Pran's popularity rose after he played ruthless villains in hits like Madhumati, Ziddi and Ram Aur Shyam. The success of the films made him a symbol of villainy in Hindi filmdom. Many families in India refrained from naming their offsprings after the villain's name.
Pran wowed his fans and touched their heartstrings when he stepped into character roles as loveable Malang Chacha in Upkar.
Later, he thoroughly entertained as street-smart fraud in Victoria No.203, epitomised on-screen friendship as Pathan in Zanjeer and not to forget his role of a grieving father who struggles to establish a rapport with his dead son's children in Parichay.
