President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the demise of Dadasaheb Phalke award winner Pran, and said that he was highly talented and versatile actor whose contribution to Indian film industry remains unparalleled.
Pran's final rites are taking place at Mumbai's Shivaji Park crematorium. Veteran lyricist Gulzar, director Karan Johar, actors Danny Denzongpa and Anupam Kher and director are present at the funeral ceremony along with a host of other stalwarts of the Bollywood fraternity.
Pran, 93, died last night in Lilavati Hospital where he had been admitted last month.
Pran, who impressed all with his performances in movies such as Zanjeer and Amar Akbar Anthony, received the Dadasaheb Phalke award in May this year. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari had presented the Dadasaheb Phalke award at Pran's residence as the actor could not attend the ceremony in New Delhi due to ill-health.
Pran, who began his career as a hero in Punjabi films, made a tremendous impact on Bollywood as the villain in Dilip Kumar's Ram Aur Shyam and was the first actor to break stereotype by playing character roles as well.
In the 1970s, there was almost no major film that did not feature Pran and he was often higher paid than the lead actor.
Pran, who was credited with making the role of the villain as important as that of the hero, was known for his style on screen.
The versatile actor last appeared on-screen in 1997's Mrityudaata.
The legendary actor is survived by his wife Shukla, daughter Pinky, and sons Arvind and Sunil.
