Legendary Actor Pran Krishan Sikhand passes away in Mumbai

Legendary Actor Pran Krishan Sikhand aka Pran, passed away at Lilawati Hospital Mumbai today evening.

Update:

The last rites of legendary actor Pran were held at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park crematorium on Saturday afternoon.

The funeral was attended by lyricist Gulzar, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Denzongpa, Shatrughan Sinha, Anupam Kher and Shakti Kapoor, and director Karan Johar. Pran died last night in Lilavati Hospital where he had been admitted last month. He was 93.

Condoling the death of the actor, President Pranab Mukherjee said in his message that Pran was highly talented and versatile actor whose contribution to Indian Film Industry remains unparalleled.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he was an icon who entertained several generations with his riveting performances in a myriad of roles in films.

Several leaders including Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and Bollywood personalities have condoled the death.

Recently Pran was hospitalized again after he felt uneasiness in breathing. The 93-year-old actor was given the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the highest honour in Indian cinema, on May 10 by Information & Broadcasting Minsiter Manish tewari at his residence in Mumbai.
Because of poor health, Pran could not make it to the 60th National Film Awards ceremony held in Delhi in May.

In a long and prolific career he appeared in over 350 films . He played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956). His roles in the films like Madhumati (1958), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Upkar (1967) Shaheed (1965), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Be-Imaan (1972), Zanjeer (1973) Don (1978) and Duniya (1984) are considered to be among his best performances.

Pran has received numerous awards and.honours in his career. He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He was.awarded as the ‘Villain of the Millennium’ by Stardust in 2000.  The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001  in Indian cinema) for his contributions towards Indian cinema .