Actor Pran admitted to hospital again

Veteran Bollywood actor Pran has again been admitted to a Mumbai hospital where he underwent a surgical procedure, media reports said.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan visited Pran in the hospital on Tuesday.

"I go to visit Pran Saheb in Hospital .. he is in ICU .. and progressing the doctors say .. had a smile when he saw me .. prayers !!" he tweeted early Wednesday.

Bachchan wrote on his blog: "Pran, colleague senior and one of the finest gentlemen of this beautiful fraternity, lies in ICU, and I visit him too ... prayers for him for his speedy recovery."

"I speak to him, masked for purposes of infection riddance, and he sees but does not recognise .. he has a tracheostomy done, so cannot speak .. he was in hospital a few days back and I had visited him .. he seemed perfectly all right ... but he has had a relapse and I wish him well," he said.

Pran was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital last month after he complained of respiratory dysfunction.

He was later discharged from the medical facility.

Pran Krishan Sikand often referred as the 'Villain of the Millennium', who was born on Feb 12, 1920, is a multiple Filmfare and BFJA award-winning Indian actor.

He is one of the most popular villains of Hindi cinema.

Pran played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954), Halaku (1956), Aurat (1967 film), Dharma (1973), Jangal Mein Mangal (1972), Gaddar (1973) and Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara (1973).

His pivotal roles in the films such as Bari Behen (1949), Bahar (1951), Azaad (1955), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), , Aurat (1967), Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool, Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Johny Mera Naam (1970), Victoria No. 203, Zanjeer (1973), Don (1978), Maan Gaye Ustaad (1981) and Duniya (1984) are considered to be among his best performances.
In 2010, he was named on the list of CNN's Top 25 Asian actors of all time.

He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 1997.

In 2001, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema.

On contrary to the villainous characters he played in his early films, he is very social; a member of various organizations, and also has his very own football team, 'Bombay Dynamos Football Club'.

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Pran Saab: One more Time

The iconic Pran who was hospitalized is back home and doing very well. So well that one hears the Zanjeer producer Amit Mehra and director Apoorva Lakhia have actually resolved to create a very special cameo for Pran Saab, the original Sher Khan, in the new Zanjeer. 

On Thursday producer Amit Mehra met Pran Saab at the latter's residence in Pali Hill and found the veteran actor to be in great spirits. 

Says Mehra, I was a child on my father Prakash Mehra's sets when Pran Saab played Sher Khan in the original Zanjeer. When I went to meet Pran Saab I was delighted to find him in great spirits. Touchwood he looked hale and hearty and was in a voluble mood.

Pran Saab had a lot to ask about our new Zanjeer. He also shared some fabulous reminiscences with me about the shooting of Zanjeer with my father, about how my dad made Pran Saab dye his hair and beard a reddish colour and put him in that Pathani suit, etc etc. 
Says Mehra enthusiastically, He is so full of life, so sharp and such a wonderful bank of memories. I am glad we are recreating Pran Saab's Sher Khan. He told me even today people in far-off places remember him by his song Yaari hai imaan mera in Zanjeer. It was a turning point in Pran Saab's career. We're sure the new Zanjeer would be a turning point in Mr Sanjay Dutt's career. 

Producer Amit Mehra who celebrates his birthday on Sunday says he couldn't have hoped for a better birthday gift. "Meeting with Pran Saab, and finding him so spirited has made me realize we're paying a tribute to three iconic film personalities in Zanjeer: Bachchan Saab, Pran Saab and my father Prakash Mehra. We better get it right. "

Sanjay Dutt who plays Pran Saab's role in the neo-Zanjeer, would be sporting an entirely different look. 

Says Mehra, "My director Apoorva Lakhia has planned something else for Mr Dutt. "

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