This legendary actor started his journey in black-and-white frames and he soon transformed into a symbol of onscreen fear. But behind the menacing facade was a powerhouse performer whose transition into layered characters earned him unmatched respect. Who Was This Legendary Actor? Here we are talking about Late Pran Krishan Sikand Ahluwalia known as Pran who was given the title of Villain of the Millennium in Indian cinema and worked in more than 350 films in his six-decade-long career. From the 1940s to the 1990s his villainy scared the audience while his supporting roles won hearts. Pran used to get so immersed in acting that people would shower him with abuse and curse him after watching his acting on screen. Pran was born on February 12 1920 in Lahore and grew up in a prosperous Punjabi Hindu family in Ballimaran Delhi. His father Kewal Krishan Sikand was a civil engineer and government contractor. Pran received his education in cities like Meerut Dehradun Kapurthala and Rampur. How Pran Made His Debut? Pran who was interested in photography started his career as a photographer in Lahore. He entered the world of acting after playing the role of Sita in Ramlila in Shimla in 1938. His first Punjabi film was Yamla Jat which was released in 1940. Pran played the role of a villain in the film. But he became a hero in Hindi cinema with the film Khandaan released in 1942. Pran came to Mumbai after the partition in 1947 and made his mark in Bollywood with Ziddi. Pran gave a new dimension to villainy in the 1950s and 60s. His powerful presence in his films like Madhumati (1958) Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960) Ram Aur Shyam (1967) astonished the audience. His deep voice and dialogues like barkhurdaar made him famous in every household. His villainy was so impressive that people were reluctant to name their children Pran while many started cursing him due to his menacing screen presence. How Pran Became The Most Expensive Actor? Pran became one of the most expensive actors in Bollywood from 1969 to 1982. He suggested Amitabh Bachchans name to producer Prakash Mehra for Zanjeer in 1973 which played an important role in giving a new flight to Amitabhs career. Pran was a close friend of Ashok Kumar and both of them worked together in more than 20 films. More About Pran In 1997 he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2000 Stardusts Villain of the Millennium award. In 2001 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. In 2013 he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the highest honor of Indian cinema which was presented at his home. Pran married Shukla Ahluwalia in 1945. They have three children: Arvind Sunil and Pinky. The legendary actor bid farewell to this world on 12 July 2013 at the age of 93 in Lilavati Hospital Mumbai.