Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Pran

 Eight months later, he got the Bombay Talkies film Ziddi, which had Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal in it.

After Ziddi, he signed Grihasti, Prabhat Films' Apradhi and Putli. Pran did a mix of villainous and positive roles in the late 40s and early 50s, but he got noticed for his role as a villain in films like Ziddi and Badi Behan. He cemented his villain label in the 50s and 60s. Most of these roles were played opposite heroes like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor.

He worked with Dilip Kumar in Azaad, Madhumati, Devdas, Dil Diya Dard Liya, Ram Aur Shyam and Aadmi, with Dev Anand in Ziddi (1948), Munimji (1955), Amar Deep (1958), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961) and with Raj Kapoor in Aah, Chori Chori, Jagte Raho, Chhalia, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai and Dil Hi Toh Hai.

Although some critics feel Pran was not really a gamechanger, and owed his popularity to his get-ups and dialogues, others insist he was incredibly versatile: you would never see him act in the same manner in any two movies. Not only his looks and mannerism, but even his performances went up a notch with every film. His villainous image had such an impact on audiences that people stopped naming their children Pran. In 2004, before the release of Pran's book, a search for people named Pran threw up the fact that the oldest so-named person was born after 1960.

In the late 1960s, with the character of Malang Chacha in Manoj Kumar's Upkar (1967), he turned to positive roles. One of the biggest songs of the 60s, Kasme Waade Pyaar Wafaa was picturised on him. Says Manoj Kumar, "When I offered him the role, the first thing he asked me was, 'Aap April fool toh nahi bana rahe ho mujhe?" Kumar said that Pran often took advice from him. He said, "I would sketch something, and he would use it for his role in his films."

The thespian worked with Manoj Kumar in Shaheed, Purab Aur Paschim, Be-Imaan, Sanyasi, Dus Numbri and Patthar Ke Sanam. In the mid 1960s, he also acted in several Bengali films.

Pran's career peaked in the 70s and 80s and he was paid more than heroes, except for super star Rajesh Khanna. Dilip Kumar's biographer Udaya Tara Nayar said, "He was the busiest character and was even paid more than his co-stars. In the 70s and 80s, he worked with Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Navin Nishchol, Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor."

Pran is said to have recommended Bachchan's name for Zanjeer. They worked together in 14 films. Bachchan wrote in a foreword of his biography 'And Pran', "I was relatively new to the film industry. I did feel apprehensive but Pran Saab was very helpful and he set me at ease. In fact, he was the biggest selling point of the film. I marvelled at the manner in which he took tremendous care of his looks. Right from a hennaed wig and beard, to his costume and make-up, he ensured that every element was flawless."

Bachchan also mentioned that even if his shot was over, he would stay on the sets, watching proceedings with a keen eye. Certainly one of the high points of the film was the Yaari Hai Imaan Mera set-piece, which he performed with incomparable agility and vigour. Some of their films together include Majboor, Zanjeer, Kasauti, Don, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Amar Akbar Anthony, Nastik, Dostana, Naseeb, Kasauti, Kaalia and Sharaabi.

Pran started cutting down on work due to age and health issues, though he acted in Bachchan's home productions Mrityudata and Tere Mere Sapne. Pran also acted in Dosh, Tum Jeeyo Hazaron Saal and Ek Hindustani.

Of late he has not been keeping good health and has been in and out of hospital. When asked about Pran's reaction to the award, his son Sunil said, "He is happy and watched it on television. He is a little frail and we all are happy that he got it. Let's enjoy the moment!"

Born on February 12, 1920, in Old Delhi, his first film Yamla Jat released in 1945. In Khandan, the second of his nearly 400 films, he played the hero with Noor Jehan. He acted in 22 films in pre-Partition India, including Khazanchi, Kaise Kahoon and Khamosh Nigahen, all directed by Moti Gidwani. He left Lahore for Bombay on August 11, 1947. His daughter Pinky Bhalla said, "He came here to celebrate my brother Arvind's birthday on August 11. Days later, Partition was declared and he could not go back."