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UNFORGETTABLE
PRAN
The public despised Pran. His sinful deeds and his dark, roguish looks
made it easy for them to hate him. Consistently. But the one close
to him, called him a gentleman. Professionally, he makes tall claims,
" I've never been late for my shooting. And once I've reached, I've
not left the sets till pack-of ." The industry will vouch for this.
But on the personal front he has been accused of sleazy, shady liaisons
with pretty little girls. And no one belives this. Laughing heartily,
the gentleman star reveals his darker side - the one which dates back
to nearly four decades ago…and refused the film when they said 500
a month. They informed me that even their hero was being paid the
same. We finally agreed on Rs.600 a month if I kept the secret to
myself. It was a victory for me.
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On
my return home, my wife informed me that Vali sahib (my friend from
Lahore), had called. He was making a film and made me an offer of
a thousand a month. After that I signed Ghrihasti. So while I went
from one studio to another looking for work I got nothing. But in
four days time I signed four films ! From a hotel we shifted to Byculla
as paying guests, staying with an old man who offered us his kitchen
too. My career took off in earnest and I kept climbing. I bought a
small car - Hillman. One evening, I received a phone call from my
wife saying that they'd met with an accident. I was informed that
they were safe but the car was badly damaged. I was irritated that
I'd had to climb all those floors to take the call only to be told
this.On coming home, my wife lost her temper with me accusing me of
being unconcerned. |
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That
was when I explained to her that God has given us a car and now if
he doesn't want us to have one he has taken it away. Maybe he'll give
us another one someday. Bahar an AVM film, was my first South banner.
This was also Vyjayanthimala's first film. I had thought to myself
that I'd attend the premiere of this film in a big car. So in spite
of the fact that I had to pay a little extra, I bought one. This was
one of the few premiere's that my wife attended with me. Like I had
explained to her, God had bigger things in mind for us. It was not
long before I got fed up of playing a typical stereotyped villain.
I started thinking up different mannerisms and get-ups to make the
role more interesting. I even added a few comedy touches, like in
Kashmir Ki Kali my constant dialogue was 'Satale, Satale, Kabhi to
apna bhi samai aaye ga.' - it became very popular. |
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In
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Beheti Hai even though I was playing a dacoit
I spoke slowly, walked slowly and kept running my finger round my
neck. Because I felt a dacoit would subconsciously, always think of
a rope around his neck, as one day he would surely be hanged. This
was very well appreciated. Today, a villain's get-ups are such that
they don't seem to belong to this world. Though I find Sadashiv Amrapurkar
and Kiran Kumar very natural and talented. Whenever I saw an interesting
character or even a photograph I'd keep it in mind to use later. Especially
world famous personalities fascinated me. In Jugnu, I was playing
a professor and I copied Mujibur Rehman's get up - the wig, the glasses,
the mustache. Though the viewers noticed a familiarity, they could
not pinpoint the man I had copied. In B.Subhash's film I took Abraham
Lincoln's get-up. |
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While
recently in Nigahen I've used a beard which is exactly like the one
Rajiv Gandhi's man, Sam Pitroda, sports. When I did Halaku, Meena
Kumari was not exactly pleased that a villain was playing the title
role. But when she saw me dressed up like him, she was very impressed.
In those days that was a very difficult get up. My favorite film to
date remains Dil Diya Dard Liya. This was the only film in which I
gave laughter. Dilip Kumar helped me a lot with my performance in
this film. So much so that people asked him - 'Where were you in the
film?' I got very close to Dilip and Raj Kapoor and had a long association
with both. The day Dilip was to get married, I was in Kashmir and
it was pouring. With great difficulty I managed to reach Bombay because
I had to attend it. I still remember how all of us, Raj and the gang
got totally drunk and banged on Dilip's bedroom door, forcing him
to open up and say hello to us on his wedding night. |
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The
best part was, the next day none of us could remember what we'd done
! I enjoyed working with Bimal Ray, Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar… But today
I don't know what's happened to Manoj as a director. I mean, look
at Clerk… Unfortunately, I didn't work with him after Upkar and Purab
Aur Paschim. When he was planning Shor, he did come to me and asked
me to play a pathan in the film. But I had to refuse the offer because
I had already agreed to play one in Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer. And I
didn't want to be unfair. He felt bad because after all he had given
me Upkar. I think till today he's annoyed. But if he sits down and
thinks, he'll realize how right I was. Only this year a big star like
Amitabh has ruined two men by doing similar roles in both their films.
So many years back my conscience would not let me do it. Talking about
Amitabh, he used to be a natural on screen but today in his latest
films, look at the way he's overacting. For what? |
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The
man is such a good actor, has a lovely voice and is a very good comedian.
From a hero I turned to villainy because I could never run around
trees and sing songs. Maybe because I played the bad man, I've never
been loved by the public. Wherever I went people called me names -
Chor, badmaash, daku, 420… Children and girls were scared of me. I
don't know how people have had enough respect for me, and no one has
manhandled me in a crowed. Their contempt for what I portray on the
screen, only speaks a lot for my acting. Maybe because of this I never
received any letters written in blood, etc. Who'd think of doing that
for a villain? But I've had my share of crazy fans. There is this
Parsi boy who has become like family today. Years ago he met me in
Delhi with a thick scrap book with all my cuttings in it.
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Recently,
he presented me with a set of nine cassettes in which he has recorded
all my scenes from my films. It's so beautifully done that I was moved
to tears. In fact, many artistes keep borrowing them from me. Not
only in the screen, but even in reality, many have tried to make me
out to be a villain. Recently a magazine wrote about how I'm extra
fond of 14-and 15-year old girls. but let me tell you one thing -
I don't think anybody can snatch away my reputation from me. It doesn't
make any difference to me about what `s written. I don't think there
is any man in this world who doesn't like pretty girls. There is nothing
wrong. Otherwise, why would God make pretty girls? Everyone appreciates
and admires a good thing. Who is to judge at what length one stops?
Anyway, its like Christ said, "Let the one who's innocent throw the
first stone." |
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I
have two sons and a daughter, but I never forced films on them. they
were free to be and do what they wanted. The elder one has settled
in London and has done Chemical Engineering and also has a PhD degree.
While the younger one takes after me - not good in studies and an
absolute loafer! He wanted to be an assistant director and so joined
MKD. Nadiadwalla's gave him a break to direct an Amitabh starrer,
but it had to be shelved because Praveen Badi left. I produced a film
which he directed - Farishety, but it flopped. Now, he's directing
a film for Suresh Bhagat. My daughter is married and just when I was
thinking I'd finished my responsibility I realize, it has doubled.
I have five grand children! Today, I am doing character roles more
than playing a villain. Because I want to keep myself busy. But it's
very disappointing when one comes across producers who are not very
professional. For instance S.Ramanathan. I knew him when he ws an
assistant |
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and then he made big films with super stars.He came to me a Gangaa
Jamunaa… and offered me a role. There was nothing in writing. Next
thing I knew, he contacted me at the fag end of the film and offered
me a bit role calling it a guest appearance. The cheek of the man!
I refused politely. But then there are still people like Rajiv Rai,
who make it a point to come and see me only to explain that in his
next film there is no suitable role for me. I'll never even forget
this kind gesture. It talks of the background you come from. I feel
I've done one third of all that I wanted to do. I always wanted to
play Chanakya my dream role, but no one made that film. One can do
something only if one gets a good role, which is a difficult proposition
today. The one film I'm really looking forward to is Ratan Kumar's
Isi Ka Naam Zindagi - it's a challenging role. But in spite of everything,
even today, a night before the release of any of my films I'm so anxious…
Interview by - SANTOSH SUD |
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