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Historically, heroes have at all times been the USPs of movies. From posters to billboards, the protagonists have dominated movies’ advertising. That ensures that they’re the highest-paid on a movie set, as a rule. However within the 70s, on the peak of Amitabh Bachchan’s recognition, there was a villain who was India’s highest-paid actor. And he remained so even after rejecting lead roles numerous occasions. (Additionally learn: Pran, scheming display villain and excellent gentleman)
When a villain was India’s highest-paid actor
Born in 1920, Pran Kishan Sikand got here to be referred to as Pran in Hindi cinema. One of the vital iconic villains in Bollywood, Pran started as a hero in Punjabi and Hindi movies in 1940 earlier than shifting to unfavorable characters within the late 1940s. From then to the 1980s, Pran was the numero uno villain in Hindi cinema, displaying his mettle in Ram Aur Shyam, Madhumati, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, and Kashmir Ki Kali, amongst others.
By the late 60s, Pran was featured prominently on posters. His inclusion in movies was marketed. This led to the actor climbing his charges as effectively. As per Sakal Instances, from 1968-82, he charged a number of lakhs per movie, much more than the established heroes of the time, together with Manoj Kumar, Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, and even Amitabh Bachchan. For some time, Rajesh Khanna was the highest-paid actor in India. However after his superstardom ended abruptly within the mid-70s, Pran took over the mantle. Till Amitabh Bachchan hiked his charges previous ₹12 lakh within the early 80s, Pran stayed on prime.
Pran’s transfer to character roles
Even when he was doing unfavorable roles, each occasionally, Pran experimented with optimistic or gray characters, even doing lead roles in Halaku, amongst others. He started shifting to character roles within the 60s, with Manoj Kumar movies like Shaheed, Upkar, and Purab Aur Pashchim. Within the 70s, his optimistic roles overshadowed the villainous acts as he appeared in Zanjeer, Victoria No 203, Amar Akbar Anthony, and Sharaabi, amongst others.
When the title ‘Pran’ was feared
Throughout the peak of his villainy within the 1950s and 60s, Pran’s title grew to become synonymous with the ‘unhealthy man’ in a lot of Hindi-speaking India. Stories recommend that many dad and mom refused to call their children Pran throughout that point, leading to a pointy drop within the variety of individuals named Pran in India.
Pran continued to behave in supporting roles by the 1980s and 90s earlier than retiring from appearing after he suffered a coronary heart assault in 1998. After 2000, he solely appeared in a handful of visitor appearances. He handed away in 2013 on the age of 93.
