When 'Barkhurdaar' Pran helped Kapil Dev

Indian Cinema's most beloved villian and the only Sher Khan of the Bollywood, Pran Krishan Sikand is no more. The veteran actor was born on February 12, 1920, in Ballimaran, Kotgarh Old Delhi. His career span was around six decades long during which he has acted in over 400 films.

The demise of Pran at the age of 93 has left an irreplaceable void in the Indian Cinema, who, despite acted as villain in most of the films, remains a darling among the masses.

One of the most celebrated actors of the film industry, Pran made his Bollywood debut in 1942 with "Khandaan" and then he went on to give various power-packed performances and a history was created. Madhumati, Milan, Aurat, Bari Behen, Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai, Half Ticket, Upkar, 'Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool'', Be-Imaan. Purab Aur Paschim, Don, Zanjeer and Amar, Akbar, Anthony are some of his films in which he acted flawlessly and with elan.

The versatile actor appeared in over 400 films between 1940s and 1990s in his prolific career and played both positive and negative roles with equal passion.

The actor who garnered public admiration for various negative roles, he portrayed on the celluloid, was very much unlike his onscreen personality. There is an other side of Pran's life that many people are not aware of.

Pran was such an avid lover of cricket, that he even agreed to finance Indian cricketer Kapil Dev's training trip! The incident happened when he got to know that BCCI has refused to finance Kapil Dev's training trip to Australia.

Later the former Captain of Indian cricket team Kapil Dev said, "Pran Saab always felt that I had the potential of becoming a good player. So he wrote a nasty letter to the board and said, ‘If you don't pay for his training, I'll pay it.' Miraculously, the board decided to finance me and I underwent the required training - all thanks to Pran Saab."

Few people know that Pran wanted to become a professional photographer, but destiny had other plans for him.

In 2001, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on him. In 2013, he became a proud receiver of the most prestigious award of the Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

While millions of his fans mourn him, the late actor Pran's favourite line, "Barkhurdaar" will always remain alive in the hearts of his fans. Recently, he gave his hand print for "Legend's Walk", a waterfront promenade in Bandra.

After fighting a prolonged illness, Pran passed away at 8.30pm on July 12. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

OneIndia News