Book review
For the better part of the twentieth century, he was recognized as the eponymous 'bad man' of Indian cinema. Whether a sadistic despot or a malicious village bully, a dissolute city animal or a wicked anti-national, Pran portrayed the infinite shades of evil with consummate ease. Such was the impact that, if for centuries, not a single person has been named Ravan, then for over three decades after Independence, almost no male child was named Pran, because he was 'branded' as the personification of evil. While Pran perfected the art of portraying evil in all its dimensions, he also immortalized the 'good' image in some of the most memorable characterizations ever seen on the Indian screen. Whatever the role, each performance was suffused with originality and imagination. By his use of highly stylized mannerisms, unusual get-ups, realistic make-up and different accents, Pran succeeded in rising above the ordinary, in turning stereotypes into unforgettable characters. This biography unveils the life and times of one of India's most important actors. Not only does it bring to light a career that spans more than six decades and 350 films, it also presents an intimate portrait of the man behind the image

About the author Bunny Reuben took to film journalism in the late 1940s. From the 1950s to the 1970s, he was an in-the field-reporter and writer of feature articles for the Indian Express group, Filmfare and Star & Style. He was also the founder-editor of Cine Blitz in 1975. The author has several books to his credit including the biographies of the legendary Mehboob Khan and the 'great showman', Raj Kapoor. "He has raised film journalism to the level of literature", said a well-known editor. This biography is the result of more than half a century of association with Dilip Kumar and members of his family.