The Dadasaheb Phalke Award has come in late for Bollywood’s iconic villain Pran, says his daughter Pinky. Members of the film fraternity too feel the same.
The veteran actor, 93, was named for the honour on Friday.
His daughter said: “Well it comes [very late]. It is very important. We feel he deserves it so he should have got it [earlier].”
Besides Pinky, Bollywood celebrities such as Anil Kapoor and Aadesh Srivastava, too shared their sentiment.“I think this honour has come too late for Pran saheb [sir]. I wish he had got it much earlier,” Kapoor said.
Composer Srivastava, said: “We would have felt more happy if he [Pran] would have got this honour during his active days. But its better late than never. Pran saheb has portrayed marvellous characters. I am happy for him.”
Chitrangada Singh believes Pran is an “iconic figure” for the younger generation. “I have seen his movies while I was growing up. Though he played the role of a villain, he is a nice man and an absolute gentleman. He is just the opposite of his onscreen image,” said Singh.
“I’d say the honour is too late, too little, too delayed but thoroughly deserving for an incomparable actor who is also a kind and helpful human being,” said actor and politican Shatrughan Sinha.
Pran began his career as a hero in 1940 with “Yamala Jat”, he went on to star in films such as “Milan”, “Madhumati” and “Kashmir Ki Kali”.
