India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, is given annually since 1969 to recognise the contribution of film personalities towards the development of Indian cinema and their distinguished contribution to the growth and promotion of the medium.
Born in 1920 in Delhi, Pran started his career as a photographer in 1940, but a chance meeting with a film producer got him his first role in a film called "Yamla Jat".
After a brief pause due to Partition in 1947, when he moved from Lahore to Bombay, with the help of the renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam, Pran got a break in Bombay Talkies' film "Ziddi", in which Dev Anand played the lead role.
Since then, Pran never looked back and acted in over 400 movies spanning six decades, bringing to each role new mannerisms and style and holding generations spellbound by his acting skills and lending new dimensions to his earlier negative image with outstanding character roles in his later career.
Some of his memorable movies are "Azaad", "Madhumati", "Devdas", "Dil Diya Dard Liya", "Ram Aur Shyam", "Aadmi", "Ziddi", "Munimji", "Amardeep", "Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai", "Chori Chori", "Chhalia", and "Zanjeer", among others.
