A giant pillar of Indian cinema, an icon: Bollywood on Pran

Bollywood today mourned the death of legendary actor Pran hailing him as an icon and a "giant pillar" of Indian cinema who shaped the lives of many stars.
As condolences poured in from the young and old in the film industry, veteran actors Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan recalled their favourite memories of their association with Bollywood's favourite villain.
Bachchan, who shared screen space with Pran in many films, said people like the 93-year-old stalwart don't come anymore.
"A gentleman of the finest order, an admirable colleague, a thorough professional, a master of disguise in the characters he played, a delightful companion after 'office hours' and a considerate human" is how Bachchan remembered Pran.

The two acting stalwarts worked together in Bachchan's first hit "Zanjeer","Amar Akbar Anthony", "Kasauti", "Majboor", "Don", "Kaalia", "Naseeb", "Nastik", "Sharaabi", "Andha Kanoon", "Inquilab" and "Mrityudaata".
"Pran Saheb....! Another stalwart leaves us, and this massive and imposing Film Industry edifice, tottering by the removal of the giant pillars that held it up, suffers another deathly blow...

"What shall remain thankfully, shall be the immense volume of documented work that they leave behind, a work that has been laboured sweated and bloodied over years and years of harsh and severe commitment! We don't make the likes of them anymore...," Bachchan wrote on his blog.

Dilip Kumar, who worked with Pran in films like "Madhumati", "Ram Aur Shyam" and "Azad", recalled how Pran braved bad weather to attend his wedding with Saira Banu.
"My dear friend Pran liked to talk to me on the phone till recently. Saira and I visited him whenever we could. We had our Punjabi jokes, bringing back memories of the great times we shared as co-stars. He was a through gentleman," Dilip wrote on Twitter while remembering his former co-star and friend.
"I can never forget how Pran managed to come to my marriage, braving bad weather in Srinagar where he was shooting... He took a flight to Delhi and then to Bombay and reached by evening, in time to hug me before the nikah ceremony," the thespian added.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan tweeted, "Why do icons who shaped our lives and emotions have to go away? You will sir, remain etched in our hearts. Allah bless your soul Pran Sahib.