Celebrity gaze

 Pran and Dev Anand: a lucky combination in Bollywood  Pran and Dev Anand starred in nine films, most of them hits  By Rajesh Ahuja  Legendary actor Pran Sikand, who established himself as a successful villain in the 50s and 60s,  had most of his successful films with the legendary Ashok Kumar and the 'Big Three ' of the Hindi film industry - Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand.  According to the biography of Pran,  titled ' And Pran '','Pran was often the preferred choice to fill bad men's roles from the 1950s onwards.  'Some of his most successful films were with the original 'evergreen actor ' Ashok Kumar and with 'The Big Three '.  The biography reveals that of the triumvirate,  Pran shared a special rapport with Dev Anand.  Pran and Dev Anand were a lucky combination in Bollywood  This special bond developed when Dev Anand and Pran worked together for the first time in Bombay Talkies' ' Ziddi '(1948).  Though Pran h...

Sky Force : a gripping action drama with brilliant performances by Akshay,Veer Pahadia  Rating: 4 stars  By Rajesh Ahuja  After wowing audiences with slick action thrillers like Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom and the more recent rescue drama Mission Raniganj , Akshay Kumar is back with another emotionally charged performance in his latest release Sky Force , a film based on India’s attack on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965.  As Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja who led the attack by the Indian Air Force on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965, Akshay Kumar comes up with a virtuoso act that leaves the audience in tears and imbues them with a feeling of pride.  Sky Force is a gripping action drama with brilliant performances by Akshay and Veer Pahadia  Sky Force is based on a real life incident of India’s attack on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965. ...

When Pran refused Filmfare Award for Be-imaan in solidarity with Pakeezah Music director Ghulam Mohammad  By Rajesh Ahuja  In an industry where receiving a Filmfare award has, over the  years,  been considered as a big honour by people in the Mumbai  film industry,  legendary actor Pran,  in 1973,, declined a Filmfare Award bestowed to him in solidarity with late Music  director  Ghulam Mohammad.  At a time when winning a Filmfare Award every year was considered big news by the winners and refusing one would be absolutely unthinkable, Pran refused to accept in 1973 the Filmfare Award for Best  Supporting actor for his performance as a policeman in Beimaan as he felt that the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director should have gone to the late Ghulam Mohammad.  Pran  refused the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting actor for Be-imaan in  solidarity with late Music director Ghulam Mohammad  News of the Filmfare Award ...

 Pran almost did not do 'Johny Mera Naam' Pran initially turned down the film saying that he did not have the time  By Rajesh Ahuja   One of the significant milestones in the Bollywood career of legendary actor Pran is the 1970s action thriller Johny Mera Naam .  However, not many may be aware that Pran almost did not do the film, that was produced by Gulshan Rai and directed by Vijay Anand.  When he was first approached for the film,  Pran declined the role saying that he did not have the time. However,  impressed by director Vijay Anand's acceptance of his decision,  Pran had second thoughts and decided to accommodate the filmmakers.  Pran initially turned down Johny Mera Naam Writing in the biography of the legendary villain and character actor,  Bunny Reuben said, 'after Gulshan Rai decided to make his first film, he made up his mind to rope in Dev Anand and Pran for the two most important roles of the film'. '  According to the...

When Pran got pat on the back from former Prez Zakir Hussain for portrayal of 'Malang Chacha' in Upkar  Dr Zakir Hussain was astonished that the famous villain had played Malang Chacha's role with such finesse  By Rajesh Ahuja   His portrayal of ' Malang Chacha ' in Manoj Kumar’s Upkar won him the accolades and admiration of film lovers across the country as well as his industry colleagues.  However,  it was not just fans and industry colleagues who gave a resounding approval to Pran for his portrayal of Malang Chacha .  For the portrayal of the iconic role,  Pran got a pat on the back from no less a person than former President Zakir Hussain.  Pran got a pat on the back from President Zakir Hussain for his portrayal of Malang Chacha in Upkar  During the premiere show of Upkar ,  where the then President Zakir Hussain was the chief guest,  the producer and director Manoj Kumar presented the members of the cast to the President, it ...

Kishore Kumar's refusal to sing 'Kasme Vaade Pyar'  for Manoj Kumar’s Upkar paved way for Manna Dey  Kasme Vaade remains Manna Dey's most soulful rendition to date  By Rajesh Ahuja   Listening to the soulful melody ' Kasme Vaade Pyar Wafa ' from Manoj Kumar's classic film Upkaar ,  based on former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan of ' Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan ' during the 1960s, leaves cinelovers teary eyed even today at the soulful rendition of the melody by iconic singer Manna Dey..  However, not many may be aware that Manna Dey was a last minute choice for the song, which was to be rendered by legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar.  According to the biography of legendary villain Pran,  written by Bunny Reuben,  Kishore Kumar was offered the song by Kalyanji Anandji, the music directors of Upkar . However,  Kishore Kumar refused to sing the song as it was to be picturised on Pran, who was popular for his villainous roles at ...