New Delhi, April 12
Veteran actor Pran Sikand has been selected for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award-2012. The 93-year-old actor will be the 44th recipient of the award.

The award is conferred by the government for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

The award, named after the father of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke, will be conferred on the actor on May 3, which will also mark 100 years of cinema this year.

The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl. The award is given on the basis of recommendations of a committee of eminent persons.

Pran, who has acted in over 400 films in his six-decade-long career, retired from acting in 1998. He is best known for playing character roles and villain in most of his films.

His roles in movies like “Zanjeer”, “Upkar”, “Be-Imaan” and “Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool” have won him critical acclaim.

Born in 1920 in Delhi, Pran started his career in 1940. Pran has received a number of honours, including the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1997) and the Padma Bhushan (2001). Other honours include Filmfare awards for “Upkar” (1967), “Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool” (1969), “Be-Imaan” (1972); and Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards for “Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai” (1961), “Shaheed” (1966) and “Zanjeer” (1973).

Pran started his career in 1940 with a role in Punjabi film “Yamla Jat”

Acted in 400 films over six decades and retired in 1998; known for character roles and as villain

Won critical acclaim for performances in “Zanjeer”, “Upkar”, “Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool” and “Be-Imaan”

Awarded with Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1997) and Padma Bhushan (2001)