari Behen (1949), Bahar, Jashan (1955), Azaad, Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai, Half Ticket, Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Johny Mera Naam and Duniya(1984) as well as his character roles in Upkar (1967), Shaheed(1965), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool(1969), Victoria No. 203, Be-Imaan(1972), Zanjeer, Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Hatyara (1977) Chor Ke Ghar Chor, Don, Maan Gaye Ustaad, Ladies Tailor (1981) and Duniya (1984) are considered to be among his best performances. He did 9 films with Shashi Kapoor as the lead actor and 7 were big hits - Birdari, Chori Mera Kaam, Phaansi, Shankar Dada, Chakkar Pe Chakkar, Rahu Ketu, Maan Gaye Ustaad and 2 flops -Apna Khoon and Do Musafir whereas earlier in 1952, Shashi had worked as a child artist in another hit film Sanskar with Pran. From 1968-1992, he acted in only 14 movies as the villain and in rest of the films from 1967-2009 did positive roles. Among supporting actors he was the highest paid actor from 1969-1982. In the 70's in the films he co-starred with them Pran was paid more than heroes like Vinod Khanna, Amitabh, Randhir, Rishi, Navin Nishcol.Only Rajesh Khanna was the lead hero to be paid more than Pran from 1970-1991. Pran from 1967 till 1997 became a well-known character actor in Hindi films and the most famous are the roles in Humjoli, Parichay, Aankhon Aankhon Mein, Jheel Ke Us Paar, Zinda Dil, Zehreela Insaan, Hatyara, Chor Ho To Aisa, Ladies Tailor, Dhan Daulat, Jaanwar, Raaj Tilak, Bewafai,Imaandaar, Sanam Bewafa, 1942: A Love Story, Tere Mere Sapne, Lav Kush.
Mini Biography
Pran was born in a very wealthy Delhi-based Sikand family on February 12, 1920. His dad, Kewal Krishan Sikand was a renowned civil contractor, Kalsi bridge in Dehra Dun was just one of his projects.
As a child he had studied in Meerut, Kapurthala, Unao, Dehra Dun, & Rampur. He is very fond of dogs, and has always had a dog for a pet since his childhood to date.
He wanted to become a professional photographer and joined A. Das & Co. as an apprentice, for which he re-located to Simla.
It was in Simla that he landed his very first role as an actor, albeit on stage with Madan Puri, and played the role of Sita in 'Ramleela'. He went to star in a Punjabi movie 'Yamla Jat' as a villain. Ironically his foray into Hindi movies started as a hero in 'Khandaan' opposite actress Noor Jehan.
After 1948 he re-located to Bombay and launched his career in Bollywood with 'Ziddi'. In this manner 'villainous Pran' was born and went on to star in 361 films. As a villain, post independence, his first successful movie was Ziddi and Badi Behan (1949). Pran was regularly offered the role of the main villain or negative character in the films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor as the lead hero in the 1950s and 60s. Pran's performance as the negative character was very much appreciated in Dilip Kumar starers like Azaad, Madhumati, Devdas, Dil Diya Dard Liya, Ram Aur Shyam and Aadmi and films with Dev Anand as the lead man like Ziddi, Munimji, Amar Deep, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai and with Raj Kapoor in Chori Chori, Jagte Raho, Chhalia, Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai, Dil Hi Toh Hai. Films with him as the lead hero ''Pilpili Saheb'' became a hit in 1954, after which D.D. Kashyap decided to cast Pran in title role of Halaku, which again was successful film of Pran as the leading man. Pran proved his versatility in the 50's by enacting as the typical swashbuckling pirate in Sindbad the Sailor (1952) and Daughter of Sindbad (1958)and acting in action-packed thrillers like Azad (1955); historical such as Aan (1952) and Raj Tilak (1958); social themes such as Baradari (1955) and light romances like Munimji (1955) and Asha (1957). Subsequently in the sixties and early seventies, even though he was in his forties, being slim and fit, his demand in the film market never went down and he was given pivotal roles as a character within the age range of 25 to 30 in films with Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee]], Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra as the lead heroes. Whereas Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor's careers as the young hero started to decline from the late sixties as both of them had put on a lot of weight although they were younger than Pran and even careers of Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor as lead hero too ended by 1973. Film Reviewers criticized Dilip Kumar for his acting in Dil Liya Dard Liya and declared that Pran's performance along-with music alone were appreciable other-wise the film was boring. This film was a disaster in 1966. By late 1960's Pran and Ashok Kumar were regarded as more versatile than Dilip Kumar in Hindi Films. The film Afsana (1951) was then remade as Dastaan with Dilip Kumar and Prem Chopra casting the lead in 1972 with them playing the roles which Ashok Kumar and Pran had played in the original. Again comparisons were drawn between Dilip's performance and that of Ashok Kumar and Pran's performance in the original and Dastaan was critically panned and was a flop at the box-office.
He married Shukla in 1945, and both became parents of Arvind, who was born on August 11, 1946. Subsequently they also gave birth to Sunil and Pinky. All three are now married, while Arvind, married to Chitra, is doing business in London, and is the father of two; Sunil is married to Jyoti & has a son; Pinky is married to Vivek Bhalla, and has two children. The names of Pran's grandchildren are Yuvraj Bhalla, Siddharth Sikand, Arjun Sikand, Swati Bijlani, and Sunaina Anand.
He states that he is satisfied with his life so much so that if he were re-born he would like to be Pran all over again.
As a child he had studied in Meerut, Kapurthala, Unao, Dehra Dun, & Rampur. He is very fond of dogs, and has always had a dog for a pet since his childhood to date.
He wanted to become a professional photographer and joined A. Das & Co. as an apprentice, for which he re-located to Simla.
It was in Simla that he landed his very first role as an actor, albeit on stage with Madan Puri, and played the role of Sita in 'Ramleela'. He went to star in a Punjabi movie 'Yamla Jat' as a villain. Ironically his foray into Hindi movies started as a hero in 'Khandaan' opposite actress Noor Jehan.
After 1948 he re-located to Bombay and launched his career in Bollywood with 'Ziddi'. In this manner 'villainous Pran' was born and went on to star in 361 films. As a villain, post independence, his first successful movie was Ziddi and Badi Behan (1949). Pran was regularly offered the role of the main villain or negative character in the films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor as the lead hero in the 1950s and 60s. Pran's performance as the negative character was very much appreciated in Dilip Kumar starers like Azaad, Madhumati, Devdas, Dil Diya Dard Liya, Ram Aur Shyam and Aadmi and films with Dev Anand as the lead man like Ziddi, Munimji, Amar Deep, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai and with Raj Kapoor in Chori Chori, Jagte Raho, Chhalia, Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai, Dil Hi Toh Hai. Films with him as the lead hero ''Pilpili Saheb'' became a hit in 1954, after which D.D. Kashyap decided to cast Pran in title role of Halaku, which again was successful film of Pran as the leading man. Pran proved his versatility in the 50's by enacting as the typical swashbuckling pirate in Sindbad the Sailor (1952) and Daughter of Sindbad (1958)and acting in action-packed thrillers like Azad (1955); historical such as Aan (1952) and Raj Tilak (1958); social themes such as Baradari (1955) and light romances like Munimji (1955) and Asha (1957). Subsequently in the sixties and early seventies, even though he was in his forties, being slim and fit, his demand in the film market never went down and he was given pivotal roles as a character within the age range of 25 to 30 in films with Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee]], Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra as the lead heroes. Whereas Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor's careers as the young hero started to decline from the late sixties as both of them had put on a lot of weight although they were younger than Pran and even careers of Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor as lead hero too ended by 1973. Film Reviewers criticized Dilip Kumar for his acting in Dil Liya Dard Liya and declared that Pran's performance along-with music alone were appreciable other-wise the film was boring. This film was a disaster in 1966. By late 1960's Pran and Ashok Kumar were regarded as more versatile than Dilip Kumar in Hindi Films. The film Afsana (1951) was then remade as Dastaan with Dilip Kumar and Prem Chopra casting the lead in 1972 with them playing the roles which Ashok Kumar and Pran had played in the original. Again comparisons were drawn between Dilip's performance and that of Ashok Kumar and Pran's performance in the original and Dastaan was critically panned and was a flop at the box-office.
He married Shukla in 1945, and both became parents of Arvind, who was born on August 11, 1946. Subsequently they also gave birth to Sunil and Pinky. All three are now married, while Arvind, married to Chitra, is doing business in London, and is the father of two; Sunil is married to Jyoti & has a son; Pinky is married to Vivek Bhalla, and has two children. The names of Pran's grandchildren are Yuvraj Bhalla, Siddharth Sikand, Arjun Sikand, Swati Bijlani, and Sunaina Anand.
He states that he is satisfied with his life so much so that if he were re-born he would like to be Pran all over again.
Spouse
| Shukla Ahluwalia | (1945 - 12 July 2013) (his death) 3 children |
Trivia
Ashok Kumar and Pran were best friends and have acted in 27 films together from 1951-1987 and had 20 super-hit films together.
The only actor to be paid higher than Pran was Rajesh Khanna in 1969-82 period.Rajesh Khanna was paid for various films in range of above 10 lacs in 1970, then 20-27 lakhs in 1974-77 and 30-47 lakhs in 1978-1981 and later 50-60 lakhs from 1982-1989.No other Indian lead actor was paid higher salary than Rajesh Khanna from 1970-87 and Pran's salary was in range of 5-20 lakhs depending on his role in 1970-1982.So producers shied away from casting them together in the single projects with Khanna as solo lead hero from 1967-1982.
Pran and Amitabh have worked in 14 films and it was Pran's presence in his films that boosted Amitbah's career as lead hero in 1973-1980.Amitbah was not in top 3 from 1972-1979 but was only in 4th spot in this period. Pran was paid by the producers more than Amitabh in the first 6 films they did together - Majboor, Zanjeer, Kasauti, Don, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Amar Akbar Anthony and in Nastik.
In the decade of 60's from 1960-69 he appeared in 60 Hindi movies and 1 Bengali movie Sonai Dighe- which is a record in Hindi films for an actor not playing heroes role but either character actor or a villain's role.His demand as an actor grew bigger from late 1950's and reached its peak from 1965-1982.He did 62 movies in decade of 1950's and 60 in 1960's.
His first film as a hero was Punjabi film Khandaan in 1942 opposite Noor-Jehan and first film as a villain was Punjabi film Yamla Jat in 1940. He acted in 22 Hindi movies from 1940-1946 and 18 got released by 1947 and remaining 4 got released in Pakistan after Partition.
Pran and Ashok Kumar were close friends and have worked in 26 films together from 1952-1986.
Pran did 9 films with Shashi Kapoor as the lead hero and 7 of them were hits.In 1952 in film Sanskaar, Shashi had worked as a child artist with Pran.
Pran had done Aurat in 1967 where Rajesh Khanna was supporting actor and Parn was the main male lead and in 1971 Maryada which was a 2 hero film with Pran as villain. Pran did 6 more films with Rajesh Khanna from 1983-1987 and of them 4 were blockbusters - Jaanwar(1983), Souten, Bewafai, Durgaa and 1 film Bayen Haath Ka Khel remains unreleased and only one film Goraa was a flop.
Prakash Mehra casted Pran in pivotal roles in 9 directorial ventures of his.
Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar's career began in late 50's and ended in early 1970's but Pran continued to get pivotal roles.
His children were sent to boarding school in their fifth standard.
Only wish of Pran in 70's which was not fulfilled was working in a film with Rajesh Khanna as solo lead hero in few films in 70's.They worked in 6 hits films- Aurat(1967), Maryada, Jaanwar, Souten, Bewafai,Durgaa and their delayed release Goraa was a flop and Bayen Hath Ka Khel was never released.After Rajesh became a superstar in 1969 Pran and Rajesh were brought together only in one film Maryada and producers casted them together only in from 1982 when Pran became older.
Pran's first car in India was a Hillman.
Pran had three brothers and three sisters.
Pran's first ever acting role was Sita to Madan Puri's Ram in Shimla, at a local Ramlila in 1938.
Ashok Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Prakash Mehra, Shashi Kapoor, Kishore Kumar and Dilip Kumar were very close friends of Pran.
Pran was an avid collector of smoke pipes. He also had a fascination of collecting walking sticks, some of which had hidden swords.
Pran has acted in a television series called Baap Se Bada Rupaiya, on Doordarshan. Pran also acted as a detective in the television serial "They Call Me Dangerous" in the late '90s. He was "Mr. Dangerous" in that serial.
Pran wanted to be a photographer and was working in a shop in Shimla where he learned photography from 1936-39. Then he went to Lahore, and that's where he got his first break.
Pran did not tell his father that he was shooting for a movie, as he thought his father would not permit him to have an acting career. When his first interview appeared in a newspaper, Pran asked his sisters to hide the papers. When his father finally learned of his career, he was not upset as Pran had expected.
After eight months of arriving in Mumbai, Pran -- with the help of writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam -- got a role in Shaheed Latif's Ziddi(1948), starring Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal.
After partition, He got a break in Ziddi (1948). Pran was offered a mere sum of Rs 500 as his first remuneration for Zidd. Within a week of its release, he signed three more movies. S M Yusuf's Grihasti, Prabhat Films's Apradhi and Wali Mohammad Wali's Putli.
According to Pran, one of the most precious things he lost in the Partition was his dog. When Pran became popular, he would name his dogs Bullet, Whisky and Soda.
Before Pran came to Mumbai, he had already acted in 22 films as a hero between 1942-46. Due to the Partition, his career had a brief pause.
When Pran came to Mumbai, he stayed at the Taj Mahal hotel. As he had no work, money started running out, and the family had to shift to smaller and smaller hotels. Finally, they had to stay in a guest house. And then rented houses till 1954. Pran rented a two bedroom flat in Pali Hill and for some years he lived in Mazagaon, central Mumbai. When Pran's youngest daughter was three, he bought a bungalow in Union Park, Bandra.
Khandaan in 1942 was Pakistani singer Noorjehan's first film as a heroine and Pran's first film as hero. Though the film was a super-hit, Pran shied away from lead roles.
Pran started his career in 1939 even before Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar entered the film industry.
The first film Dilip Kumar and Pran did together was Azaad. They became very close friends then, as they shot for three months in Coimbatore.
In his first job as photographer, Pran earned a monthly salary of Rs 200. He gave up the job to act in films for Rs 50 a month in Yamla Jat.
Pran played his first double role in Jangal Mein Mangal.
After coming to Mumbai, Pran's first film was Ziddi, where the leading lady was Kamini Kaushal. When Kamini Kaushal became a character actress in Shaheed, Pran also shifted to positive roles for the first time.
In the film Shaheed in 1965, two famous villains of the time Pran and Prem Chopra played positive roles. Pran did the role for a pittance, as he was a close friend of actor Manoj Kumar.
Pran had insisted his wife leave Lahore because of the unrest in early 1947 so she stayed with her sister in Indore.
Though he was already very popular in 1940-1945 , he had to establish himself again after partition. So he struggled from 1948-1950.
Stopped working in movies when he had a heart problem in 1998. That was the first time he was ever admitted in hospital in his life for health reasons.Earlier Pran met with an accident while shooting for Dus Numbri when he was 56 years old then as he insisted on jumping 15 feet and broke his ankle.
In 1972, Pran refused to accept his Filmfare award for the Best Supporting Actor in Be-Imaan because he felt music composer Ghulam Mohammed deserved a Filmfare award for his songs in Pakeezah.
While shooting for a sequence in Bobby, Pran almost drowned in a river. Fortunately, he managed to get hold of a rock and saved himself.
During the casting of Bobby, Raj Kapoor couldn't afford Pran's fee which was in range of 5-10 lakhs in 1970-75 period. Pran agreed to do the film with a signing amount of Re 1.
Pran was very fond of watching cricket and was close friends with former West Indies captain Sir Frank Worrell.
Pran was not greatly interested in studies. He studied till the tenth standard and did not feel the need to study further.
He worked with B R Chopra only once in Afsana, which was Chopra's directorial debut. As Pran's fee was very high in 1969-1982 and for a supporting actor he was not ready to shell out and thought of investing more in hero and rest of cast.For same reason Shakti Samanta and many small budget film-makers did no work with Pran from 1969-82. Yash Chopra gave him small role in Joshila for marketing reason and so that Pran would not charge him his official market rate as length of role was less.
Pran has worked in 2 hit Telugu films called Tandra Paparayudu in 1986 and Kodama Simham with Cheeranjvi in 1990 and in a Kannada film Hosa Raaga in 1991.
Pran was paid more than Amitabh, Vinod Khanna, Navin Nishchol, Shatrughan Sinha, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor from 1970-1982 in the films with these actors as lead heroes as Pran's role was pivotal to the plot and was much more in demand than these co-stars.Only lead hero paid more than Pran was Rajesh Khanna from 1970-1989 and Sanjeev Kumar, Dhamendra and Shashi Kapoor were paid at equal rates with Pran in the films they did together.
Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar's career as lead heroes went downhill after 1965, but Pran continued to look younger and got plum roles in projects in 60's. Dev Anand and Pran who started working together in 1948 continued to work till 1978 together as they both looked 25 years younger than their real age.
Pran started his own distribution office in Delhi in 1970.
Pran worked with director Shibu Mitra in 8 films and, except for Raja Aur Rana, all were successful.
S.K.Kapur directed Pran in 6 films and had only 2 flops.
In the film Badi Behen in 1949, Pran adopted the action of blowing perfect smoke rings while smoking his cigarettes for first time. Later Pran was asked by various directors from the 1950's until the 1990's to do this act in many films. This act became his trademark action.
Waheeda Rahman in early 60's was attending a party with Pran in Madras. After a few drinks, some of the revelers got tipsy and tried to get misbehave with her, and it was Pran who came to her rescue.
When Pran and Joy Mukherjee was shooting for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, a huge crowd gathered making it difficult to shoot. Nasir Hussaain asked Pran to give a look to people and speak to them asking them to remain silent. When Pran did this the crowd obeyed and that was kind of fearful image people had in their minds about Pran.
Pran was a hot favorite with Manmohan Desai, having directed Pran in 5 directorial ventures like Chhalia, Bluff Master, Dharam Veer, Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony.
His demand as an actor grew bigger from late 1950's and reached its peak from 1965-1982. He did 62 movies in decade of 1950's and 60 in 1960's.
Director Prakash Mehra cast Pran in 9 of his directorial ventures in his career - Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara, Zanjeer, Aan Baan, Khalifa, Jwalamukhi, Sharaabi, Muqaddar Ka Faisla, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Jaadugar.
Pran played villain in only 16 Hindi films from 1971 which were in Maryada, Naya Zamana, Jawan Muhabat Aan Baan, Roop Tera Mastana, Yeh Gulistan Hamara, Gaddar, Rahu Ketu, Andha Kanoon, Duniya, Insaaf Kaun Karega, Durgaa, Bewafai, Hoshiyar, Dharm Adhikari and Azaad Desh Ke Ghulam.
Pram played the leading man in films like Khandaan(1942), Pilpili Saheb(1954), Halaku (1956), Aurat (1967 film), Dharma(1973), Jangal Mein Mangal, Gaddar, Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara(1973), Rahu Ketu (1978). All of them were box-office hits.
Pran regards his best films , other than those in which he played main lead, were - pivotal roles in the films such as Bari Behen (1949), Bahar (1951), Arif Laila(1953), Jashan (1955), Azaad(1955), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Half Ticket (1962), Upkar(1967) and Purab Aur Paschim, Aurat(1967), Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool', Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Johny Mera Naam(1970), Victoria No. 203, Majboor, Chori Mera Kaam(1975), Hatyara(1977), Chor Ke Ghar Chor(1978), Don (1978), Maan Gaye Ustaad, Ladies Tailor(1981) and Duniya (1984).
In the 1960s, Pran was frequently in the directorial ventures of directors A. Bhim Singh, Shakti Samanta, Bhappi Sonie, K. Amarnath,Nasir Hussain. But since the early 1970's, when Pran had reached the peak of his career, most of these directors did not cast Pran as they could not afford his price.
From the 1950's directors like M.V.Raman, Nanabhai Bhatt, Kalidas, Ravindra Dave, I.S. Johar, Bimal Roy repeatedly cast Pran in different roles in their many films from 1950-1969.Similarly in sixties Pran was frequent in directorial ventures of directors like A.Bhim Singh, Shakti Samanta, Bhappi Sonie, K. Amarnath,Nasir Hussain. But these same above mentioned directors could not cast Pran in their films after 1970 as they could not afford him.In 1970's new younger directors and producers cast Pran in their films even though Pran's price was highest among supporting actors from 1968-1982.
Pran introduced comedy into his villainous characters only from 1964 beginning with Kashmire Ki Kali and Pooja Ke Phool. Till then Pran only inculcated fear from various characters and changed gestures in every character.
Pran considers his best dialogs came in films like Badi Behen (1949), Sheesh Mahal (1950), Halaku(1956), Adalat(1958), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1961), Shaheed(1965), Dus Lakh(1965), Upkar (1967), Paththar Ke Sanam (1967), Kab Kyun Aur Kahan (1970), Adhikar(1971), Buniyaad(1972), Dharma(1973), Majboor, Kasauti(1974), Chor Ke Ghar Chor (1978).
For the 1978 film, Don (1978), Amitabh Bachchan was paid Rs 2.5 lakh, while Pran was paid Rs 7.5 lakh.
The films Pran did from 1944-47 were all made in undivided India and films like But Taraash (1951), Khanabadosh (1952) were released in Pakistan after Partition, but Pran had shot for his portions in 1947.
When Pran moved to Mumbai in 1947, he found no work for six months. He arrived in Mumbai with wife Shukla (whom he married in 1945) on Aug. 14, 1947, a day before India achieved Independence, and checked in at the best hotel - Taj Mahal Hotel. In order to settle the hotel bills, he had to sell his wife's jewelry and work in another hotel for a while after.
Pran also acted as a detective in the television serial "They Call Me Dangerous" in the late '90s. He was "Dangerous".
Though Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar were his primary singers during this phase, the youngest playback voice he had was Suresh Wadkar in "Khushnaseeb" (1982).
He did several real dual roles and "pseudo" ones (where one man pretended to be another). His last dual roles were in "Jungal Mein Mangal" (1973), "Insaf" (1974) and "Khoon Ka Rishta" (1981).