One of the most popular actors of his time - both on screen and off it - Pran's biography has quite a few interesting and informative anecdoctes in it.
One of them is - as director Prakash Mehra says - if it wasn't for Pran, Amitabh Bachchan's first hit Zanjeer would never have been made.
Excerpt:
'Had it not been for Pran Saab, Zanjeer would never have been made; it would have remained a dream.' That was the very first statement which producer-director Prakash Mehra made when asked to reminisce about the making of his superhit film, Zanjeer.
Prakash Mehra's association with Pran was relatively new: Pran had worked with him in only two films until then: Aan Baan and Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara. Watching him work in Aan Baan, Prakash Mehra had already been impressed by his dedication to work.
Aan Baan had a twist wherein Pran, who plays Rajendra Kumar's brother, does not know that the girl he is to marry is actually his brother's sweetheart. The entire scene of the elaborate marriage sequence was to be shot with Pran on horseback. During the picturization of that sequence, he had to even give the 'long shots' without the use of a 'double'? It was a long shot involving a whole lot of junior artistes crowding in the verandas of the houses on both sides of the huge street set. The hero, Rajendra Kumar had to sing the song 'Lo Aaye Hum Dulhe Bhaiya Ke Baraati Banke' as the baraatis proceeded down the street.
Talking about it to a film journalist years ago, (the late) Rajendra Kumar said: 'Pran Saab is so dedicated to his work that never did he ask to dismount. He sat the whole day on the horse in that heat - and he never once lost his cool!'
Pran had proved that he was one hassle-free artiste who would give his directors consistently good work. So for his own film, Prakash Mehra decided that he would like to have Pran in a key role.
As Prakash Mehra elucidated:
Though both Pran Saab and I had been in the movie industry from long before Zanjeer, it had been just a 'hi-hello' kind of interaction. Although we had worked in Aan Baan and Ek Kunwara Ek Kunwari before, I was just the assigned director in those films. What better common ground than working closely together on my own film in order to grow close to one another?
'Pran Saab - as I was to learn when the time came to plan Zanjeer has always been a man of strict principles.'
'Let me explain... About the same time that we started the groundwork for the film Zanjeer, Manoj
... keep reading on reddit ➡
The word "Bollywood Superstar" is often used by fans, critics and the film industry in general for the talented K.L. Saigal, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan over the decades. They represent the most influential and bankable actors of their respective generations, who played a vital role in shaping the Bollywood of their respective eras and for future generations. The influence, popularity and longevity of Amitabh Bachchan AKA Big B AKA Shahenshah of Bollywood has transcended generations, borders and genres as he transformed himself over the decades and found the right balance between Commercial Masala and Serious cinema. After a long string of box office disasters as lead, one movie reintroduced him to India in a completely new avatar and established collaborations that would completely redefine his career and the direction of commercial cinema of the 70s and beyond. The Angry young man unleashed in the movie called Zanjeer changed Hindi cinema forever.
Zanjeer (1973)
Directed by Prakash Mehra
Produced by Prakash Mehra
Starring - Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Pran, Bindu and Ajit
Written by Salim-Javed
Music by Kalyanji Anandji
Budget/Box Office - INR 0.8 Crore/INR 17 Crore (INR 550 Crore adjusted for inflation)
Awards - 9 Filmfare Award Nominations with 4 awards including Best Story and Lyrics
IMDB Rating - 7.6/10
My Rating - 9/10
"Da Uomo A Uomo” a 1967 spaghetti western popularly known as “Death rides a horse” inspired Salim Khan to write the story of a cop for Dharmendra. Garam Dharam bought the script in 1972 and decided to make a movie with Prakash Mehra fresh off the success of Samadhi with him. Mehra cast Mumtaz whom he had directed in Mela but the movie’s start kept on getting pushed out as Dharam was busy on 9 other movies due for release in 1973. An inpatient Mehra eventually got Dharmendra’s permission to make the movie with another actor. Mehra approached Dev Anand even though Salim-Javed were not very enthusiastic about casting him. Luckily the ever smiling Dev Saab didn’t like the movie’s never smiling and no nonsense lead character. Next in line was real time ex police inspector Raj Kumar who loved the script but hated the director’s hair oil. In a very Raj Kumar style, he told Prakash Mehra that “Jaani Hum Yeh Picture Karenge Aur Zaroor Karenge. Lekin Humhe Tumhare Sir Se Yeh Ghatiya Tel Ki Badboo Ek Dum Pasand Nahi
... keep reading on reddit ➡
Post a still, promotional pic, behind the scenes shot, or other image from Zanjeer.
What is the actual history and rational behind zanjeer zani or qama zani? It’s completely disgusting and has nothing to do with Islam
