Pran, originally named Pran Krishan Sikand, was born in Ballimaran, Old Delhi to a wealthy Punjabi family on February 12, 1920. Born to Kewal Krishan Sikand, a civil engineer and a government civil contractor and housewife Rameshwari. One of the greatest villains of Hindi cinema, he appeared in over 350 films in his life.
His career initially started with a chance meeting with the writer, Wali Mohammad Wali, who worked for Dalsukh Pancholi in Lahore in the forties.
It led to Pran getting his first role as a villain in Dalsukh Pancholi’s Punjabi film Yamla Jat (1940), which proved to be a big hit that year. Later he worked in other films like Chaudhary and Khajanchi, following which Pancholi cast him in Khandaan in 1942. It was the first Hindi movie in which Pran became a hero. After having acted in 22 films as the lead hero from 1942-46 in Lahore.
Interestingly, in the sixties and early seventies, despite him being in his forties, he was always in demand.
He played pivotal roles with Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee, Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra.
Later, Kumar cast Pran in pivotal roles in his films where Manoj played leading roles like Shaheed, Purab Aur Pachhim, Be-Imaan, Sanyasi, Dus Numbri and Patthar Ke Sanam.
From 1967 till 1997, he became a well-known character actor with films such as Humjoli, Parichay, Aankhon Aankhon Mein, Jheel Ke Us Paar, Zinda Dil, Hatyara, Chor Ho To Aisa, Dhan Daulat, Jaanwar (1983) and many more.
In the 1970s, Pran was offered the role of a leading man in films like Dharma (1973), Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara, Jangal Mein Mangal, Rahu Ketu.
Although he is famous as a villain, he always had a significant role in comedy films.
Among filmmakers, Prakash Mehra cast Pran in nine of his directorial ventures including Zanjeer, Jwalamukhi, Sharaabi, Muqaddar Ka Faisla and Jaadugar while Manmohan Desai roped him in for Chhalia, Bluff Master, Dharam Veer, Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony. Later, Subhash Ghai cast him in Vishwanath, Karz and Krodhi.